Blues make splash, acquire Ryan Miller and Steve Ott; Sabres plan to deal Halak, Stewart?

BLUES ACQUIRE RYAN MILLER The trade deadline frenzy is underway. The St. Louis Blues are going for it, acquiring goaltender Ryan Miller and forward Steve Ott from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart, William Carrier, a first-round pick in 2015 and a third-round draft pick in 2016. It’s a very good deal for both teams. The intrigue is in Buffalo. It’s widely believed that the plan is to now move Chris Stewart and Jaroslav Halak for more future assets. Minnesota is a team to keep an eye on with Halak Speculation has been rampant on Stewart landing with Ottawa or the New York Rangers. TSN’s Bob McKenzie has hinted at a big deal possibly being in

Some Takeaway’s from the Penguins 6-5 shootout loss to the Canadiens

ON THE PENGUINS 6-5 SHOOTOUT LOSS TO HABS There wasn’t a lot to like from the Penguins in their return from the Olympic Break. The Penguins had the benefit of scoring some weak goals against a backup goaltender playing back to back games, were not sharp defensively, goaltending was poor from Marc Andre Fleury and you had situations of the Canadiens getting under the Penguins best players skin with a retaliation penalty from Evgeni Malkin and Crosby getting frustrated with Douglas Murray. Even the officiating was very poor and I felt that way before Tanner Glass was called for a five minute major. The good for the Penguins was again the power play. The Penguins were 2 of 5 on

Penguins have pulled back on thought of extending Brandon Sutter during the season, mulling serious run at Ryan Kesler

LATEST ON RYAN KESLER Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks Cap hit: $5 million | Signed Through: 2015-2016 2013-2014 Stats: 60 GP – 20 Goals – 18 Assists – 38 Points – -10 Ryan Kesler hitting the trade block is a potential game changer throughout the league. While he’s been plagued by injuries and looked at as no longer being the 40+ goal scorer he use to be, a two-way center of Kesler’s ability has GM’s drooling over the prospects of acquiring him, despite the injury concerns. The market is significant, though, some believe the Canucks best return for Kesler could be the summer not now. However, there is momentum pointing towards the likelihood of Kesler getting moved by March 5th. The

Penguins lineup vs Canadiens: Engelland in over Despres

PENGUINS LINEUP VS CANADIENS Chris Kunitz – Sidney Crosby – Brian Gibbons Jussi Jokinen – Evgeni Malkin – James Neal Tanner Glass – Brandon Sutter – Chuck Kobasew Taylor Pyatt – Joe Vitale – Craig Adams DEFENSEMEN Brooks Orpik – Deryk Engelland Olli Maatta – Matt Niskanen Rob Scuderi – Robert Bortuzzo GOALTENDER Marc Andre Fleury Notes: Deryk Engelland is in over Simon Despres tonight which was expected.

Audio: Kris Letang talks situation, doctors believe percentages are high that he will play hockey again

Kris Letang met the media for the first time since having a stroke and here are some highlights plus audio of his media session: Letang said his recovery has good and bad days. “For right now have some good and bad days,” Letang said. “I’m going day to day to get 100%.” Letang mentioned some days are mentally tough and there’s different symptoms he deals with. “Symptoms to it, some days stronger than the other,” Letang said. What Letang’s situation shows is that there’s more to life than hockey. Letang has a wife and kid and his wife found him laying on the ground when he had a stroke. “Certainly my family is really worried and that was difficult to manage……seeing my

Morning Pens Buzz: Having 4th toughest remaining schedule a potential good thing for Penguins

PENGUINS HAVE 4TH TOUGHEST REMAINING SCHEDULE The Penguins return to action tonight vs Montreal Canadiens and have 24 games left in the regular season. Pittsburgh holds a 16 point lead over the New York Rangers in the Metropolitan Division but the race for the top seed in the Eastern Conference is up for grabs between the Penguins and Boston Bruins. Just four points separate the Penguins (83 pts) and Bruins (79 pts) with both teams playing 58 games at this point. The teams are nearly identical in a number of categories. Among them: PIT Goals For 186 | BOS Goals For 180 PIT Goals Against 138 | BOS Goals Against 130 PIT Goal Differential +48 | BOS Goal Differential +50

On the Penguins and Ryan Callahan

PENS HAVE KICKED AROUND THE IDEA OF GOING AFTER RYAN CALLAHAN Ryan Callahan will be traded by March 5th. That much is certain. Callahan seeking $7 million per season as a free agent this summer has scared off many teams and led to somewhat of a limited market, but there’s a group of three to four teams showing steady interest despite the huge demands. Are the Penguins surprisingly one of the contenders, despite Callahan’s high demands and the Penguins lack of cap space? Don’t rule it out just yet with the trade deadline a week away, though, you can put them in the longshot category right now of actually pulling off a deal for Callahan. The word out of the

The Marty St. Louis to the New York Rangers chatter is only heating up

ST LOUIS A GOOD BET TO BE TRADED BY THE SUMMER? The Marty St. Louis to the New York Rangers chatter is only heating up. St. Louis demanded a trade prior to the Olympics and the buzz around the league is that St. Louis stance has not changed one bit despite being added to Team Canada. One NHL source said St. Louis is a man of his word and won’t change his mind. St. Louis had every opportunity to kill the trade speculation today when he met with reporters and he didn’t. “The only thing I can say about that is I’ve had conversations with Steve on my future here,” St. Louis said, via the Tampa Times “Out of respect