Rumors III: Bruins, Oilers, Jets and Top Available Coaches
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  • Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: If the Oilers trade Taylor Hall, many will be saying that it’s the same mistake the Bruins made with trading Tyler Seguin. The Oilers need both top-six and bottom-six centers, top pairing defensemen, defensive forwards and a No. 1 goalie.

    What would it cost the Bruins to land Hall? To address their needs, a package of Chris Kelly, Loui Eriksson, Malcolm Subban, Adam McQuaid and draft picks would hit areas of need.

    But getting real, the Oilers covet Milan Lucic and Dougie Hamilton according to Edmonton sources, and one of those players would likely have to be included.

    If the Bruins looked at Jordan Eberle, the Oilers would likely want one of Lucic and Hamilton as well. Some people have mentioned David Krejci and Tuukka Rask, but both have strong no-trade clauses and are looked as untouchables like Patrice Bergeron. They also won’t consider trading Zdeno Chara at this point. Carl Soderberg could become an option over Krejci.

    “As a player in this league you learn not to read too much into those things,” said Lucic. “Rumors are said all the time. The GM is doing whatever he can to put the best team on the ice, and as a player those are things you can’t control. You trust in your GM that he’ll put the best team on the ice.

    “You just try to go out there and play, focus on your game and focus on helping your team win. When your teams wins, you never hear about speculation, or anything like that. If we just take care of that everything else takes care of itself.”

    Chris Stewart is a more likely trade acquisition than either Hall or Eberle. The cost to trade for him would be a lot less and there is some talk that the Sabres might be willing to retain some salary.

  • Nichols on Hockey: Darren Dreger on TSN 1290 radio on the Jets Dustin Byfuglien.

    “But every time a Dustin Byfuglien rumour surfaces, I kind of roll my eyes a little bit. Because as valuable as he might be to some other teams around the National Hockey League, he’s that valuable – if not more valuable – to the Winnipeg Jets. So it would take an unbelievable deal for Kevin Cheveldayoff to consider moving Dustin Byfuglien because of what he brings to the Winnipeg Jets.”

    Dreger on TSN 690 on Taylor Hall

    “All of the sudden you have to look at the landscape and recognize that if – and if is an enormous if – you put Taylor Hall in play, and this would be in the off-season. You’re not going to get a premium rate of return even at the trade deadline, I don’t think. You throw him into play on the draft floor in June, and the sky is the limit. So maybe you get two of the three pieces that you need. Maybe you get a real starting goaltender. Maybe you get a blue chip defenseman. Or you get a quality No. 2 centre. There’s lots of teams that will show considerable interest and will have the flexibility to do it in the offseason.

    “But that’s why MacTavish is on the bench. To figure all of that out.”

  • Craig Custance of ESPN: Ranking the best coaches that are available: 1. Dan Bylsma 2. Ron Wilson 3. Paul MacLean 4. John Tortorella 5. Terry Murray

    Top AHL option: Jeff Blashill – Grand Rapids Griffins

    Top OHL option: Sheldon Keefe – Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds