Here are today's rumors while waiting at the Canada - US border crossing as I head to Buffalo for tonight's gold medal game.
*-> Free agent Marc-Andre Bergeron has officially signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning this morning. The Lightning get an experienced powerplay quarterback to add to their lineup.
*-> The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Anaheim Ducks made a minor league trade this morning as the Jackets sent Nate Guernin to the Anaheim Ducks for Trevor Smith.
*-> The Minnesota Wild have sign Jed Ortmeyer who has been playing for their AHL affiliate the Houston Aeros.
*-> With the situation in Ottawa looking very grim and playoff hopes bleak the rumors in Ottawa have started to spiral. The main rumor has been the potential firing of Cory Clouston after the horrific loss to their Ontario rivals Toronto Maple Leafs. Clouston doesn't have the respect of the players and many refuse to buy into his system. I have heard rumblings that the Sens have something going down this week possibly Thursday or Friday afternoon. When I attempted to ask my source he would not confirm or deny any changes and did not want to talk about Clouson or Murray at all which is odd. From what I'm hearing is Murray wants to fire Clouston but Eugene Melnyk doesn't want another yet another coaching change as that would look terrible on the franchise. They may wait ou the season to let Clouston go as he will be up for a new contract. As for Murray its hard to say, while many fans still defend him its believed his time is up hear. Everyones hearing the Pierre McGuire rumors but I'm not quite sold on them, from what I get Brian Murray will hand the reigns over to his nephew and assistant GM Tim Murray and step into an advisory role with the team. Some are saying this could happen sooner than later and before his contract expires this summer. The Sens would like to have a GM in place for the trade deadline. I'm still digging for more on this one as everyone seams tight lipped at the moment.
The second part of the Ottawa story is my source did say that several players were on the block. He told me Murray could move everybody for the right price except his younger cast and crew. He is looking for a starting goalie to finish the season off and carry the team into the next season till Lehner is ready. He also has said Murray has had offers for Jarkko Ruutu and Alexei Kovalev. I'm hearing that Evgeni Nabokov is looking more and more like an option, Murray wants a bonafide starter not a 2 goalie tandem like he currently has. The word is he is pushing a Leclaire deal hard. Some are saying Tomas Vokoun is a player he'd love to have. On to Kovalev the enigmatic Russian will be dealt but Ottawa will wait till closer to the deadline to try and drive up his price. St Louis has interest in him but doesn't want to pay a high price of a young forward. Many teams in the Western conference have interest in the gritty forward. Apparently the Sabres and the Sharks have inquired according to rumors. Another name that has acknowledged that the team has had inquiries for him is Chris Phillips who told the media while he hasn't been approached by the team he knows there are offers out there and come deadline day could be asked to lisft his no trade clause.
That's all for now more later on!
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