NHL Rumors: Scouting ANA-WSH, MIN-STL, Canadiens, Oilers, Buyer Beware and Top 12 UFAs
Jesse Puljujarvi and Wayne Simmonds
Scouting the Anaheim Ducks and Washington Capitals

Helene Elliott: Scouts listed to attend yesterday’s Ducks-Capitals game include St. Louis Blues (2), Arizona Coyotes (2), Vegas Golden Knights (2), Florida Panthers (2), Montreal Canadiens (2), New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, Calgary Flames, Tampa Bay Lightning, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars and the San Jose Sharks.

Scouting the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues

Michael Russo: There are 19 representatives from 17 teams at yesterday’s Wild-Blues games.

New Jersey Devils GM Ray Shero was one of them.

Looking like a quiet deadline for the Canadiens

Renaud Lavoie: Have been told that the chances are high that the Montreal Canadiens won’t be doing much ahead of the trade deadline.

Beneficial for the Oilers and Puljujarvi to go different ways?

Mark Spector: The agent for Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi, Markus Lehto, isn’t sure if remaining with the Oilers is the best for Puljujarvi.

“I think it’s hard to re-set,” he continued. “It’s like, when the player isn’t trusting anymore … ‘Do these guys really want me here? Do they really trust me to become a Top 6 guy? A Top 9 guy? An offensive player?’ The player is uncertain.

“Are we reaching the point that for the team and for the player, it might be actually beneficial for going different paths, different routes?”

Buyer Beware

Andrew Berkshire of Sportsnet: Looking at some numbers and potential players that could be available at the deadline.

Some players who are on trade bait lists and could be risky acquisitions include forwards Wayne Simmonds, Artem Anisimov and Derick Brassard, as well as defenseman Cody Ceci.

Top 12 Pending UFAs

Luke Fox of Sportsnet: Top 2019 NHL free agents

1. Erik Karlsson – San Jose Sharks
2. Mark Stone – Ottawa Senators
3. Artemi Panarin – Columbus Blue Jackets
4. Matt Duchene – Ottawa Senators
5. Sergei Bobrovsky – Columbus Blue Jackets
6. Jeff Skinner – Buffalo Sabres
7. Joe Pavelski – San Jose Sharks
8. Jake Gardiner – Toronto Maple Leafs
9. Kevin Hayes– New York Rangers
10. Anders Lee – New York Islanders
11. Anton Stralman – Tampa Bay Lightning
12. Wayne Simmonds – Philadelphia Flyers