[sureLoss]

Stuff on Johnson's bankruptcy, gm meetings and the following trade rumors:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/3...ue-to-johnson/

19. Adam Lowry had a terrific story about lining up for a faceoff against Eric Nystrom. “He turned to me and said, ‘Are you (Dave’s) son?’” Lowry said. “I told him I was, and he said, ‘(Bleep), I’m old.’” Dave Lowry coached Nystrom in Calgary.

3. Would the Oilers part with Martin Marincin if he could bring them someone who eases their issues down the middle?

4. Obviously, Edmonton has nothing to say about that, but here’s what I suspect the team may be thinking: Mark Fayne, Andrew Ference and Nikita Nikitin are signed for at least another season. They have a lot invested in Justin Schultz. Oscar Klefbom is ready for an extended look and Darnell Nurse could be there next year. They desperately need a centre and what they’ve offered so far isn’t getting a sniff. If Marincin could bring back value, there might be a match.

5. I’m a Marincin fan. I like what he’s done in short bursts. There are execs/scouts who disagree. One who was not a fan in his draft year said last week, “He has come a lot farther than I thought.” So, we’ll see.

6. Another team dangling young defenders is Pittsburgh. The Penguins were already interested in a winger, and that increases with Pascal Dupuis’s absence. Asked a few other teams about their prospects, and the one who stood out is Derrick Pouliot. Would Pittsburgh really do that? He’s 20, first year as a pro, with 11 points in 12 AHL games. Can’t imagine it would be cheap.

7. Another exec on a second Pittsburgh prospect, Scott Harrington: “He’s different than their other young defencemen. He’s more of a solid, stay-at-home player. I could see there being interest in him. But, you wonder how important they consider him because he’s different than the other ones they have.”