- Craig Custance of ESPN: Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman would love to find a trading partner.
“There’s a lot of guys looking for players and not a lot willing to part with players,” he said during a Tuesday phone conversation. “I don’t know if it’s going to change a ton the next couple weeks.”
The Lightning and Islanders aren’t ready to be sellers just yet.
“Teams that are out of it are looking more towards the future,” Bowman said. “If that’s the case, there’s nothing you can do. Those teams are looking at the summer and going, ‘You know what? Why are we going to trade him away?’”
If the right center was made available, they would be interested despite recently acquiring Brendan Morrison. They will target defensemen. Canadiens Hal Gill would be an option.
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Garrioch thinks the Blackhawks could end up trading for Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov to become their starter.
- Corey Masisak of NHL.com: The Sharks might be looking for a 3rd line energy guy who can kill penalties. They could deal Antero Niittymaki, but they won’t get much return for him. The Kings will be looking to add scoring. They have Jonathan Bernier to trade, but they’ll want a big return for him. The Coyotes could use some scoring up front. If they become sellers, they have Ray Whitney and Daymond Langkow to move. If the Stars are buyers, they could use a top 6 forward. If they become sellers they may look to move Nicklas Grossman and/or Sheldon Souray. If the Ducks won’t make Teemu Selanne or Saku Koivu available, they could consider moving any of Ryan Getzlaf, Bobby Ryan and Lubomir Visnovsky.
- Dave Lozo of NHL.com: The Red Wings have room to take on $24 million in cap space. Travis Moen and Ales Hemsky could be options.
- Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News: It’s unclear if the Flyers and defenseman Matt Carle have held serious contract talks. Carle will be a UFA and there is belief that he could get a deal similar to James Wisniewski’s 6 years, $33 million on the open market.
- Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: Wild center Mikko Koivu practiced yesterday and could return tonight. Coach Mike Yeo on a possible trade:
“The one thing our entire team needs right now is just to go out on the ice with the idea that we’re good enough because we are. Obviously, if we can do things to make our team better I know there’s not a GM in the league who’s working harder than Chuck [Fletcher] on this. But having said that, we’ve beaten all the good teams in the West. We’ve proven ourself. When we play our game, we’ve proven what we can do.”
- Andy Strickland of True Hockey: Blues forward Andy MacDonald should be back either Sunday or Tuesday. Alex Steen hasn’t skated this week, so his return is unknown.
- Eric Francis via twitter: Francis thinks the Flames can’t afford NOT to re-sign center Olli Jokinen.
- Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: The Blue Jackets signed Vinny Prospal to a 1 year contract extension worth $2.5 million. He also got a no-trade clause.
- Eric Stephens via twitter: Scouting the Ducks-Hurricanes game last night: Blackhawks, Maple Leafs, Lightning, Coyotes, Flyers, Predators, Rangers and Blues.
- Rich Chere of Star-Ledger: Johan Hedberg said he will start in net for the Devils tonight.
#1 by Jeff at February 9th, 2012
Sounds like a real opportunity for a smart seller in this market.
#2 by Mjod at February 9th, 2012
Should read Andy McDonald of St. Louis.
#3 by Mark Easson at February 9th, 2012
@Mjod … it says Blues foward any Andy MacDonald (I didn’t adjust)
#4 by Dave at February 9th, 2012
@Jeff… You’re right Jeff, any seller at the deadline would be getting the best return they could ever expect for their players for two reasons 1. Timing with the amount of teams willing to add for the playoffs, as well as the amount of good teams with cap room. 2. Supply and Demand there is so many teams looking for specific needs (top 6 F with size and scoring ability, and a top 4 D-Man) and not many of the non playoff teams with those kinds of assets, and if they do have them their not even considering giving them up yet.
Everyone seems to think this will be a quiet deadline, but i for one think teams are just holding out as long as they can to see where they are come the week of the deadline as well as drive up the asking price. Plus teams like Anaheim will have a hard time selling a B.Ryan trade right now, where as the week of the deadline when teams like Carolina have already set the market (with a T.Rutuu trade) they might be inclined to change their minds. I could see some big trades going down this yr, but not right until the bitter end where the seller has gotten every last penny out of the buyer…..
#5 by hotwings at February 9th, 2012
fascinating… but what does all this have to do with the leafs?
#6 by Jeff at February 9th, 2012
It wouldnt surprise to see the Maple Leafs put Connolly out there and see if there is interest. Losing him would not impact the club really, as Lombardi could slide over to Center and play just as well.
If the owners in Montreal and Columbus were smart, they would replace their GM’s right now with new experienced GM’s, and start a rebuild right now in advance of the deadline. Both team will miss a golden opportunity.
#7 by hotwings at February 9th, 2012
ya connolly has not looked impressive… most nights it just seems he is cashing pay cheques… he is a real good passer… but doesnt bring much else to the table..
#8 by AJ at February 9th, 2012
I can’t see why a Bobby Ryan deal couldn’t set the market.
But I can’t see why Anaheim would want to trade Ryan at all in the first place (again, they don’t…)
#9 by AJ at February 9th, 2012
The Flames should re-sign Jokinen, agree with that, he already said, he would even take a pay cut to stay in Calgary.
I don’t think Nabokov will be a solution for Chicago. He has a reputation being unable to elevate his game in the playoffs. I don’t know exactly about them, but is the defense or the goaltending missing there (or both)?
#10 by Dave at February 9th, 2012
@AJ… Sorry if you confused my example (B.Ryan) as an actual possibility at this very moment. What i meant by my statement was if and when T.Ruttuu (a UFA which B.Ryan is not) gets traded for a kings ransom, it might change a teams mind about dealing one of their top 6 F or top 4 Dmen. I would give an example, but some of you might just confuse my words right hotwings
#11 by Dave at February 9th, 2012
By the sounds of things the Canes are trying to resign Rutuu as we speak. So that will eliminate even more options leading up to the deadline if that comes to fruition. Definitely a sellers market this yr….