Monthly Archives: January 2014
“If you trade (Nail Yakupov and Sam Gagner)… you got a disaster on your hands,” says former NHL GM
This in from former NHL coach and GM Doug MacLean, now a Sportsnet commentator, his take from Wednesday night’s Edmonton Oilers broadcast on whether or not the Oilers should look to trade smaller, skilled players like centre Sam Gagner or winger Nail Yakupov:
“Gagner and Yakupov have really been a real dilemma for this organization. They don’t know what to do with them. -29 for Yakupov. Talented kid. You know he’s going to score a lot of goals in the NHL before he’s done. Gagner, solid, solid. People don’t know if he’s a #2 or a #3 (centre).
Are the Canucks a good or bad team?
You can say that this is still the best of Canada’s seven National Hockey League teams — at this moment. But it won’t be for long if general manager Mike Gillis stands pat with this roster. Suddenly it’s obvious what needs to be done here: find a way to move some of these veteran assets, despite the fact almost every pertinent veteran here has some form of no-trade clause.
Avs’ P.A. Parenteau responds to benching, trade rumors to Canadiens
Parenteau, 30, has been rumored to be on the trading block, with some reports saying the Montreal Canadiens might give up defenseman P.K. Subban for Parenteau and prospect(s) or draft picks. Subban, 24, is a 2014 Team Canada Olympian who is scheduled to become a restricted free agent and will command a salary in excess of $6 million next season and beyond. Roy and the Avs don’t comment on trade rumors but Roy said Parenteau will be back playing for the Avs “soon.”
Brodeur “open” to being traded by Devils; “If there’s a better sitiuation for me, I’ll take it”
The idea of Martin Brodeur playing for a team other than the Devils was pretty much unthinkable until he brought it up on Jan. 12 in Toronto when discussing if he would play beyond when his contract expires after this season.
Now, as Cory Schneider settles into the No. 1 goaltender job that Brodeur had held for 20 seasons, the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer sounds more and more like a man who might be ready to move on before that.
Boyes on the move?
Brad Boyes leads Florida with 14 goals. He will be an unrestricted free agent at year’s end. The Panthers are 8 points outside of the final playoff spot.
Not much trade talk as time will determine if they buy, sell or stand pat
Will the Detroit Red Wings buy, sell or stand pat this season?
That likely will be determined closer to the March 5 trading deadline, not the Feb. 7 trading deadline.
The latest on Thomas Vanek
Thomas Vanek is nearing a decision, according to his agent. Which means the Islanders are nearing a decision on whether Vanek, their big early-season acquisition, will be on the move again before the March 5 trade deadline.
Rangers shopping captain Ryan Callahan
One player whose name I would have never predicted to even possibly be in the mix before the season is that of New York Rangers captain Ryan Callahan.
But he’s a pending UFA July 1 and so far contract talks have not gone well at all, a source told ESPN.com Tuesday.
from tsn.ca – Are we going to see some kind of mini-trade deadline prior to the freeze on February 7?
LeBrun: What’s happened this week is that I’ve had teams tell me that the bubble teams have started to send their lists out and say “If we pull the plug right before the Olympic break, here is the list of players that we’re willing to move,” so keep that in mind. But those bubble teams are also using these next 10 days to determine their performance and see if they’re still in it and if they’re buyers or sellers, so those two days right before the break could be interesting.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=442424
Devils still seeking offense
This team is seeking a viable left winger to play with center Travis Zajac and the ageless Jaromir Jagr. Coach Pete DeBoer decided veteran Dainius Zubrus wasn’t the optimal fit there.
Price too high right now for Miller
Right now the price tag is too high for Miller and the Wild don’t want to pay a big price for a rental. They know they wouldn’t re-sign him.
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) January 27, 2014
Flyers have small window to make a deal to improve team
The clock is ticking. The puck drops on the Stanley Cup playoffs in 78 days.
For Paul Holmgren, one foot is in a frying pan and the other one is in a pressure cooker. The next 6 weeks leading up to the March 5 trade deadline could make or break his tenure as Flyers’ general manager.
Report: Canadiens reject deal for Avs’ Parenteau
The Canadiens have reportedly turned down a trade that would have sent Colorado Avalanche forward P.A. Parenteau to Montreal in exchange for winger Rene Bourque, according to Louis Jean of TVA Sports.