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Kekalainen might seek to add veteran
General manager Jarmo Kekalainen said he wouldn’t make any “knee-jerk reactions” amid the Blue Jackets’ disappointing start, but said the lack of leadership among players has him interested in acquiring a veteran.
A disturbing 7-0 loss at the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night still was resonating with Kekalainen and the club yesterday morning as they prepared for a game last night against the Calgary Flames.
Could the Leafs be looking to trade Reimer?
With Reimer’s deal up, it will force Toronto to likely make a decision in the offseason depending on his contract demands. When Edmonton was looking for a goalie earlier this season, it had been speculated by some that the Leafs should move Reimer, but that doesn’t sound like an idea that appeals to Nonis for this season.
What are the Canucks going to do about Booth?
Canuck GM Mike Gillis made his weekly appearance on the club’s flagship radio station TEAM 1040 Thursday morning and had this to stay when asked about benched $4.25 million winger David Booth:
Philly knows that they will have to give something up good to get something good
Mckenzie "Philly's not shopping Schenn (or Couturier) but they know that to get what they want they need to move one of those guys"
— Hope_Smoke (@Hope_Smoke) November 20, 2013
Are the Preds interested in Anaheim’s Hiller?
If the Predators are making a move in goal, it will be for a goalie they’re absolutely convinced will come in and help this season.
Hurricanes looking at Liles?
There might also be rumbles on the trade front as the NHL holiday roster freeze is now less than a month away (Dec. 19-27).
Sportsnet reported Tuesday that Carolina Hurricanes hockey operations VP Ron Francis was scouting the Marlies game on Tuesday at Ricoh against his Charlotte farm club to look at defenceman John-Michael Liles.
http://www.torontosun.com/2013/11/20/leafs-roster-will-need-tweaking
New York Islanders GM working the phones
Islanders general manager Garth Snow has had his usual trade discussions with his fellow GMs around the league, but there aren’t many reasonable prices for usable defensemen. Having already surrendered next June’s first-round pick (provided it is not a top-10 selection; in that case, the Islanders can defer it to 2015) in the deal that brought in Thomas Vanek, the Islanders don’t have any big chips to offer for a defenseman who might be available.
Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray looking to deal
Two league sources told the Sun the Senators GM has been working the phones to try to make a deal to shake up his struggling club. The priority is to try to find a top four defenceman who will be able to step in immediately.
“I get the sense Murray would like to do something,” said a league executive before the visit by the Wild. “It might even just be a change for the sake of change.”
Is a Havlat for Michalek trade in the works?
Rumour in Havlat to Ottawa stuff, according to a scout, was Michalek, who has expiring deal, would go back to @SanJoseSharks #crazytalk
— Chris Stevenson (@CJ_Stevenson) November 20, 2013
Rumors from tsn.ca’s Darren Dreger
Darren Dreger: We are hearing some interesting names that are starting to surface. Two of them that come to mind are Brayden Schenn of the Phildadelphia Flyers and Michael Del Zotto of the New York Rangers. Now the Flyers aren’t trying to push out Schenn – they may want to push out his brother Luke – but what they’ve told teams quietly is that if there is the right deal available, if they can find the right fit, then absolutely they would include Brayden Schenn in a trade scenario. And we know Paul Holmgren likes to make that big blockbuster deal.
Edmonton willing to trade their 2014 first-round draft pick
An obviously frustrated MacTavish said last week he is willing to trade Edmonton’s 2014 first-round draft pick. Undoubtedly, he’ll be looking for a big centre or a game-changing defenceman. But there are a couple of things to keep an eye on here. First, is the better play to wait until after the draft lottery to see the true value of that selection? Second, Edmonton considered a similar move last June, only to keep the seventh-overall pick and draft Darnell Nurse, who is an exciting prospect for the organization.
http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/hockey/opinion/2013/11/30-thoughts-paul-maurice-could-ease-pressure-on-oilers-eakins.html
On the Mike Cammalleri trade speculation
Cammalleri, 31, is a pending unrestricted free agent. He’s said he’s “open” to signing an extension, but does he fit into the club’s plans?
Speaking of which, here’s ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun with the second reason we’re writing about Cammalleri today:
NHL rumors: Michael Del Zotto drawing interest, on Sens’ radar
While he has definitely had his struggles, Del Zotto is still a player with plenty of potential as he is just 23 years old and is under team control for a while yet given his RFA status after this season. He’s a puck-moving defenseman when at his best and has had plenty of experience running the point on the Rangers’ power play over the last couple of seasons.
Are the Blues looking at Miller?
Miller, 33, is in the final year of a five-year, $31.3 million contract with Buffalo, which may be inclined to move the netminder, who will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Blues are believed to be one of the teams that inquired about Miller last offseason, but it appears that that ship has sailed.
Kulikov trade talks continue
The Florida Panthers continue to field calls for defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, as the team has let its opponents know a number of players are up for grabs.
Last week, the Panthers shipped right wing Kris Versteeg to the Chicago Blackhawks and more trades are expected this season.
Ottawa Senators searching for 6th forward
One quarter of the way through the schedule, the Senators are still trying to find a bona-fide Top 6 forward.
The search has been internal so far, but GM Bryan Murray is also turning over all sorts of stones outside the organization.
Apparently, he’s even shown interest in a flash from the past.
Are the Habs looking at Evander Kane?
The Montreal Canadiens want to score more goals, and while one of their lines continues to click on all cylinders, the rest of the team has been lacking.
The Habs rank 21st in the NHL with 2.43 goals-per-game, despite sitting third in the entire league in goals-against.
Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf dubbed Princess Phaneuf by Sabres’ John Scott
John Scott was fighting mad but with nobody to scrap, the Buffalo Sabres thug used his tough talk instead.
Incensed at having been ejected from Saturday’s game during an animated third-period skirmish that involved multiple players, including Toronto defenceman Dion Phaneuf, Scott lashed out at the Maple Leafs captain.
Are the Flames about to make some major moves ?
Give Flames GM Jay Feaster credit, his team needed a defenceman and he acquired Ladislav Smid for a goalie prospect the club felt was well behind Jonathan Gillies and a centre in Roman Horak who hadn’t proven he could be a top-nine skater.
With Smid’s age — 27 — he’s still in his prime and should serve as a good mentor for the likes of Patrick Sieloff and Tyler Wotherspoon in the future.
Islanders and Predators possible landing sports for Hiller
On Thursday, Anaheim activated Viktor Fasth from his AHL conditioning stint. At the same time, the Ducks assigned Frederik Andersen to Norfolk. During his brief NHL audition, Andersen proved his AHL apprenticeship doesn’t have to be much longer. The 24-year-old went 6-1-0 with a 1.66 GAA and .943 save percentage while sharing the net with Jonas Hiller.
