Of trade rumor-related note this morning:
The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta and Newsday’s Andrew Gross have both suggested that the Red Wings may be “getting calls” regarding Jimmy Howard’s availability, and the New York Islanders may be the team most interested in Howard and Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson:
At the risk of getting attacked by half Edmonton again, know with certainty teams continued to inquire about Cam Talbot leading up to & over the Draft. Oilers listened, but nothing has been close. I do not get sense, as of now, that contract talks are ongoing, either. #puppies
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) June 24, 2018
That said, there are a number of teams who poked around the goalie market. Told Detroit received inquires on Jimmy Howard, as well. And of course Ottawa’s Craig Anderson, whom I believe is getting traction on a move. Whether it gets done or not, we’ll see.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) June 24, 2018
Here’s Newsday’s Andrew Gross:
Lou Lamoriello, currently encamped in Los Angeles as part of the John Tavares contract pitch festival, certainly liked the eight players the Islanders selected in the seven rounds of the NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday.
But the Islanders’ president knows much more needs to be done regardless of whether Tavares opts to re-sign or leave via unrestricted free agency when the market opens July 1. There’s still a No. 1 goalie to acquire, with the Senators’ Craig Anderson or the Red Wings’ Jimmy Howard as possibilities, and a need for NHL-ready defensemen.
“I think that’s an ongoing process. There is a plan in place,” Lamoriello said Saturday afternoon in Dallas. “I’ve always said it’s a five-year plan that changes every day. We’ll see how the week goes.”
I was sorta hoping Jimmy would have been traded to the Isle back at the last trade deadline. I’m ok with the move, as there are cheaper goalies to be had via Free Agency.
Personally, I don’t see this trade happening at all. The Wings were fifth worse in the NHL with Jimmy. Without him, yes, they will be worse. The only reward for being the worst team in the NHL is an 18% chance of getting the #1 pick….That doesn’t seem a big enough reward, IMO, to be terrible.
I’m sure KH is not in a full tank mode and will want the team to be winning as many games as possible. His hope I bet is more like being close to the playoffs so the young guys know what it takes to win rather then being like the Oilers who just learned to lose year after year. Winning keeps moral high. Having McDavid sure didn’t work for the Oilers….yet….