Things continue to be quiet out there. Real quiet. You get the occassional Spezza talk, sure, but as far as the Dallas Stars go and NHL trade rumors– Pretty much nothing.
Sneak attack? Or is it just prudence. Is a backup goaltender all tomorrow really holds as they let the system develop another season before taking the risks?
Scott Burnside has a good run down of all the big free agents here this afternoon. He mentions that Brad Richards USED to be in Dallas in passing…that’s really as close as they get to the Stars.
Which isn’t to say stuff isn’t happening out there.
Like the Colorado Avalanche trading P.A. Parenteau to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for veteran Daniel Briere. Briere had been playing on the fourth line in Montreal, though he had a nice playoff- And that could be what Colorado is after there. Veteran leadership and a playoff performer.
He’s scored 14 points on the Dallas Stars in 24 games, so look forward to that.
Basically, Parenteau is a better player than Briere right now. And yet somehow, the Avalanche felt the need to send along a draft pick as well, in exchange for weakening their roster
Undoubtedly, the Avs wanted out from under that second year of $4 million, and they’re to bolster their depth at centre, especially with Paul Stastny leaving, and Ryan O’Reilly still on the outs. But this hardly does it, and it hardly seems worth it. [Puck Daddy]
Elsewhere, the subject of the afternoon is what the Nashville Predators will do with Michael Del Zotto…
NSH trying to deal Michael Del Zotto before 4 ET. If no deal, do they qualify at $2.9M or let him go UFA. Suspect it’s latter but not firm.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 30, 2014
It’s actually 4pm CST, so we’ll update that. Poile said this week Del Zotto is a good player but he’s “miscast” in Nashville. It seems like he’ll be let go without a qualifying offer… then the question becomes: Could he actually be a good value at a reduced price?
It’s newsy in Phoenix these days. Or Arizona, or whatever. Everyone in Yuma is really thrilled about the inclusion, let me tell you…
They bought out our friend Mike Ribeiro due to belligerence behavioral issues, and then made a trade to acquire Sam Gagner from Tampa, who had just acquired him for the sake of… dealing…him?
Apparently the Coyotes have been granted some more resources…
Don Maloney and Dave Tippett met with Coyotes owners in early June, asked for more resources ($, scouting, development). Approved.
— Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL) June 30, 2014
They had their eye on Gagner, though, it seems. We never heard Dallas in connection with him.
Maloney was concerned that Lightning might buy out Sam Gagner and then they’d have a hard time getting him as free agent.
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) June 30, 2014
John Shannon suggests Steve Ott go back to Buffalo, perhaps. There’s also been talk about the Flyers for Steve Ott.
When Tim Murray talks about veteran leadership being acquired in Buffalo, you’ll be hearing names like Steve Ott and Brian Gionta.
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) June 30, 2014
That was a painful trade for Stars fans. Has he really lost that much of his game since he left here that he’s a bit of a drfiter now, or were St. Louis and Buffalo just not good fits for him?
Speaking of which, anyone here anything about Brenden Morrow recently? Us either…
Jarome Iginla is still kicking around, and unlike Morrow he’s generating the chatter…
Not impossible that Jarome Iginla signs with #canucks but I think he’ll end up somewhere else in the west. Maybe Minny or Colorado.
— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) June 30, 2014
Does David Legwand do anything for you?
There are 8-10 teams interested in UFA David Legwand. Likes of NYI, FLA, BUFF, TOR. #TSN
— Aaron Ward (@aaronward_nhl) June 30, 2014
Meanwhile…
Neal said it was at Matt Niskanen’s wedding when he found out
— JoshuaCooper (@JoshuaCooper) June 30, 2014
That was… probably a real downer.