Penguins/NHL
A lot of buzz going around regarding Panthers GM Jacques Martin. Martin continues to take a hard stance in regards to defenseman Jay Bouwmeester who is this year’s Marian Hossa at the trade deadline. Teams want to see if Bouwmeester would be open to an extension prior to trading for him.
Washington is a sleeper team in the Bouwmeester sweepstakes. They remain highly interested. Check out the Trade Deadline Chart for the rest of the suitors.
Florida, Vancouver and Toronto are interested in Chris Pronger.
The Panthers and Senators have had discussions about Filip Kuba, Chris Neil and Nathan Horton. Horton is another popular subject in Montreal. The Panthers are denying that he wants out.
The Flyers obsession with Petr Forsberg continues. The Flyers, Avalanche, Predators and Blackhawks have made inquires. Teams would be crazy to give Forsberg anything more than the league minimum
Thrashers GM Don Waddell continues to insist that Ilya Kovalchuk is not available. Waddell continues to search the market for a super star to team with Kovalchuk
Carolina and Dallas have recently been scouting Lightning forward Mark Recchi
Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom have been suspended for one game after opting not to show up for the All-Star game.
The fighting constroversy is back at the forefront. A Philadelphia Flyers minor-league enforcer was hospitalized after a having a seizure following a fight. This incident happened just weeks after the death of a Canadian senior amateur player who hit his head on the ice while fighting.
Coaches on the hot seat in the second half?
ANA Randy Carlyle, there’s talk out of Anaheim that the team has tuned him out
OTT Craig Hartsburg, not much to say here
Safe for now
STL – Andy Murray, What may save his job is ownership has no intention of paying two coaches.
DAL – Dave Tippett, Came into the season with Stanley Cup expectations and are currently 11th in the West. Tippett has the backing of ownership but if the Stars miss the playoffs, expect a coaching change.
PIT – Michel Therrien
Talks between the Penguins and Kings are not dead but the Kings are in hot pursuit of
Maple Leafs defenseman Tomas Kaberle. It remains to be seen whether Kaberle would accept a trade to LA. Alexander Frolov would be going the other way according to sources
Finally I’m hearing some Ryan Whitney trade talk. There has been no trade talk about Whitney since he returned but sources tell me Shero is looking at what kind of market is out there for Whitney and Alex Goligoski. Ownership did not want to move Whitney last summer
More on Whitney following the weekend.
Many believe within the next year, Whitney or Staal will have to go and League sources believe the Penguins will not trade Jordan Staal but Florida is very interested. Shero would be reluctant to do a straight swap for Nathan Horton.
Pittsburgh is on the fence about Martin Erat but discussions have taking place and will continue. Shero may be pushing this more than others in the organization, due to his close connections with Erat.
Word is the Anaheim Ducks would move Corey Perry in the right deal. Bobby Ryan is off-limits.
