On the Dallas Stars, Arizona Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, and Vegas Golden Knights …
Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: If the Dallas Stars are out the playoff race, they will have no choice but to start moving out some of their pending free agents.
Patrick Sharp will interest contenders. Sharp is aware of what can happen if they don’t get back into the race.
“But obviously I’ve been around a while. I know what lies ahead if that doesn’t happen. But I’m not too worried about it either way.”
It’s not known if/when defenseman Johnny Oduya could return from his ankle injury. Would be another candidate to be moved if healthy.
Patrick Eaves and Jiri Hudler are two other pending free agents that could be on the move.
The Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins have spoken about Marc-Andre Fleury, but nothing is imminent.
Arizona Coyotes GM John Chayka watched the Stars-Blackhawks game over the weekend. Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman said he won’t be a big buyer. Martin Hanzal or Radim Vrbata might interest the Blackhawks.
Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick is expected to return in March, but if Quick has a setback by the trade deadline, they could look for a goalie to help out Peter Budaj.
The Ottawa Senators contacted the Colorado Avalanche about Matt Duchene and/or Gabriel Landeskog, but it’s unlikely the Senators want to pay the high price.
Have to think the Vegas Golden Knights would want to talk with Claude Julien, but not sure if Julien would want to coach an expansion team.
On the St. Louis Blues and Montreal Canadiens …
The Fourth Period: The Blues and Canadiens have spoken recently about Patrik Berglund, who is a pending free agent with a $3.9 million cap hit. Berglund has a limited no-trade clause which he names six teams he won’t accept a trade too.
It’s not known if the Canadiens and Blues talked about defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. The Canadiens are also looking for a top-four defenseman.
Dave Taylor, the Blues VP of Hockey Ops watched the Canadiens-Oilers game over the weekend.
