- Several published reports indicate that the Pittburgh Penguins, desperate for defence, are offering the number two overall pick to Carolina in exchange for last year's number three pick, Jack Johnson. The Hurricanes would then use the second pick on Jordan Staal, the younger brother of 'Canes star Eric Staal.
- The St. Petersburg Times chimes in suggesting that the Lightning are also interested in Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Evgeni Nabokov, in addition to Denis, with Fedotenko and Modin expected to be the bait. The paper also dismisses the notion that a Vincent Lecavalier or Martin St. Louis-to-Florida-for Roberto Luongo trade isn't very likely.
- According to the Toronto Star, the Leafs' most likely options for starting goaltender are also Giguere and Nabokov. The prime bait would include a young forward like Matt Stajan, Kyle Wellwood or Alexander Steen. The paper also has the Leafs trying to move Ed Belfour and Tie Domi, though their salaries would seem to make that prohibitive. hope the Leafs move Steen so I can cheer for him with a good conscience again!
- While noting that the Ottawa Senators would surely have interest in free agent C Michael Peca, the Ottawa Citizen suggests that Peca would prefer to land in Buffalo or Toronto. Alyn McCauley, Shean Donovan and Steve Rucchin were also mentioned as Senators options.
- The Ottawa Citizen has more Lightning trade options: Anaheim's Jean-Sebastien Giguere, San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov, Buffalo's Martin Biron, Boston's Andrew Raycroft, Montreal's David Aebischer or Vancouver's Dan Cloutier are all possibilities.
- According to the Detroit News, if the Red Wings can't put together an offer for Florida's Roberto Luongo, then Anaheim's Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Buffalo's Martin Biron, Boston's Andrew Raycroft, Philadelphia's Robert Esche, Montreal's David Aebischer and San Jose's Evgeni Nabakov would all be viable alternatives. In order to get Luongo, the paper expects that the Wings would have to offer C Pavel Datsyuk or D Niklas Kronwall with goalie prospect Jimmy Howard. Going further, the Wings might be forced to trade Mathieu Schneider and Robert Lang in order to create room for Luongo's anticipated salary. In an unrelated, though potentially related note, the Detroit Free Press notes that prospect Jiri Hudler, who scored 96 points in the AHL this year, will have to clear waivers if he's going to get sent down again.
- The Los Angeles Times reported that the Kings offered G Mathieu Garon, LW Alexander Frolov and RW Dustin Brown for Luongo. I think that's a really good offer, but the Panthers don't really need forwards. and I think Auld>Garon in the long run
- Rumblings in the New York Post indicate that tight friends Martin Havlat and Patrik Elias could end up in the same locale this summer, with Elias an unrestricted free agent and Havlat a restricted free agent that could be difficult for the Senators to keep.