Posts Tagged St. Louis Blues

Morning Hits: Wolski, Scott, Brunner, Roy and Hemsky

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on May 20th, 2013

  • Renaud Lavoie: The Sabres signed John Scott to a one-year deal at $750,000.
  • Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: A source confirmed that Patrick Roy is a strong candidate for the Avalanche head coaching position. Roy was offered the position in 2009, but turned it down.
  • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Ales Hemsky’s days with the Oilers could be coming to an end. GM Craig MacTavish isn’t going to pay $5 million a season for a second line winger with world-class ability.  His knock is missing too many games due to injury.

    “I don’t think there’s a market for him … I shouldn’t say there’s no market,” said former NHL general Craig Button, who now works for TSN. “But the salary cap is coming down to $64.3 million. He makes $5 million for one more year. Would the Oilers pick up half of that to trade him, 50-50 (with another team)? That would still free up $2.5 million in cap space for the Oilers.

    “I don’t know if they can get something tangible in return for Hemsky. Andrew Cogliano got the Oilers a second-round draft (pick). I don’t know if they can get that for Hemsky,” Button said.

    “He’d be rolling along, on pace for 80 points, and bang, he gets hurt. He’s not reliable (to possible trade suitors).”

    Western Conference teams that might be interested: Predators, Blue Jackets, Red Wings, Blues, Coyotes and Jets (moving next season). If the Red Wings lose Valtteri Filppula, Hemsky could be an option if they only have to pay $4 million.

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Morning Hits: Spezza, Quick, Sharks fined, trade options for Miller and a look at the Canucks

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on May 19th, 2013

  • Bruce Garrioch: With Jason Spezza returning to the Senators lineup today, would have to assume that Guillaume Latendresse will be sitting.
  • Helene Elliott: Kings Jonathan Quick received a game misconduct that the end of last night’s game. He receives an automatic $200 fine and “the case shall be reported to the commissioner, who shall have full power to impose such further penalties by way of suspension or fine.” Because it was for abuse of an official, if a player receives two of them, they can be suspended. It was Quick’s first abuse of an official.
  • Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider: The NHL didn’t like Sharks GM Doug Wilson’s comments regarding the Raffi Torres suspension and have fined the organization $100,000.
  • Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News: It sounds like the Sabres would like to keep Tomas Vanek, but he may be looking to get out. The Sabres may be more interested in trading goalie Ryan Miller. The 33-year old Miller is set to make $6 million next year and may not be easy to move with the salary cap going down. Harrington thinks a team that is close to the winning the Cup may be interested in Miller. Could the Ducks be interested? Jonas Hiller has a year left on his deal and was only OK in their first round loss. The Blues might be interested. Brian Elliott lost four straight in the first round, and Jaroslav Halak may not be getting along with coach Ken Hitchcock. Sabres GM Darcy Regier is unlikely to move Miller to an Eastern Conference team, so that would eliminate the Capitals and perhaps the Penguins. If a non-Cup contending team is interest, maybe the Avalanche. Miller would be an improvement over Semyon Varlamov and JS Giguere.
  • Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun: The Canucks are already over next year’s salary cap with 17 players under contract. Trading Roberto Luongo and buying out Keith Ballard would free up $9.5 million. They would have to be cautious free agent spenders. They probably can’t afford Ryane Clowe, Nathan Horton or David Clarkson. They may have to look at cheaper options like Guillaume Latendresse, Raffi Torres, Eric Nystrom and Bryan Bickell. There isn’t much help from within the organization coming up. Six current Canucks have no-trade clauses, and another three kick in on July 1st: Alex Burrows, Chris Higgins and Alex Edler. Edler may be used as a trade chip. Would the Flyers deal Sean Couturier for Edler? Could the Canucks get a package including Justin Abdelkader from the Red Wings or Jamie McGinn is a deal with the Avalanche.

    “In order to get players to play for less than market value, you have to give them something they can rely upon,” Gillis explained. “I think if a player was unhappy here, he’d waive his no-trade. If we were unhappy with him, it would be obvious and he would waive his no-trade. But that’s not a path we’re looking to right now. I think we need to supplement our core group of players that are here as best we can, and then look at possibilities down the road.”

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Morning Hits: Stalberg, Ribeiro, Hendricks, Clarkson, Elias, Nabokov, Streit, Boyes, Cervenka and the Blues

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on May 16th, 2013

  • Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times: Blackhawks made winger Viktor Stalberg a scratch last night and coach Joel Quenneville wouldn’t give details as to the reason. A source said that Stalberg was at odds with the coaches about his roll in round one. He only received 58 seconds total of power play time in the first three games of round one, despite averaging 2:11 per game during the regular season. He only recorded two power play assists all season.

    “I had a conversation with him,” Quenneville said. “He knows how it stands, what the situation is. We’ll leave it at that.”

    Quenneville on if Stalberg could work his way back into the lineup.

    “Absolutely,” he said. “Things change in our business quickly, whether it’s health or decisions based on play. We’ll visit as things go along.”

  • Stephen Whyno of the Washington Times: Capitals UFA second line center, Mike Ribeiro (33), is looking for a four or five year deal.

    “I don’t see myself getting worse,” Ribeiro said. “It can only get better. I can be out there. I can work out more. There’s a lot of room there to improve and, you know, that’s why I don’t think I should have less than four or five years.”

    Capitals Matt Hendricks is also looking for a long term deal.

  • Rich Chere of the Star-Ledger: Devils GM Lou Lamoriello has held talks with UFA David Clarkson, but nothing with regards to Patrik Elias. No financial discussions have taken place with Clarkson though.

    “We’ll continue to work on it. We’ve certainly started the process, but until (contracts) are complete there is nothing done,” Lamoriello said [yesterday].

  • Zach Braziller of the NY Post: Islanders UFAs Evgeni Nabokov, Mark Streit and Brad Boyes all hope to return next season. Nabokov’s agent spoke with GM Garth Snow about four weeks ago, but nothing since then.

    “I think Garth will make his decision,” Nabokov said. “I told him I would like to stay, but we were fighting for the playoffs and nothing was going on. Now we have to see.”

  • Wes Gilbertson: Flames center Roman Cervenka signed a three year contract to return to the KHL. Dmitry Chesnokov: SKA acquired Cervenka’s rights from HC Lev for two players, then signed him.
  • John Shannon: The NHL has announced that there will be two games at Yankee Stadium next Jan. 26th and 29th. The Devils will play the Rangers on the 26th and Islanders will play the Rangers on the 29th, with the Rangers being the away team for both games.
  • Andy Strickland of True Hockey: Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk maxed out their player bonuses again this season. Pietrangelo reached his A-Level bonuses for assists, ice time, blocked shots, and points.

    The are several categories a D-man can earn team bonuses including goals (10), assists (25), points (40), ice time (among top 4 on team), +/- (top 3 on team among D-men), blocked shots (among top 2 D-men on team), points per game (0.49 points per game). Obviously these numbers are pro-rated this season to reflect the 48 game season.

    Strickland thinks the last thing the GM Doug Armstrong needs to do is to overreact to negative things surrounding the Blues. They need to find the right balance of offense and defense. Many of their players were drafted high due to their offensive ability, and they need to utilize their instincts and playmaking ability more often. Being too conservative against the Kings may have been one of their downfalls.

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Morning Hits: Stars, Koivu, Selanne, Niederreiter and Blues

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on May 15th, 2013

  • Eric Stephens: Ducks GM Murray said the team will be different next year. He indicated that he’d like Saku Koivu to return, and will talk to Teemu Selanne over the next little while.
  • Anaheim Ducks: Murray on Teemu Selanne: “I’ll wait a while, go hit a few (golf) balls, go play with him and let him beat me, and then we’ll decide.”
  • Brian Costello: The Dallas Stars were cheering for the Bruins. If the Bruins make the Eastern Conference final, the Stars will get their 1st round pick. If they don’t, they’ll get a 2nd round pick. From the Jaromir Jagr trade.
  • B.D. Gallof: “Just to make this VERY clear… Nino Niederreiter is NOT being actively shopped. See his name coming up like forgone conclusion. To expand on Nino thoughts: yes, he is a tradable asset. however, when has Garth ever just traded off asset? Has to be right scenario. Also do not believe #isles will spend ANY rebuild assets for a goalie when vets aplenty.
  • Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: A couple Blues GM Doug Armstrong quotes in case you missed them.

    “This is a public cry that for any GMs that have any 50-goal scorers that want to just send them to St. Louis, give me a call,” Armstrong said. “I spent the last two days going over the top 20 scorers the last few years, and most of them are drafted by their own teams. Reality is with free agency the way it is now, teams tie up those elusive top-end goal scorers.

    “If I can find a guy that can come in and help us score goals, certainly we’re going to look at doing it. But to think that that player is out there and teams say, ‘Geez, it’s St. Louis’ time to win, we’ll give you (Alex) Ovechkin,’ you’ve got to deal in reality. … It’s incumbent upon the players in this room to find out how to produce when the lights are the brightest to score those goals.”

    “We have players that have produced in the past that haven’t been able to get us over the hump in the playoffs, but they’re still in those prime years,” Armstrong said. “I believe that the home-grown talent can produce at those times. The easiest thing is to show somebody the door. It’s foolish if you’re not bringing in somebody that’s better.”

    Andy McDonald will be a UFA and is not expected to re-sign. Armstrong said they expect to re-sign all their RFAs including Chris Stewart and Patrik Berglund.

    “I don’t see this being a huge free agency offseason for us,” he said. “I see it more taking care of our own business and then seeing if we want to re-arrange some of the chairs via trade.”

    Stewart, Berglund and David Perron could be players the Blues consider trading.

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Morning hits: Stars, Ducks Canucks, Price, Kaberle, Blues, Coyotes bid rejected, Dion’s days numbered?

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on May 14th, 2013

  • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Matheson laughing at a fan site suggesting a Loui Eriksson trade to the Islanders for Ryan Strome and Michael Grabner, and with Islanders fans saying they wouldn’t trade either straight up for Eriksson. Matheson does note that Eriksson could be in play for a front-line center. The Stars also have some defenseman that could be on the move.

    The Stars have lots of young defencemen looking for regular work — Jamie Oleksiak, Joe Morrow and Kevin Connauton — which makes trading Trevor Daley or Alex Goligoski certainly plausible.

    Matheson wonders if the Ducks would take a run at Stephen Weiss.

    Matheson thinks with the Canucks at $63.5 million for 16 players for next season, will use their buyouts on David Booth and Keith Ballard. Both have two years left at $4.2 million cap hits. Mason Raymond is likely gone as a UFA.

  • Dave Stubbs: Addressing a Canadiens Carey Price rurmor: “Price asking for a trade would need to travel a million miles just to reach ludicrous.”
  • John Lu: Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin said a decision on a compliance buyout for Tomas Kaberle hasn’t been made yet.
  • Jeremy Rutherford: Blues playoff issue. Rutherford knew fans who didn’t buy tickets as they didn’t know when the games were starting soon enough. The Blues didn’t sell out three playoff home games.
  • Norm Sanders of the News-Democrat: (h/t Pro Hockey Talk) Blues GM Doug Armstrong on their need for more scoring.

    “This is a public cry that for any GMs that have 50-goal scorers that they want to send to St. Louis, give me a call,” he joked. “This doesn’t happen, you have to deal in reality. The reality is with free agency the way it is now, teams tie up those elusive top-end goal scorers.

    “They draft them. (Evgeni) Malkin, (Sidney) Crosby, (John) Tavares, (Steven) Stamkos were drafted by those teams.”

    The Blues will send qualifying offers to all of their free agents.

    “We’re going to negotiate to try to sign every player that’s a restricted free agent,” he said. “Ownership understands that the window is open now and we have to take care of our own. I don’t see this being a huge free-agency off-season for us. I see it more as taking care of our own business — and then seeing if we want to rearrange some of the chairs via trade.

  • Scott Burnside of ESPN: The NHL has rejected California investment banker Darin Pastor’s bid to buy the Phoenix Coyotes.

    “We have rejected the offer. It didn’t include the elements we had previously discussed were necessary to warrant serious consideration,” Daly said in an email Monday night.

    It was rumored that he was willing to pay upwards of $277 million with $42 million in cash at closing, though that seems unlikely as it would be hard for the NHL to walk away from that.

  • David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail: (h/t Lyle Richardson in the Hockey News) Shoalts piece was written last Thursday after Dion Phaneuf’s pinch that cost the Leafs the game. Shoalts thinks that Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis should move to Plan B and “The plan should include quietly putting Phaneuf on the trade market no later than the NHL draft at the end of June. Nonis will not hit a home run with a trade, nor should he expect to thanks to Phaneuf’s erratic play.” A deal would may only get a modest return, but Nonis should accept it. Phaneuf has a year left with a $6.5 salary cap hit and may not take a pay cut from the Leafs.
  • Tim Wharnsby of CBC: h/t Lyle Richardson in the Hockey News) Wharnsby’s piece was written last Thursday. Wharnsby wonders if Dion Phaneuf’s days in Toronto are numbered. He continues to make the same mistakes he made as a rookie in 2005. Nonis may have to make a decision by draft. The Leafs have organizational depth on the blue line. Nonis would have to feel that Jake Gardiner is ready for a bigger role. Cody Franson may be ready for a bigger role.
  • James Mirtle: On Phaneuf: Mirtle would be surprised if the Maple Leafs didn’t re-sign him.
  • John Lu: Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin on order of positions that mature the fastest: wingers, centers, defensemen and goalies.

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Morning hits: Keenan, Selanne, Yeo, Backstrom, Blues goaltending, Islanders and the Flyers draft

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Entry Draft, NHL News, NHL Rumors on May 13th, 2013

  • Mike Keenan: Will coach Magnitogorsk of the KHL next season.
  • Craig Custance: Teemu Selanne after last night’s game: “I don’t really have to play but this has been so much fun. I just have to decide when it’s time.”
  • Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: Wild GM Chuck Fletcher on head coach Mike Yeo.

    “He’s our coach, he’s our coach,” Fletcher said by phone this morning.

    Yeo will return for his third year. The Wild will also have decisions on UFA Niklas Backstrom.

    “Like anybody pending unrestricted free agency, they’re going to have a vote in the matter too. We’ll sit down and talk with all of them and see whether they want to be here and what they’re looking to do and see what fits. That’s what the next two months will be about. We’ll obviously have to make some decision, but before, we have to break down our year and see where we need to put the money the most.”

    No decision has been made if they’d buyout Dany Heatley or anyone else.

  • Jeremy Rutherford: Blues GM Doug Armstrong said their goaltending situation is “cloudy” with Jaroslav Halak, Brian Elliott and Jake Allen.
  • Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: Multiple sources have said that Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak and coach Ken Hitchcock “had a heated disagreement outside the club’s locker room” in the morning before Game 4. Halak was late for a meeting, then vented about lack of ice during the season. Halak was unhappy about not getting into the last game of the season after returning from a groin injury. Halak’s unhappiness was noted by the organization as early as Game 1, as he wasn’t giving full effort during their morning skate. He has only one year left on his deal with a $4.5 million salary and $3.75 million cap hit. Brian Elliott has one year left with a $1.9 million salary and $1.8 million salary cap hit. Jake Allen will be a RFA after this season.
  • Arthur Staple of Newsday: Both Travis Hamonic and Josh Bailey (RFAs) are almost certain to return, but UFAs Mark Streit and Evgeni Nabokov and are not as certain. Streit is looking for a three year deal worth around $16 million. UFA Brad Boyes could be back, but only if he’s looking for a reasonable number.
  • Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News: On what the Flyers could do come draft day. The Flyers could use a cornerstone defenseman. Many mocks have them targeting a tough Dman, either Rasmus Ristolainen or Darnell Nurse. With the 11th pick, GM Paul Holmgren is “confident” they’ll get a good player.

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Roster Notes: Blues, Wild, Leafs, Canucks, Rangers, Penguins, Bruins, Capitals, Canadiens, and Ducks

Posted by Mark Easson in Fantasy Hockey News, NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Starting Goalies on April 30th, 2013

  • Jeremy Rutherford: Blues T.J. Oshie was skating with Patrik Berglund and David Perron this morning.
  • Michael Russo: Wild’s Jason Pominville has been ruled out of Game 1.
  • Chris Johnston: Maple Leafs Tyler Bozak said he’ll play in Game 1 against the Bruins. Mark Masters: Bozak isn’t sure if he’ll be able to take face-offs.
  • Farhan Lalji: Canucks Cory Schneider said he’s ready to go and will let the coaches know when they have their meeting today.
  • Dan Rosen: Rangers Ryane Clowe (undisclosed) and Brian Boyle (knee) didn’t practice today. Derek Dorsett (broken clavicle) is still wearing a non-contact jersey. Defenseman Marc Staal practiced again, but there is no timetable.
  • Mark Masters: Maple Leafs Tyler Bozak skated between James van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel today. Other lines: Komarov-McClement-Orr … McLaren now skating with extras Hamilton & Colborne, Lupul with Grabovski-Kulemin for the 1st time … Frattin reunited with good buddy Kadri & MacArthur
  • Dan Rosen: Rangers lines: Nash-Richards-Zuccarello; Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan; Kreider-Brassard-Pyatt; Powe-Newbury-Asham.
  • Will DePaoli: Penguins lines: Kunitz – Malkin – Neal, Dupuis – Jokinen – Iginla, Morrow – Sutter – Cooke, Glass – Adams – Kennedy/Bennett.
  • Boston Bruins:  Bruins lines:  Lucic-Krejci-Horton/gold: Marchand-Bergeron-Seguin/grey: Daugavins-Kelly-Jagr/merlot: Paille-Campbell-Thornton.
  • Ken Wiebe: Capitals lines: Ovechkin, Backstrom+Johansson, Brouwer, Ribeiro+Erat, Fehr, Perreault+Chimera and Volpatti, Hendricks, Beagle. Defensive pairings: Green and Alzner, Carlson and Erskine and Oleksy and Hillen. Ward and Wolski the extra F’s, Poti and Schultz the extra D.
  • John Lu: Canadiens lines: Ryder – Plekanec – Gionta Pacioretty – Desharnais – Bourque Galchenyuk/Eller/Gallagher Moen/White/Prust Armstrong/Halpern/Weber.
  • Jim Jamieson: Canucks lines: Sedins-Burrows; Higgins-Kesler-Kassian; Raymond-Roy-Hansen; Ebbett-Lapierre-Weise. Defensive pairings: Hamhuis-Garrison; Edler-Bieksa; Alberts-Corrado; Ballard-Barker.
  • Craig Custance: Jonas Hiller will start Game 1 for the Ducks against the Red Wings.

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Morning Rumor Hits: Clarkson, Possible Oilers targets and an Offer sheet for Pietrangelo?

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on April 30th, 2013

  • Tom Gulitti of the Bergon Record: Devils David Clarkson isn’t sure what to expect when it comes to unrestricted free agency.

    “I’m going to have my meeting with Lou and see what happens, I haven’t really even touched on it,” Clarkson said. “I’m sure I’ll have a meeting with my agent (Pat Morris) this week when I get back to Toronto and go through everything. But to be honest with you, I haven’t even sat down with (Morris) once this year. He’s somebody that let me play as well and just wanted to wait until this was over with.

    “Unfortunately, it’s earlier than we expected. But I’m sure when I get home in the next week we’ll have some meetings and figure things out a little more.”

  • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: It’s unlikely that the Wild will be able to re-sign Cal Clutterbuck because of salary cap reasons. Matheson thinks the Oilers should go after him. Matheson also thinks the Oilers will go after Nathan Horton, and possibly Blackhawks Bryan Bickell or Viktor Stalberg.
  • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: New Oilers GM Craig MacTavish has said changes will be coming, but it’s unlikely to involve Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nail Yakupov and Justin Schultz. That could change if Shea Weber comes available.

    “I’ve always been of the belief that everything has a price, everything’s for sale. Is it likely, given the high regard we have for these players, given the punitive price we paid to get them? Highly, highly unlikely they would be part of any trade discussion, largely because we value them more highly than anybody else,” said MacTavish.

    Sam Gagner could be a trade chip this summer. There have been some talks with Gagner regarding a contract extension. The Oilers could take a run at Sabres Drew Stafford. Free agents Viktor Stalberg or David Clarkson could get a look at from the Oilers.

  • Tim Panaccio of CSN Philly: Flyers GM Paul Holmgren knows he has to makeover their defense, add more size up front and add more speed. Panaccio wonders if the Flyers should put an offer sheet in on Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo.

    “My job is to make this team the best it can be,” Holmgren said of offering an RFA sheet or any other move. “So I will look at any and every way to do that.”

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Injury and Roster Notes: Blackhawks, Wild, Blues, Red Wings and Senators

Posted by Mark Easson in Fantasy Hockey News, NHL Injuries, NHL News on April 30th, 2013

  • Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune: Blackhawks Dave Bolland and Ray Emery will miss Game 1 of their series with the Wild. Both are out with lower-body injuries.

    “We’re going to rule them out for (Tuesday),” Quenneville said. “We’ll say day-to-day. We’re hopeful they’re going to be on the ice real soon. We expect them on the ice real soon.”

    Henrik Karlsson will back up Corey Crawford. Michael Handzus will center Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp.

  • Michael Russo of the Star-Tribune: Wild Jason Pominville, who had been out with a head injury, practiced yesterday on a line with Kyle Brodziak and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Coach Mike Yeo wouldn’t say for sure that he’ll be available for Game 1 against the Blackhawks.
  • Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Blues T.J. Oshie feels he’s ready to go, but coach Ken Hitchoch isn’t giving him the green light just yet.

    “We’ll get an evaluation to see how ‘Osh’ feels (after practice) and how he looked and then we’ll evaluate it (Tuesday),” Hitchcock said.

    Adam Cracknell may come out of the lineup if Oshie is back. Vladimir Tarasenko  could also be the odd man out. Brian Elliott will start in net for the Blues.

  • Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen: It’s unlikely that Jason Spezza will get back into the Senators lineup, unless they go deep into the playoffs.

    “I suspect we would probably have to go a little distance (in the playoffs) for that to happen,” Murray said Monday.

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Injury Notes: Schneider, Oshie, Stamkos and Bozak

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News on April 28th, 2013

  • Lou Korac: Blues Hitchcock said that TJ Oshie could have played yesterday, but a few extra days off will help.
  • Damian Cristodero: Lightning’s Steven Stamkos had an MRI in the last couple weeks on his left shoulder. There were no issues, just soreness.
  • David Alter: Maple Leafs Tyler Bozak is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

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Injury Notes: Oshie, Spezza, Schneider, Havlat, Bieksa and Pominville

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News on April 27th, 2013

  • Andy Strickland: Blues TJ Oshie said that he should be good to go when the playoffs begin on Tuesday or Wednesday. Added that he won’t push his ankle if it’s less than 100%.
  • Ian Mendes: Senators Jason Spezza has started skating, but he’s only done light on-ice drills. Coach Paul MacLean said that Spezza’s “not even close to joining team,” and only at the ”public skating” stage.
  • Elliott Pap: Canucks coach Alain Vigneault on Cory Schneider being able to practice after the the Oilers game: ”Couldn’t answer that.”
  • David Pollak: Sharks Martin Havlat had a maintenance day yesterday and should be back in the lineup tonight. Kings defenseman Matt Greene is day-to-day.
  • Elliott Pap: Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieka is expected to be able to go for their last regular season game.
  • Michael Russo: Wild’s Jason Pominville missed last night’s game, and they are only saying that he’s day-to-day.

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Morning Hits: Stars offseason, Miller lists townhouse, Oilers could make several moves this offseason and Forsberg to AHL

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Entry Draft, NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on April 26th, 2013

  • Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: (from a chat) Heika thinks the Stars could look at a right handed center in the draft or on the right wing. Elias Lindholm will likely be gone by the time they pick. Sean Monahan, Bo Horvat, Frederik Gauthier and Alex Wennberg could be options. The Stars might be willing to move up in the order to get the player they want. At some point the Stars will have to look at trading a defenseman. They may need to turn them into a more physical and/or a right handed defenseman or depth upfront. Defensemen Trevor Daley, Alex Goligoski, Stephane Robidas, Philip Larsen, Joe Morrow and Kevin Connauton are similar players. It may take moving two or three and replacing with one. Stephane Robidas, Trevor Daley or Alex Goligoski could be candidates to be moved. Jordie Benn is a UFA and likely not coming back.
  • John Vogl of the Buffalo News: Ryan Miller has put a for sale sign on his Buffalo townhouse.

    “I don’t know which way it’s going to go, so I’m not going to talk like I’m gone,” Miller said today. “I think I’ve got a lot more hockey in me, so being able to just kind of reflect and enjoy a moment is nice, but it’s going to be another hockey game and I have to prepare and compete.”

  • David Staples of the Edmonton Journal: TSN’s Bob McKenzie said on Wednesday that the Oilers could consider trading their 1st round pick this year.

    “If you’re going to be bold, that’s certainly a bold move. What the Edmonton Oilers really don’t need is another 18-year-old blue chipper. They need some help right now and using that first round pick as currency could get them that help right now.”

    “They may use the pick, but they may try and parlay it into something immediate.”

    McKenzie added that if they keep the pick, they could look for a strong, physical center or a defenseman. Defenseman Darnell Nurse would be one possibility.

    TSN’s Darren Dreger added that GM Craig MacTavish may look to make as many as six changes:

    “He wants to upgrade in all areas, starting in goal.”

    Devan Dubnyk has been OK, Dreger said, “but the Oilers will look to improve.”

    Dreger speculates goalies Ryan Miller, Jonathan Bernier or Mike Smith. On defense they could look at Kevin Shattenkirk, Andrew Ference or Mark Streit. At forward they could look at Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow, David Clarkson and Matt Hendricks.

  • Josh Cooper: The Predators send Filip Forsberg to Milwaukee of the AHL.

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