- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: If the Coyotes fall out of contention, Ray Whitney could become available. Whitney has a no-movement clause that lists 8 teams he’s willing to be traded to. The Bruins, Rangers and Sharks could be interested. Islanders GM Garth Snow on the trade front and re-signing of Evgeni Nabokov: “We have no intention of moving Evgeni,” Snow said. “He’s been great for us. His performance speaks for itself.” … on re-signing “Yeah, we’d consider all options, we’re just not at that point yet.” Snow has begun talks with P.A. Paranteau. Senators GM Bryan Murray: “We’ll see if there’s anything that makes sense, but in all likelihood it’s status quo at the moment, anyway.” If the Ducks are going to move one of their big players, it may happen in the offseason as opposed to the deadline. The Ducks could move Lubomir Visnovsky, but they aren’t going to give him away. Lightning defenseman Pavel Kubina has a limited no-trade clause. Kubina submits a 5 team list, he hasn’t been asked yet. Mikhail Grabovski’s agent, who recently met with the Leafs:
“I spoke with Maple Leafs management a couple days ago and I believe they understand our position and we understand their position,” Greenstin told ESPN.com via email Wednesday. “Like I said before, Mikhail loves the city, organization and the fans, and we know the fans like him too. He would like to stay in Toronto and win the Stanley Cup with them, but he is in his prime years in his hockey career and this has to be right for Mikhail and it has to be right for the Maple Leafs.”
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: (Chat) LeBrun doesn’t think the Ducks will trade Getzlaf or Ryan at the deadline unless they get a crazy offer. The Flyers are trying to add a defenseman with experience. LeBrun also thinks the Flyers should add some depth at forward. It’s hard to tell if the Blue Jackets will be able to find a taker for Jeff Carter at this point. On the Penguins search list are Travis Moen and Dominic Moore. The Canadiens could move Hal Gill and Moen. The Blues may look to add a forward if one of Andy McDonald or Alex Steen doesn’t make it back or isn’t playing like their old self. LeBrun doesn’t think they’ll get their #1 center by the deadline. The Rangers are not interested in Marek Zidlicky. The Lightning could move defensemen Brett Clark and Pavel Kubina. The Kings are looking to upgrade their top 6.
- Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun: Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke said “It’s very quiet,” with regards to the trade front.
- Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: Russo thinks the Wild have a strong interest in Hurricanes Tuomo Ruutu. The asking price is high as their are many teams interested in him. Rutherford hopes to have a decision made by the start of next week as to whether they will re-sign him or trade him. Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Rutherford told ESPN: “So our priority now is to try and re-sign him.”
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Heika doesn’t think the Stars will be buyers at the deadline unless they win their next 6 or 7. They should have a better idea on Feb. 20th. Heika thinks they need to either sign Nicklas Grossman to a 4 or 5 year deal at $3 million a season or trade the pending UFA.
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Heika thinks it might be a good idea to keep Mike Ribeiro as opposed to trading him, especially if they bring in another top 6 to play with Jamie Benn. Riberio is being used in a #1 center role, but may be better suited as a #2 center.
- Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: Gordon doesn’t see why there are rumors that the Blues need to add a defenseman like Hal Gill or Andy Sutton. Their pairings are playing well and they have Kent Huskins in reserve.
- Dave Feschuk of the Toronto Star: Luke and Brayden Schenn shrug off trade rumors:
“(The Luke-to-Philly rumour) has obviously been tossed around for the past month and a bit,” Brayden said. “It’s hard to go around naive and don’t read anything or hear anything or watch TV. You come to the rink the next day and there’s going to be someone talking about it. Obviously (Luke’s) name has been tossed out there over the past month and a bit. But those are just rumours and I guess we’ll see what happens.”
Said Luke: “One day it would be cool to play together down the road. But right now I’m happy in Toronto and would love to be a part of the Leafs organization. In saying that, you also can’t control what goes on as far as trades go and the trade deadline . . . Anyone can get traded.”
#1 by Jeff at February 10th, 2012
Everyone wants to resign their own players..
#2 by I_am_I at February 10th, 2012
@Jeff that has really been a trend lately. It is good for all considered, except if you run a trade rumors site. The teams is familiar with the player already, the player doesn’t have to uproot their family and the fans have some continuity with the players.
Now for goodness sake someone make a trade already!
#3 by hotwings at February 10th, 2012
this might be the most boring trade deadline ever…
even if the leafs dont do a blockbuster.. i think they can get some excellent value for a macarthur… i wish they could trade connolly or kulieman, but its pretty obvious that they are a step behind the action this year…
hopefully the oilers and yotes will be wise enough to unload whitney, smyth and doan to a contender, and get a 1st or prospect back…
#4 by Wunschkind89 at February 10th, 2012
@hotwings
The trade deadline seems boring because media giants like TSN started talking about it January 1st. It’s still 2+ weeks away. Give teams another 7-10 days to assess their team, and I guarantee you some action will go down.
As for right now, I just take rumors as a precursor for what may come. I don’t think the Leafs will trade Schenn, at least not until the summer. I’d suspect Gunnarsson to be on the block; maybe Holzer or Aulie also.
#5 by Big A at February 10th, 2012
Too many teams are able to make it still. There is only like 2 teams who are def out right now… It is slow right now but soon the gmail will panic and we will see a ton of trades.
#6 by Too Old to be Fooled at February 25th, 2012
Reading the comments has me scratching my head. While I was still investing in stocks on the market, I learned an important lesson: do not get emotionally involved with any of my holdings. The truth is that there are few fans still around that can even remember the last Stanley Cup win in Toronto. We have all been duped by what transpires. You have a GM who has made himself larger than the team. Burke is more of the problem than any feasable solution. I look at Steve Yzerman operating more or less on his own. He’s wheeling and dealing and the team is progressing. Then, turning to the Leafs, look at what Burke has done. He has surrounded himself with a hired team of alleged experts and former GMs and a coach that has long been out of touch. Among them, methinks that they spend far too much time back slapping, sipping cocktails and noshing business lunches. Now, less than 72 hours before the trade deadline is NOT the time to accomplish very much as we all watch them fall out of (at least!) a play off spot. Seriously folks, it’s time to recognize that Burke’s grand plan was in reality no plan. Let’s cut the tie with Burke and move along.