Penguins/NHL
Fletcher era in Minnesota off to a slow start
*Sitting with the second worst record in the league, Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher acquired winger Chuck Kobasew from the Boston Bruins over the weekend.
Kobasew has scored at least 20 goals in three of the past four seasons and Kobasew was attractive to Fletcher, because he has two years left on a three-year, $7 million contract.
The Wild though have issues up and down their lineup but they aren’t getting much from their top 6 forwards. Martin Havlat, their prize free agent signing is a -6 and Petr Sykora has only appeared in 4 games and is on IR with a groin injury. To make matters worse for the Wild, forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard has been put on the long-term injury list.
Islanders to place Schremp on waivers?
*The Robbie Schremp experiment is nearing an end in New York. Schremp has fallen off of the top four lines in New York and has one point in five games.
Leafs defensemen struggling
*The Toronto Maple Leafs top four blue liners Luke Schenn, Tomas Kaberle, Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin are a combined minus-17. The Leafs are a league worst 0-6-1.
Kovy to Boston?
*If Ilya Kovalchuk hits the trade block before the trade deadline, the Boston Bruins are prepared to make a major play for Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk’s priority is to workout an extension with the Thrashers.
Frolov not on Pittsburgh’s radar
*LA Kings forward Alexander Frolov was a healthy scratch last night sparking trade speculation. Kings GM Dean Lombardi is not actively shopping Frolov at this point who is in the final year of his contract. But, Lombardi isn’t hanging up the phone on inquiring general managers.
Pittsburgh and LA have not held any discussions regarding Frolov since the trade deadline and there won’t be any talks in the near future. Pittsburgh doesn’t expect to be a player for Frolov this year.
The Penguins have no intentions of offering any assets on their roster or in their farm system for a player who is in the final year of his contract. The Kings also won’t just give Frolov away.
Pittsburgh though would be willing to give up some assets for
Florida Panthers winger Nathan Horton who wants out of Florida. The Ottawa Sun reported this week that the Panthers are shopping Horton. I’m told from sources in the Penguins organization that’s not the case yet but If Horton becomes available for trade, Pittsburgh will be in on him.
Horton is attractive to Pittsburgh because he is under contract through the 2012-2013 season with a cap hit of $4 million person.
Players off limits in the Penguins system: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Kris Letang, Sergei Gonchar, Marc Andre Fleury, Tyler Kennedy, Eric Tangradi, Simon Despres and Robert Bortuzzo.
Players such as Chris Kunitz, Dustin Jeffrey, and Luca Caputi are available in the right deal.
*Former Pittsburgh Penguins center Mike Zigomanis has signed a professional tryout with the Toronto Marlies.
