NHL insider Bob McKenzie beamed in some great trade deadline insight from Toronto (technology!) to NBCSN on Wednesday, so let’s take a look at what he had to say.
Amusingly enough, you can separate his takes into one tasty, McDonald’s-sponsored video (the more exciting stuff about possible trades) and a set of updates that throws some cold water on our imaginations.
Bobby Mac’s Big 3
Heh.
Anyway, in the video above, the fun stuff.
Kevin Shattenkirk: McKenzie reports that the St. Louis Blues are “more likely than less likely” to move the sought-after defenseman. The reasoning is that GM Doug Armstrong seemingly believes that this season’s group isn’t as good as last year’s, so why not get value for Shattenkirk?
(Now, there’s the argument that the West is inferior this season ... but let’s move on.)
Ben Bishop: The Tampa Bay Lightning are heating up, lending some credence to the idea of holding onto their big goalie. McKenzie believes that the Bolts are still leaning toward moving Bishop, however.
Martin Hanzal: To little surprise, the Arizona Coyotes are “eager” to trade the hulking pivot. It should be intriguing to see what he might draw.
Fun killing section
OK, now the less fun side.
Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog: The Colorado Avalanche aren’t necessarily closing down shop on their biggest names, but McKenzie believes that they’re more likely to get the right trade offer during the off-season instead of the deadline.
Marc-Andre Fleury: The Pittsburgh Penguins’ preference is to hold onto “The Flower” and let the expansion draft chips fall where they may.
Others, like Anaheim Ducks defensemen including Cam Fowler: If the team is going to clear up the logjam on the blueline, it might be for someone down the chain ... maybe. This situation is cloudier, as McKenzie notes that GM Bob Murray is playing it close to the vest.
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It’s important to note that McKenzie isn’t speaking in absolutes here. Things can change, even in a week.
Still, if you’re daydreaming about moves, maybe focus those thoughts more on Shattenkirk, Bishop and Hanzal than speedy Duchene.
(Granted, they’re your daydreams ...)