Bob McKenzie was on Toronto’s TSN Drive earlier this afternoon.
Steven Stamkos became a focal point of the discussion as there haven't been any recent updates from the Bolts or his agent regaring a new contract. McKenzie says that Calgary may be quietly attempting to make a play for Stankos.
“It’s my understanding – there’s no question that Brad Treliving is trying to shake the Flames up. And there’s no question that he’s talked to a number of teams and I don’t doubt for a moment that he’s spoken to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“But as best I can tell, and I certainly stand to be corrected if I’m wrong, I don’t think the Flames and Tampa are talking about Stamkos right now.
“Now, it’s funny though. In the summer when I was on vacation – I still talk to people on my vacation – and there were people who were absolutely adamant and told me that they thought that both Buffalo and Calgary were the two teams that were trying to talk to Tampa about Stamkos. The timing on it might have been sketchy really, because there were later reports that Buffalo I guess did reach out, but that was prior to the draft – or in around the draft – or prior to him actually becoming a free agent. But I had heard the Calgary rumors real strong in the summer. I chased them down when I came back and didn’t get anything that would suggest to me that there was evidence of that.
“I will say this, though, about Brad Treliving and the Calgary Flames – he’s sort of a stealth big deal guy. We saw that in the summer with Dougie Hamilton. Nobody saw the Dougie Hamilton trade coming, and Treliving kind of pulled a rabbit out of his hat there.
“Now in fairness, Dougie Hamilton hasn’t played very well so far for the Flames. None of the Flames have. Giordano is not on top of his game. A lot of the good players for Calgary simply aren’t playing well right now.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if Brad Treliving is trying to find that big deal to shake things up. I don’t think that Monahan or Gaudreau are getting traded anytime soon, but when you’ve got young players like that and you’ve got a wealth of them – Sam Bennett is another one – well, maybe there is a deal there for somebody for one of those younger players. And I’m not suggesting Gaudreau by any stretch, or even – I’d be shocked at Monahan because there’s such maturity to his game. But I wonder, at some point, could Sam Bennett be available. I guess It really depends.
“Again, I don’t believe the Calgary Flames are trying to get rid of Sam Bennett. They’re not shopping him. But I believe the Calgary Flames are working the phones and seeing what they’ve got. And I know that when teams call and ask for Gaudreau or Monahan, they’re likely to get a, ‘(No,) not going to happen.’ Whereas with some of those other players on the team, they might get a, ‘Well, make us an offer. Knock our socks off and we’ll see where we’re at.’ “
Stamkos to Calgary? Buffalo?
What's your take?
Thanks to Nichols On Hockey for the transcription.
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The Buffalo Sbres players must be feeling like they won the lottery today.
The undefeated Montreal Canadiens (7-0) have announced their starting goalie for Friday night's tilt with the Sabres in Buffalo.
Carey Price will be reduced to wearing the obligatory baseball cap while he backs up his seldom used under study Mike Condon on Friday night.
Sabres scorers won't have to solve the puzzle that is Price who is 6-0 this season with a scintillating .966 save percentage (176 saves on 182 shots faced) and 1.00 GAA. Price already have earned 2 shutous in his six starts this season.
As a team, the Sabres have failed to bury their chances-- many of the glorious variety-- this season. The Sabres have scored just 10 goals while allowing 15 goals against. Their -5 goal differential has become a focal point. Chad Johnson has been playing at a high level and has been making the key saves at the most opportune time to give his team the chance to win games. The Sabres continue to out shoot and out chance opponents, however, they just can't put the biscuit in the basket on a regular basis. I feel like one or two four-goal games in a row will serve as a popping of the proverbial cork on the Buffalo offense. It certainly hasn't been from the lack of trying that the Sabres cannot score. They are getting grad A scoring chances that for whatever reason cannot seem to cash in on. Perhaps Evander Kane, Jack Eichel, Samson Reinhart, Ryan O'Reilly. Matt Moulson, Tyler Ennis, Brian Gionta, Zemgus Girgensons, Marcus Foligno, Jake McCabe, Mark Pysyk, Rasmus Ristolainen and others will break on through to the other side against Mike Condon on Friday night.
Condon, 25, hails from Needham, Massachusetts.
On October 11, Condon allowed only one goal against on 22 shots against the Ottawa Senators in his only start of the season.
Last season, Condon posted a 23-19 record with the Hamilton Bulldogs.
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In a surprising move, Calgary Flames goalie Karri Ramo passed through 24 hour waivers, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. Ramo is now free to roam to Calgary's AHL affiliate in Stockton, California.
There was talk in the Buffalo press box last night on Wednesday night that Sabres GM Tim Murray might put in a waiver claim on Ramo to serve as a back up to Chad Johnson.
Robin Lehner is sidelined until mid-December with a high ankle sprain that he suffered in the second period of the season opening loss to the Ottawa Senators.
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With Ramo clearing waivers, my thoughts are focused on the Anaheim Ducks who sent their assistant general manager and player personnel director to the Sabres-Leafs game on Wednesday night.
Tim Murray may looking to add a goalie to his roster right now to help ease the work load on Chad Johnson who is filling in admirable for the injured Robin Lenher. The big Swede will be out of the lineup until Christmas time.
Perhaps the Sabres are interested in keeping rookie Linus Ullmark in AHL Rochester so that he can continue to get further acclimated to the North American game. I expect to see Ullmark in Buffalo later this season, however, not now. He is showing great poise and progress as he is back to dominating opponents with his active, aggressive style. Ullmark is fully recovered from the double hip surgey that he successfully underwent six months ago. In 176:40 minutes TOI, Ullmark has a 1-3 record this season. He has made 110 saves on 118 shots faced. He has a 2.72 GAA and .936 save percentage. Personally, I'd leave Ullmark in Rochester so that he can hone his craft. He hasn't even made 500 saves in North American hockey yet and already people are promoting him to Buffalo. In my opinion, Ullmark is not ready yet for the rigors of the NHL. Unless it is for an emergency call-up, I'd leave Ullmark in the incubator until such time that he is ready for a challenge at the next level. I feel like rushing him top the NHL might jolt his confidence and stunt his growth right now.
Murray may still have interest in John Gibson, who is the current starter in AHL San Diego.
Seemingly, Gibson cannot crack the Anaheim lineup right now because he is being impeded by Freddy Andersen. Anton Khudobin is backing up Andersen.
A closer look at the Anaheim goalie situation reveals that Ducks management may be feeling strongly that they will not be able to get a long term, mutually beneficial contract signed with Andersen before the end of the season. The young Dane will be RFA in July. He earns $1,150,000 this season and will be looking for a heavy duty, multi-year, multi-million dollar pay day in his next contract. The Ducks already have Gibson, 22, signed for the next four years at $721,000 for this season and $2.3 million for the three remaining years.
Will Gibson be the next main man in the Anaheim net? Or, will it be Andersen? Seemingly, it can't be both Gibson and Andersen staying and playing as a tandem in Anaheim.
It's looking more and more like the Ducks will have to decide which young goalie they will be committing to for their long term. It's not likely that they will sign Andersen so that they can platoon him with Gibson for the next four plus years.
Maybe Tim Murray is looking at the Eastern standings today thinking that his team can take an immediate quantum leap forward by bolstering his goaltending. This is not a tanking season. There is no reason to rule out the Sabres for one of the eight playoff seeds in the East. The rebuild is over. The days of struggling and tanking are dead and buried.
Its now time to win games and strive to make the playoffs.
Murray will tell you that his #1 priority each and every day is to make the Buffalo Sabres a better, more competitive hockey team.
Loading up on high quality goaltending is not such a ludicrous idea as its the one position that most Eastern Conference teams are struggling at today. Tim Murray has nearly $10 million in available salary cap space to invest right now if he so chooses. Murray may want to trade for Andersen, ride him until the NHL trade deadline and then trade him for more assets in the form of players and high draft choices.
Never under estimate the genius that is Tim Murray. He talks to every GM in the NHL and he is always focused on making moves that will improve his Buffalo roster.
Ask Columbus what a bad goalie can do to your playoff aspirations and goals.
Oh, by the way. Andersen will sit for his second straight game tonight in Nashville. Anton Khudobin will get the start for the Ducks against the Predators.
Stay tuned....
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Wondering what is happening with Ryan O'Reilly's legal situation?
The impaired driving case of O'Reilly, charged over the summer in Lucan, Ontario is put over until November 5th.