Blues looking for a center
Dealing for true No. 1 centers is difficult in today’s NHL, and the elite guys almost never reach free agency.
Coach Ken Hitchcock worked around this issue the previous few seasons by deftly mixing and matching his versatile forwards. Then captain David Backes left via free agency after last season, Vladimir Sobotka remained exiled to Siberia, Lehtera continued his offensive fade and the problem got worse.
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/jeff-gordon/gordo-blues-struggle-to-plug-hole-in-middle-of-lineup/article_6c12182c-4ab0-5223-bf20-a668efe27051.html
Columbus will have to move players to free up cap space
GM Jarmo Kekalainen will likely have to move a player to give Alexander Wennberg the raise he requires when he reaches restricted status in July.
Avalanche are ‘prepared to listen’ to offers on core players
“Now, if you’re asking about Matt Duchene or Gabriel Landeskog, from what I understand, teams have been told they’re not giving these guys because they’re panicking,” said Friedman. “If you want to come at [the Avalanche] with good, young defencemen or prospects, [they] are prepared to listen. But the packages are going to have to be big because they look at both [players] and see good players signed to good contracts.”
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/avalanche-prepared-listen-offers-core-players/
Halak will clear waivers
Less than zero chance someone claims Halak with another year at $4.5m due. Believe he'll be sent to the AHL if he clears.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) December 30, 2016
Could a Tyson Barrie for Oscar Klefbom trade happen?
Richardson notes numerous NHL insiders such as TSN’s Darren Dreger and Bob McKenzie have weighed in, with Dreger telling Buffalo’s WGR 550 that Sakic is going to have to do something to improve his club’s culture. Richardson adds, “McKenzie told Toronto’s TSN 1050 he thinks there’s a sense of urgency for the Avalanche to change something. If Sakic moves a core player, McKenzie cautions he must ensure he gets a good return… ESPN.com’s Craig Custance’s notes the Avs need an impact defenseman. ”
Predictions from the USA Today
New York Islanders center John Tavares will receive the Steven Stamkos treatment when it comes to his 2018 potential unrestricted free agency. The build-up will start next summer. Every team that would have bid on Stamkos will covet Tavares. It will be speculated that he will get $10.5 million per season, just as Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane did in 2014.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/columnist/allen/2016/12/19/ten-nhl-predictions-2017-bold-obvious/95624476/
Is this it for Doan?
LeBrun/Doan: “I think this’ll be it this year for him. He hasn’t announced that, but that’s just my own gut feeling.” #Coyotes 1290
— Chris Nichols (@NicholsOnHockey) December 23, 2016
Rumors will be flying in Colorado
Duchene, Landeskog…name a core player and the rumors will be flying once the roster freeze lifts. Something has to give in Colorado.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 23, 2016
The time is here for the Canucks to trade Jannik Hansen
Following a two-goal game by Hansen, a game in which the Sedins flashed greatness again, Henrik gave his best explanation yet as to why Hansen is so important to the Sedins at this stage of their career.
“He brings a lot of speed,” the captain said. “For us, we want to play the right way (and by that he means they don’t want to cheat).
“We’re two players were a lot of our game is on instinct. We try to read where the D is going with the puck and we try to stay a step ahead.
Jason Botchford: The time is here for the Canucks to trade Jannik Hansen
The time is here for the Canucks to trade Jannik Hansen
But Hansen is also 30 years old, remains one of the Canucks most marketable commodities, and on a team that should be looking three years down the line, not three months, he should be traded.
Good luck trying to convince the Canucks of that one.
Could someone offer-sheet Artemi Panarin?
I know nobody does offer sheets. But, man, I’d offer-sheet the bejeezus out of Artemi Panarin if I’m a rival GM. #Blackhawks
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) December 21, 2016
Are the Avs going to tear down this team?
“I think the moment of reckoning is going to arrive here soon for Joe Sakic in terms of – he’s got to figure out whether he blows this up or not,” indicated NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun during a Monday appearance on Vancouver’s TSN 1040. “I’m not saying he will, but they’ve seen enough now to know that the team that surprisingly won the division a few years back is really the aberration, as opposed to what’s happened since, right.”
http://www.fanragsports.com/nhl/lebrun-sees-moment-reckoning-arriving-soon-sakic-avalanche/
Doubtful Pouliot could be moved
I doubt Pouliot can be moved given age, production & two more years on $4 million per contract. Major negative value. https://t.co/9joiCtlI3K
— David Staples (@dstaples) December 18, 2016