Rumors: Niedermayer to Hawks Buzz–While Canadiens Making Tough Choices.

If the Anaheim Ducks don’t play well this week, expect GM Bob Murray to start putting some of his veterans on the block meaning teams will begin calling for Scott Niedermayer.  If he becomes available the teams you keep hearing are the Blackhawks, Vancouver and New Jersey.  He’d be an ideal pick up for the Hawks.  The Devils have already made their big trade, so it may be hard to work out a deal to fit Niedermayer’s $6.75 million cap hit under the cap unless they send big contracts back.  The same could be said about the Blackhawks and Canucks. Although Murray has said he wants Niedermayer to retire a Duck, the veteran defenseman isn’t quite sold on the idea and he might be willing to waive his no-trade clause to go elsewhere.

New Habs GM Pierre Gauthier indicated he wants to re-sign Tomas Plekanec, so although there hasn’t been much contract talk yet, Gauthier might start soon because if he can’t get something done, he could trade Plekanec.  The interest is certainly there. Last month, Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis took several of his top assistants and scouts for a trip to Montreal, and there was buzz that he was eying Plekanec, as well as Habs defensemen Josh Gorges and Ryan O’Byrne.  But unless the Habs think they can’t sign Plekanec at all, they might hold onto him because Plekanec has said he has no intentions of testing the free agent market.

Another concern for Montreal is the goalie position.  With Habs GM Bob Gainey stepping down, Pierre Gauthier takes over and he indicated that he will hold onto his two goalies until after the season.  Either Carey Price or Jaroslav Halak will have to go because both guys expect to start, and most have speculated that it will be Halak who is traded at the deadline.  We know Gainey was likely in favor of dealing Halak, but scouts generally feel Price is the more valuable goalie, which might be why the Habs haven’t discussed any serious trades regarding him. Halak, on the other hand, was almost headed to Philadelphia at one point.

Also, there was buzz that Halak demanded a trade because he wants to be a starter, but since his rumored demand, he has played so well that he has essentially been the No. 1 goalie in Montreal over Price. The St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars may be suitors for Halak in the offseason.