Morning Rumors: Avalanche, Devils, Penguins, Kings, Islanders, Maple Leafs, Islanders and Sabres
  • Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: Avs coach Patrick Roy on the March 5th trade deadline.

    “Sometimes you’re just afraid to say, ‘hey, if we bring this guy in and he doesn’t gel with our guys, are we a better team?” Even watching these (Olympic) games, I mean, look at the Finns: they don’t necessarily have a superstar, but they work hard together, and everything is possible. And our group is believing in each other, our group is working every day, our group is having fun playing together, our group is playing with that intensity and receptive to the teaching we’ve been doing, they’re receptive to the adjustments we want to make. I think it’s hard right now to think of making some changes. Joe (Sakic) and I are always going to be looking to have the best team that we can. But at the same time, it’s very, very dangerous to try to do too much. Am I comfortable to go with the team I have? The answer is yes. We’re going to have some tough decisions to make at the end of the year, we know this. Paul’s (Stastny’s) contract is up and we’re going to have to look at our options. But at the same time, our fans are very important to us and we want to give them the best we possibly can. Fans are coming to our games and having a blast, and we want to keep it that way.”

  • Rich Chere of the Star-Ledger: Will the Devils look to trade Martin Brodeur and/or captain Bryce Salvador?

    “I’ve been traded before. Once you’ve been traded, it takes a lot of that uncertainty off the way you look at it. You know the world doesn’t end when you get traded,” Salvador told The Star-Ledger.

    “But it may be a unique situation with Marty. We’ll see what happens there. For myself, at this point Lou hasn’t talked to me about anything.”

    Salvador could be traded if the right offer comes along.

    “Things can happen. It just depends on what the team does and what direction they go,” said the 38-year-old veteran, who has another year left on his contract at $3.25 million.

    “Every organization has to look at what they’re doing with the future. Last year Jarome (Iginla) got traded. Obviously it was a bit different because they knew they were out, but he was in Calgary his whole career. I’ve learned never to be surprised.”

  • Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The Penguins are thought to be looking for a right winger to replace Pascal Dupuis, a bottom-six winger with grit and a veteran depth defenseman. Potential targets could be: Andrew MacDonald, Steve Ott, Brad Boyes, Matt Moulson, Lee Stempniak, Ales Hemsky, Henrik Tallinder and Marcel Goc.
  • Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: Shinzawa thinks that Matt Moulson would be a good fit with the Kings. The Sabres will look for a first round pick for Moulson. Since the Islanders will now be sellers, GM Garth Snow’s first priority is to get a first round pick back to make up for the one he sent to the Sabres for Thomas Vanek.
  • Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: With Josh Harding still out indefinitely, and Niklas Backstrom not making a start since January 11th, the Wild may look to add a goaltender. Ryan Miller is available, but the Sabres will be looking for a big return, and Wild may only want to give up a big return if they would want to re-sign him long-term. Martin Brodeur could also be an option for the Wild.