Is Ben Scrivens available?
– With the recent stellar play of goalie Martin Jones during the Kings Canadian road trip; the Kings find themselves in a very interesting position. Down is no.1 Jonathan Quick but his return is set for another couple weeks. This will make three solid goalie NHL caliber on hand for Dean Lombardi. In other words something will have to give. In a recent article, Dave Matheson from the Edmonton Journal looked at the possibility for the Kings to keep Martin Jones and trade goalie Ben Scrivens acquired last year in the Jonathan Bernier deal from the Leafs. Scrivens’ contract is due at the end of the year and he will be an unrestricted free agent. Scrivens may be able to fetch a decent return from a team in need of depth at goaltending for the last stretch of the playoffs.
Jonas Hiller may stay and Viktor Fasth go
Still with Dave Matheson from the Edmonton Journal, he has heard the Anaheim Ducks may not trade Jonas Hiller and keep him. The Ducks would be more inclined on trading Swede Viktor Fasth instead. Jonas Hiller who will be a UFA at season’s end was rumored on may social media and sports website to go potentially to the Edmonton Oilers where that ship has now sailed with the acquisition of Ilya Bryzgalov by Craig McTavish and the latest from the Nashville Predators where David Poile was waiting on the status of Pekka Rinne to go after Hiller. Again with the cap rising, Hiller may be tempted to be greedy and ask for big dollars from the Ducks. The immediate plan to have Hiller as no.1 and backup would be Dane Frederik Andersen. prospects John Gibson is still continuing his development in the AHL.
Jets in a rut and will need a change
Things are not very rosy in Winnipeg. The Jets are sitting last in the Central Division and third-last in the Western Conference. The team that came so close to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference last year is living a different path in the Western Conference this year. In the Winnipeg Free Press, medias are calling for a change.Players are frustrated and are starting to make it public via the media. “It’s the same thing over and over again,” Jets captain Andrew Ladd told the Winnipeg Sun following Saturday’s 6-4 loss to Dallas. “Obviously, something needs to change.” meanwhile general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is working the phones to get a trade done. Not any trades but something to shake things up while upgrading the team. Evander Kane who’s been at odds with head coach Claude Noel has been the most candidate often mentioned in the trade rumors. Teams Kane has been linked to are the Flyers, bruins and the Canadiens. Also players mentioned have been Dustin Byfuglien and captain Andrew Ladd. Byfuglien has been linked to the Bruins as well.
