- Nick Kypreos via twitter: Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey may have a hearing today at 1 PM for his elbow to the head of Panthers forward Tomas Kopecky.
- Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail: The Flames missed the playoffs for the 3rd season in a row, and the team is at a crossroads. Jarome Iginla will be 35 when next season starts and is in the final year of his deal. Does Iginla want to stay and take part in another rebuild? If not, they need to find out quickly and attempt to get the most return for him. Miikka Kiprusoff has 2 years left, he’ll make $5 million next year and $1.5 million the following year. Brent Sutter’s status will need to be re-evaluated this summer. UFAs are: Olli Jokinen, Lee Stempniak, David Moss, Tom Kostopoulos, Cory Sarich and Scott Hannan. Feaster’s primary need is a #1 center.
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Matheson handicaps the next Canadiens GM: 3-1 Patrick Roy, 4-1 Julien Brisebois. 5-1 Francois Giguere, 7-1 Marc Bergevin, 8-1 Pierre McGuire, 9-1 Claude Loiselle, 10-1 Vincent Damphousse, 12-1 Pierre Dorion, 15-1 Pat Brisson. The Stars may ask Brenden Morrow for a list of teams that he might be willing to accept a trade to this summer. The Lightning will look at Jonathan Bernier this summer, but the Kings won’t move him until they get a veteran to backup Quick. They’ll be looking for someone who’s started before. The Predators may not have a fit for their 2008 1st round pick, Colin Wilson, and may look to move him after the season. Sabres winger Thomas Vanek has possibly been playing with a shoulder problem for months. Matheson wonders where the Maple Leafs will get a #1 goalie. Would Calgary move Kiprusoff? Matheson offers a Schneider for Gardiner and Reimer deal or their lottery pick and a defenseman not named Gardiner. It doesn’t look like Ducks prospect Justin Schultz wants to sign with them, and many feel the Rangers have the inside track. One GM said the Oilers would be a good fit for Schultz. The Stars will go after Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, but the Red Wings may have the inside track.
- Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press: Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien has a “lower body bone bruise.”
“It’s never fun to play hurt and it has cut down on my ability to get around out there. But you have to help the team and I won’t shut it down for even a game until we’re eliminated. I have to do my part,” said Byfuglien.
- Chuck Gormley of CSN Washington: Capitals goalie Tomas Vokoun suffered another groin injury and may have played his last game for the Capitals.
- Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun: The Maple Leafs need to acquire a goalie this summer, but the free agent crop isn’t that great: Tomas Vokoun, Josh Harding, Martin Biron and Chris Mason. The Leafs need to look bigger: Roberto Luongo, Cory Scneider or Miikka Kiprusoff.
#1 by Jeff at April 2nd, 2012
If the Leafs get that right (goaltending), it might just save everyone’s ass.
#2 by CD97 at April 2nd, 2012
The Leafs said they could have received 1st round picks for some of their players at the deadline. Make those trades for picks at the draft and use them to make an offer sheet on Carey Price. I think they said Kulemin, Franson and Reimer would each yield a 1st round pick. Those 3 picks should be enough for Price. And they’d still get to keep their lottery pick to actually draft someone. But, I’m probably just talking out of my ass! LOL
#3 by Jeff at April 2nd, 2012
Whether you are or not, you’ve got the right idea. They need to find their “Carey Price”.
Imagine if they had just kept Rask?
Even if they had signed Vokoun, they would be battling for a playoff spot right now i think.
#4 by I_am_I at April 2nd, 2012
@CD97 I assume you mean trade offer not offer sheet? You can only use your teams own picks for an offer sheet.
#5 by I_am_I at April 2nd, 2012
Also Gardiner and Reimer is an awfully steep price for a guy with 55 career starts in the NHL. That is basically a season’s worth of work but spread over 2 years. I’d prefer to get a goalie that had actually played as a started for a season. That would be a fantastic return if Vancouver could actually talk Toronto into it…
#6 by CD97 at April 2nd, 2012
@I_am_I: I did not know that. I guess it would have to be a trade then.
#7 by Wunschkind89 at April 2nd, 2012
I don’t think the Leafs need to make a trade for a goalie. Their defense is more often than not slow and soft. I like Franson, but he doesn’t use his body, Gunnarsson the same, and Phaneuf.. yeah, well all know. Komisarek may be overpaid, but he’s actually playing much better of late.
Sign Vokoun, work on getting better speed on your blueline without sacrificing size, and keep the damn draft picks.
#8 by Lennycle7 at April 2nd, 2012
I also agree that they need to find their “Price” but it won’t be Carey. A) Brian Burke won’t make an offer sheet on any player, b) Montreal isn’t letting Carey Price go, c)Montreal isn’t letting Carey Price go. I don’t know if I’d go after Vokoun either. They really need someone who is going to battle for the entire game no matter how many he’s let in. Someone with the mentality of Tim Thomas (but not Thomas because he’s old as shit).
#9 by Patrick at April 2nd, 2012
Did they mean “Justin Schultz”?
#10 by Mark Easson at April 2nd, 2012
@patrick … yes, Justin … Corrected
#11 by I am I at April 2nd, 2012
@Wunsch: Improving the blueline would work wonders for their goaltending IMO. Slow AND soft is a bad combination…
@Lenny: I really don’t see who is available this summer. I don’t really like any of the FA options.
#12 by Lennycle7 at April 3rd, 2012
Yeah, I think they need to upgrade but I can’t see it happening…It’s like that elusive top center that they’ve been looking for for the past 3 or 4 years and they never seem to get one of those either.
#13 by BradTML at April 3rd, 2012
leafs acquire carey price? but i think goaltending isn’t really the problem right now. Changes on the blue line and a scoring center or excellent play maker for lupul and kessel