Rumors I: Red Wings, Oilers, Sabres and Penguins
  • Ansar Khan of MLive: The Red Wings need to upgrade their blueline this season. They were not able to add a right-handed puck moving defenseman through free agency or trade this offseason. Sabres Tyler Myers is at the top of their wish list. Myers has five-years left on his deal with a cap hit of $5.5 million. The Wings won’t move Anthony Mantha. They may not want to include Dylan Larkin or their 2015 1st round pick. The Wings would likely prefer to include one of their top defense prospects. They may  have to pay more for Myers since they are in the same division.The Wings were interested in Oilers Jeff Petry last summer but wouldn’t trade Darren Helm for him. The Oilers are looking for a center in return for Petry.Other right-handed defensemen who could be trade options for the Wings include: Mike Green, Cody Franson and Zach Bogosian. Left-handed options include Keith Yandle and Alexander Edler.

    Three years at $2.4 million could be scaring teams away from Jakob Kindl.

  • Gregg Krupa: Bob McKenzie said that the Red Wings “really want” Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers. They refused to trade either Anthony Mantha or Gustav Nyquist. Krupa wonders if they would part with Dylan Larkin.
  • Dan Rosen of NHL.com: (mailbag) The Sabres would likely be looking for prospects and draft picks for Tyler Myers. Due to his $5.5 million cap hit, the Sabres may have to take back some salary. Would have to be an expiring contract or that of a good, young player.The Penguins shouldn’t consider moving Paul Martin for a top-six forward. The Penguins may not re-sign Martin, but they shouldn’t trade him just because his contract is expiring.
  • Chris Nichols: Darren Dreger on NHL Live on the Penguins looking for a top-six forward.

    “But as far as Pittsburgh is concerned, yeah, they’re looking for a winger. They’re looking for someone who might be able to complement Evgeni Malkin. So that’s just adding depth to what is already a strong organization. But there’s no sense of urgency, as I said a second ago. They’re simply in the market. This might take until February and obviously, when you’re a cap team like the Pittsburgh Penguins, there’s some cap sensitivity that goes along with this as well. So I would say it’s a quiet search by Jim Rutherford.”