Canadiens eyeing a Sharks defenseman?
Kevin Kurz: The Montreal Canadiens have been scouting the San Jose Sharks this season.
Elliotte Friedman reports the Canadiens are looking at left-handed defensemen.
The Sharks have a left-handed defenseman who is from Montreal – Marc-Edouard Vlasic.
Devils mailbag on Hall, the D, Boyle and Schneider
Corey Masisak of The Athletic: (mailbag) New Jersey Devils pending UFA Taylor Hall isn’t going to base the next eight years of life off of the first 20 games of the season, nevermind the first six.
If the Devils get to a point of trading Hall, think it wouldn’t happen until around three to four weeks before the trade deadline.
Would think the Devils are looking to see what defenseman could be available on the trade market. They are a little thin. It won’t be a high-end guy, but maybe someone for their third pairing.
Free agent Brian Boyle doesn’t really fill a need for the Devils, but he would be an addition to the leadership side of things.
Don’t believe the trade rumors involving goaltender Cory Schneider are coming from a credible source.
The Oilers could look to move a defenseman around the trade deadline
Allan Mitchell of The Athletic: If Ethan Bear continues to work his way up the Edmonton Oilers depth chart, Joel Persson shows he can play in the NHL, and possibly with Evan Bouchard playing some NHL games, the Oilers could consider trading Matt Benning or Kris Russell at the traded deadline.
When Adam Larsson is healthy, they could have a top-four of Oscar Klefbom, Larsson, Darnell Nurse and Bear.
Benning is a pending restricted free agent that carries a $1.9 million salary cap hit this season. He could be looking for a slight raise for next season.
Russel has another year on this deal at $4 million. He carries a partial no-movement clause.
An ideal scenario may be moving Russell around the deadline which would allow some younger guys to get a bit more playing time this year and it would free up cap space for next season.