Internally the Ottawa Senators continue to flirt around the idea of acquiring Ducks defenseman Mathieu Schneider
The Senators are in the market for an offensive defenseman and have shown an interest in Schneider for some time but were waiting for the Andrej Meszaros situation to resolve. The Senators have about $5 million in cap space and would have to send some salary back to the Ducks for a trade to work. Discussions are on-going. The Ducks are believed to be looking for draft picks and prospects in return.
Brian Burke, the GM for the Anaheim Ducks has asked his scouting staff to provide scouting reports on potential targets from the LA Kings, Vancouver Canucks, Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres have recently inquired about the asking price for Schneider.
It remains to be seen whether ownership has any intention to add Schneider’s salary. The Sabres have about $7 million in cap space. Published reports have linked the Kings and Ducks as perfect trade partners considering the Ducks need to clear salary and the Kings are below the cap ceiling but at this moment Kings GM Dean Lombardi has not been given the ok from ownership to add Schneider’s salary. Therefore, the Kings are also exploring cheaper options.
The Kings are about $3 million under the cap ceiling but are expected to finalize a long term contract for center Patrick O’Sullivan that will count more than $3 million per season against the cap.
The Vancouver Canucks have also been mentioned as a potential suitor for Schneider
