Dreger's trade thoughts on Stars, Canucks, Oilers, Leafs

Darren Dreger was on TSN 1040 Tuesday morning.

On if the Stars or Canucks could be an early-season candidate for a trade:

 “Yeah, I think it’s certainly possible. Now to qualify who do I think is more likely to jump first is more difficult to answer.

“I know that the Dallas Stars were one of the teams that were interested in Johnny Boychuk and were having some level of negotiation with the Boston Bruins over Boychuk. And perhaps one of their other less expensive defensemen before ultimately the Islanders closed the deal with the Bruins.

“So again, Jim Nill is keenly aware of what his deficiencies might be defensively and he’s always hungry to improve. But you can say the same thing about Jim Benning and the Vancouver Canucks and every team who has some level of weakness – and they all do.

“But I know directly Dallas was involved in the Boston talks.”

On Dave Nonis being at the Canucks-Oilers game on Friday and if the Leafs would be interested in Petry:

“Yeah, I think the Leafs are interested in just about anything. And obviously the way the Edmonton Oilers have started their season, MacTavish has to be considering just about anything as well.

“There was some suggestion maybe Edmonton was desperate for not just a No. 2 or 3 centre, but a centre period to provide a little bit more NHL experience than what they have in Draisaitl and some of the others. Edmonton is obviously thin up middle of the ice and Peter Holland’s name surfaced as a potential trade target, but I don’t think there’s anything to that.

“The message I got from Dave Nonis was this was a scheduled scouting trip – they all say that, by the way – there’s nothing to it. And his sense is neither Vancouver nor Edmonton are in a place yet where there’s any sense of urgency or need to make a move. But he wants to make sure he kicks some tires and knows that if there’s anything in the Leafs organization of interest to either one of those clubs or any club, for that matter, they shouldn’t hesitate to call.”

Source: TSN 1040/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey