Notebook Buzz
Trade Deadline Buzz
*Capitals GM George McPhee was criticized last year at the trade deadline for not doing enough. There is word that the Washington Capitals won’t stand pat this year and are looking to add some grit upfront along with a physical defenseman.
The Capitals top targets up front include Raffi Torres of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Steve Ott of the Dallas Stars. The Capitals have also been involved in talks with the New York Islanders about Andy Sutton.
*Sources tell me Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell is showing little interest in trading Colby Armstrong in division to the Tampa Bay Lightning who are actively trying to put together a deal that would net the Lightning Colby Armstrong and Thrashers prospect Grant Lewis.
*Multiple sources continue to indicate that Teemu Selanne will not be shopped at the trade deadline. A Pens’ source tells me, the organization never saw Selanne as a potential deadline target.
*Maple Leafs defenseman Tomas Kaberle is willing to waive his NTC to the New York Rangers who have made a pitch to acquire the offensive defenseman. The Leafs are believed to be coveting Ryan Callahan.
*The Blues are listening to offers for Brad Boyes but want immediate help back. The Blues are among a number of teams currently expressing interest in Penguins defenseman Alex Goligoski.
*Penguins prospect Dustin Jeffrey has been heavily scouted over the past two weeks.
Pittsburgh has made Jeffrey available in trade talks, with the Penguins believed to be offering Jeffrey as part of a package for Raffi Torres.
A Blue Jackets source indicates, GM Scott Howson prefers to move Torres after Ray Whitney is off the market, waiting for a team to come in with a late offer but if Whitney is dealt, it’s believed it won’t happen until March 3rd.
The Hurricanes are currently at an impasse and have not ruled out keeping Whitney, if they don’t receive an offer of their choosing.
*If Pittsburgh needs to move Ruslan Fedotenko for salary reasons or attempt to acquire a mid-round draft choice, which they are exploring, one league sources believes they have a suitor in the Phoenix Coyotes.
Fedotenko’s future in Pittsburgh is murky, however, a source close to Fedotenko told me on Monday that based on a meeting with Penguins management in Montreal a few weeks ago, he’s expecting Fedotenko to stay put.
We’ll see about that….but I fully expect him to be moved one way or another if Pittsburgh is able to accomplish their priorities of acquiring a winger and a defenseman.
