Hockey Trade Rumors

The Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils are believed to have engaged in recent trade discussions, prompting each team to dispatch its scouting staff to watch the other club.

It has been widely reported that the Devils have an interest in Kings goalie Jonathan Bernier, however sources close to the Kings told TFP the team is not interested in moving him, at this point, barring a substantial offer.

Edmonton Oilers’ centre Sam Gagner, who keeps finding himself in trade rumours–Toronto for defenceman Cody Franson is the latest or Chicago where he could be reunited with London Knights junior linemate Patrick Kane– didn’t skate Wednesday, nursing a sore back.

Burke also told Sportsnet 590 he is getting “deluged with trade offers” for Cody Franson but has no plans to deal the defenceman.

https://twitter.com/#!/SNTonyAmbrogio/statuses/136805170255376384

Nikita Filatov wants to take the money and run all the way back to Moscow.

Senators GM Bryan Murray confirmed Wednesday the 21-year-old top prospect isn’t happy playing with the club’s AHL affiliate in Binghamton and asked for his release, so he can suit up for the Central Red Army in the KHL.

The usual suspects were busy trying to get deals done today in TO: Howson CBUS and Feaster CGY

https://twitter.com/#!/SunGarrioch/statuses/136585884567994368

For a team not rebuilding, the Flames are certainly making a lot of changes.

Since last season ended, the following veterans have been sent packing in various ways: Robyn Regehr, Ales Kotalik, Steve Staios, Fredrik Modin, Adam Pardy, Daymond Langkow, Raitis Ivanans and Niklas Hagman, who Monday was claimed by the Anaheim Ducks off re-entry waivers.

Columbus GM Scott Howson is the most active working the phones. The only Jacket not being shopped is LW Rick Nash. Pretty much everybody else is available … and the objective is to get rid of money.

The Senators could have at least mild interest in 24-year-old Gatineau native Derick Brassard. He’s minus-11 with two goals and two assists in 15 games and was a healthy scratch Saturday night. Brassard might turn out to be a good fit on the Senators’ second line.

After watching the Maple Leafs goalies flopping around last night and reading today’s stories in the Globe and Mail and Toronto Sun, it’s clear that the Leafs could use the steady services of Scott Clemmensen. Not that I’m trying to peddle Clem, because he’s one of the most stand-up athletes I’ve ever covered, but it’s obvious that rookie Jacob Markstrom is ready and the Panthers could have one of the best goalie tandems in the league with him and a resurgent Jose Theodore, who has been solid all season (5-2-2).

How about Rick Nash? He’s got a no-trade clause, but does he really want to stay in Columbus any longer? He must feel like he’s trying to bail water out of a sinking boat with a shot glass. He’s drowning in a sea of losses, with seven coaches since he was drafted in 2002.

Entering last night, Scott Arniel (coach) and Scott Howson (GM) remained in charge of the stumblebum Blue Jackets, who will be here Thursday night. A brutal start (2-12-1) for the Jax, who aren’t going anywhere until they get legit goaltending, leading to rumors that they could be after the Bruins’ Tuukka Rask or the Islanders’ Evgeni Nabokov.

While the Jackets aren’t firing anyone, they are busy working the phones: The club picked up C Mark Letestu from Pittsburgh last week, but it doesn’t intend to stop there. Teams have shown interest in C Antoine Vermette and C Derick Brassard, but both have long-term deals that pay them in excess of $3 million a season.

Desperate to move Kaberle. Would they move McBain? I wouldn’t. Need to get a comparable young forward back. Already have those.

https://twitter.com/#!/LukeDe*****/status/135397058852044800

In professional sports parlance, trade requests made by athletes are the equivalent of Marie Antoinette’s “let them eat cake” dismissal of her royal subjects. Pulling the chute usually is seen as the ultimate act of heresy, a selfish personal bailout from a situation bankrupted of positives.

Certainly, we’ve already seen the butt-kicking laid on the character of Coyotes center Kyle Turris this season when he demanded that Phoenix GM Don Maloney deal him to another team. It was richly deserved, given Turris’ modest achievements over the course of his 131 career NHL games.

Know this: Nabokov dying to leave, making no secret about it. Family still in CA. #Isles dying to get down to 2 goalies.

https://twitter.com/#!/ChrisBottaNHL/status/134859337557491712

Columbus stinks. No two ways about it. But what about their star player….s? The captain could see his way out of things dont improve. The Jackets are a long way off from being a great team. Nash, Carter, and Umberger make up the majority of their team. The back end consists of Fedor Tyutin and Mark Methot. In net, Steve Mason has won less than 50 games since his sophmore year. So what would Scott Howson look for in return? WHere would Nash like to go? Here are some thoughts:

Ron Wilson could be reunited with Nabokov. But will #Isles trade a quality G within East again for a draft pick or iffy prospect?

https://twitter.com/#!/ChrisBottaNHL/status/134272766877773824

It was the logical move. Veteran goalie Scott Clemmensen was back from knee surgery and the Panthers needed to find the roster space to activate him behind Jose Theodore. So talented rookie Jacob Markstrom had to go, sent to the Florida Panthers’ AHL affiliate in San Antonio. Logical, but not easy.

Gagner’s long-term status with the Edmonton Oilers is up in the air. With Ryan Nugent-Hopkins making the team and centring Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle, and captain Shawn Horcoff as the No. 2 centre, that means Gagner is No. 3. Do the Oiler want that? I’m not so sure.

The Canadiens are talking to the La Kings regarding Dustin Penner (e4). I am surprised at this, and would be pretty shocked were anything to come of this rumor, HOWEVER there are two sources, one with the Kings, one with Habs, who confirm discussions…so at least it is worth noting and I will continue to track this…’

Isles GM Garth Snow has been busy working the phones. Sources say he’s trying to move LW Blake Comeau, who was pointless in eight games going into Saturday. He’s making $2.5 million this season and is a looming RFA in July. Not sure if Comeau is in the doghouse of coach Jack Capuano, but nobody should be happy with Comeau’s start coming off 46 points last season. The Isles may also be shopping for a second-line centre.