TSN Hockey Insiders Bob McKenzie, Darren Dreger, and Pierre LeBrun have the latest on available players on the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres, if moving Dave Bolland is a possibility for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Steven Stamkos' Olympics situation.
From the moment Thomas Vanek turned down a reported $50 million contract offer from the New York Islanders, the thought was he has to be moved. Is a deal imminent?
Pierre LeBrun: It's not imminent but it could happen before the end of the week, of course we have an Olympic trade freeze Friday at 3pm et. In a perfect world the Islanders would look to divest themselves of that big salary of Vanek's so they don't carry it through the Olympics. But that same big cap number is why some of the contenders – and we know that Los Angeles and Pittsburgh have some interest in Vanek – can't deal yet as they are right at the cap. So it makes this deal difficult before the Olympic freeze.
To get Vanek, the asking price is three assets: any combination of a first-round pick, a young player, and a prospect. Whatever the combination, Islanders GM Garth Snow is trying to get his big haul here because we know how much he gave up to get Vanek at the start of the season.
Bob McKenzie: The Islanders also have another asset in play in defenceman Andrew MacDonald. Here's a guy that is going to unrestricted free agency at the end of the season, he's only making $550,000 right now, but he leads the NHL in blocked shots.
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