On the Detroit Red Wings …
Craig Custance: Multiple sources are saying that the Red Wings have spoken with free agent defensemen Trevor Daley, Dan Girardi and Ron Hainsey. They are also expected to be looking at Dmitry Kulikov.
The Wings are thought to looking for defensemen as a stop gap until their younger prospects are ready.
Their interest in Trevor Daley appears to be more than tire kicking. Daley’s agent Rick Curran:
“There’s been considerable interest in Trevor,” Curran said on Tuesday afternoon. “He’s had the opportunity to speak with a number of general managers and coaches who have spent time giving him the big picture and letting him know where they see him fitting in. Detroit is one of those clubs.”
Daley is likely looking for more years than what Girardi or Hainsey are looking for. Nine other teams are looking at Daley, with four teams total being contenders for his services.
On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
Maple Leafs Hot Stove: Darren Dreger on TSN 1050 on if the Maple Leafs would be interested in free agent center Joe Thornton.
“What I would say is, “who are you bumping out of the middle?” It’s certainly not going to be Auston Matthews. Nazem Kadri has proven that he’s a rock solid number two. You still have Tyler Bozak, who — worst case — is your number three. Are you thinking that Joe Thornton is accepting a fourth-line center role with the Toronto Maple Leafs? I don’t think so. Thornton isn’t interested in a short-term right now. Maybe that’s just the negotiation and the back and forth that goes on.
He’s embedded in San Jose. I believe that Doug Wilson and the Sharks would absolutely want to keep Jumbo in the mix for a year or two years. Three years is a stretch. I don’t see Lou Lamoriello going beyond a year with Thornton in Toronto.”
