There are few voices to trust more in the NHL rumor game than Lyle Richardson of Spectors Hockey. Where Eklund and others beat the speculation drum and make up trade scenarios on the fly, Lyle uses logic in commenting on rumors reported on the ground in various markets.
Case in point: Larry Brooks of the New York Post continued the Martin St. Louis / Ryan Callahan trade talk, suggesting a “sweetener” would see the trad ethrough. I’ll let Lyle’s own words summarize that idea:
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll have to be one helluva sweetener to convince Steve Yzerman to part with St. Louis. Despite the reportedly strained relationship between Yzerman and St. Louis, the Lightning are among the Eastern Conference’s top teams, are poised to clinch a playoff berth for the first time in three years and will soon welcome back Steven Stamkos from a broken leg. Unless St. Louis is forcing the issue, Yzerman has no reason to trade him
In other words, if St. Louis is getting dealt, it’s not for rental players like Callahan; the Rangers would have to push to make this happen befor ethe deadlien (and by push, I mean a grand offer that makes Yzerman listen
