from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal,

- The Habs were never interested in trading for Nail Yakupov at the deadline, in case you’re wondering. They know he played junior with Alex Galchenyuk but question his on-ice savvy.

- Of course, Jonathan Drouin will get called up from Syracuse eventually by the Lightning, now that he’s swallowed his pride and said he’d get back to playing hockey. But will he play in Tampa? I still think, along with most others, that he’ll be dealt at the draft in June.

- While there’s been rampant talk of a Jacob Trouba for Travis Hamonic trade, here’s something to consider. Defencemen Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers are 1-2 on the right side in Winnipeg, and unless the Isles’ Hamonic, a right-side D, can move to left it makes no sense to have him in a third pairing. Rule of thumb: left-shooting defenceman are able to slide to the right side; righties have trouble doing it for whatever reason.

more notes (written before the games last night)