A pressing question: Is Ryan Miller going to be part of the Sabres’ future? (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

Jason Pominville got while the gettin’ was good.

At least, that seems to be the way Thomas Vanek and Ryan Miller are looking at the deal that sent their captain to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, leaving them to bail water for the final 11 games of the season in Buffalo.

John Vogl of the Buffalo News wrote this afternoon that the two stars plan to speak with Sabres GM Darcy Regier about his plans for the franchise moving forward.

That doesn’t sound like code for, “We’re so thrilled to be part of this that we can’t wait to sign long-term extensions.”

Both players were diplomatic, but blunt about their futures.

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Sharks winger Ryane Clowe is a person of interest to several teams, but has a steep price tag. (Alex Gallardo/AP)

The latest trade news and rumors. Check back for daily updates. And on deadline day itself, track all the latest updates with our live blog.

By Allan Muir

April 2

Davis Drewiske: Darren Dreger of TSN reports that the Canadiens have acquired the young defender from the Kings for a 2013 fifth-round pick. Solid depth move for Montreal.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Chris Johnston of Sportsnet says the Leafs are still in hot pursuit of Miikka Kiprusoff and also are in the market for a defender.

Boston Bruins: An NHL source told SI.com that Peter Chiarelli is still in shopping mode. “He’s looking for a defenseman for sure, possibly another bottom-six forward.”

Ryane Clowe: With Jaromir Jagr going to Boston, it’s thought the Bruins are out of the running for Clowe. Several sources put the Rangers as the favorites to acquire the scoreless winger from San Jose.

Nate Schmidt: Not a trade, but multiple sources reporting the Caps have signed the offensive-minded defender that most ranked as the second-best of this season’s NCAA free agent class.

Jaromir Jagr: Mike Heika reports a done deal. Jagr to Boston for two prospects and a pick. Details to come.

Derek Roy: Multiple sources have the Stars dealing the veteran center to Vancouver for a second rounder and a prospect. More to come.

Jaromir Jagr: Renaud Lavoie of RDS reports the Stars have told Jagr he will be dealt today. Frontrunners appear to be Boston and Montreal.

Marc-Andre Bergeron: Renaud Lavoie of RDS says defender Marc-Andre Bergeron is not on the ice at morning skate and should be traded today. Bergeron is useful as a power-play specialist, but not much else. UPDATE: Bergeron has been dealt to Carolina for the previously waived Adam Hall and a seventh-round pick.

Miikka Kiprusoff: Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun reports the Leafs have been given permission by the Flames to speak with Kipper in an effort to convince him to come to Toronto.

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By Allan Muir

In theory, things could get worse for Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon. Jonathan Huberdeau could decide that the shootout’s not really his thing anymore. Alexei Kovalev could have signed a five-year deal. Those freaking quarter-sized mosquitoes could set up shop around the ticket windows at the BB&T Center.

The way things are going for Tallon this season, it’s just a matter of time before the next little black cloud appears over the head of hockey’s answer to Bad Luck Schleprock.

Tallon took another kick in the pants today when he learned that speedy forward Kris Versteeg would need season-ending knee surgery following an awkward collision with Tampa Bay defender Radko Gudas on March 12. Versteeg, who had just returned after missing 13 games with a chest injury, was expected to be shipped off at the trade deadline in exchange for some much-needed futures.

Unlike unrestricted free agents Stephen Weiss and Jose Theodore, Versteeg is under contract for three more seasons, so he won’t walk for nothing this summer. But this was considered the window that would allow the Panthers to maximize the return on the veteran winger, and with Florida’s other key chips off the table, Versteeg was Tallon’s last chance to make a splash before the deadline.

It’s another tough break for a team that’s had more than its share this season.

By Allan Muir

The crew over at Sportsnet generated a lot of online buzz between periods on Tuesday night when Nick Kypreos suggested that the Buffalo Sabres had planted the For Sale sign and would “dearly love to move” Ville Leino and Ryan Miller.

OK.

First, Leino is going nowhere. The Sabres could package him with their 2013 first rounder — a likely top-five pick — and ask for nothing more than Gary Bettman’s phone number in exchange, and they still wouldn’t find a taker. No team is going to assume the four years and $18 million remaining on a deal for a player who scored eight goals last season and has yet to play in 2013 due to a hip injury. That albatross will remain around GM Darcy Regier’s neck for as long as he’s allowed to steer this ship.

As for Miller? The moody netminder has been rumored to be on the block before. So what’s different now?

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Ben Bishop’s recent play as Ottawa’s starter has upped his trade value. (Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

“They’ve already figured him out,” the scout said. “Get him moving laterally and he doesn’t look so big anymore, does he?”

That bit of insight was passed along during Ben Bishop’s rookie season with the junior A Texas Tornado in 2004-05. Seemed reasonable at the time, but looking back I’m not sure if it was a bit of sandbagging from a guy who hoped the promising goaltender would slip to his team in the draft that summer (Bishop didn’t), or a shortsighted read of a kid whose 6′-7″ frame was so far removed from the model that it forced everyone to find and focus on his flaws…or else completely reevaluate their notions of the ideal netminder.

After eight years and countless knocks about his side-to-side struggles, Bishop appears to have worked out whatever kinks existed in his style. And now the Ottawa Senators, who gambled a second-round pick last season that the St. Louis Blues cast-off could shore up their nets while starter Craig Anderson was injured, might have the deepest pool of goaltending talent in the league…and a brewing controversy to go with it.

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Captain Daniel Alfredsson would have to abandon the Senators’ sinking ship, but the Bruins are an attractive option. (Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

With a third of the season in the books, NHL clubs have a fair idea of where they’re at and what they might be willing to buy, or sell, in the trade market. Here’s a quick look at some of the weightier rumors that are making the rounds.

Rumor: Pierre LeBrun believes the Boston Bruins will make a play for Daniel Alfredsson.

The read: LeBrun is 100 percent right that this will be Alfredsson’s call. The chance to play for the Stanley Cup might sound appealing from the outside, but unless the wheels completely fall off in Ottawa, I think loyalty to the Senators organization will carry the day. Still, if Alfie does decide to go that route, familiar faces (GM Peter Chiarelli, Zdeno Chara and Chris Kelly), easy travel and a solid shot at the Cup might make for a soft landing in Boston. The Penguins, desperate for help on the wing, and Flyers would be in the mix as well, but the B’s have more forward talent in the cupboard to seal a deal.

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Could Robert Luongo be headed to Washington? A potential deal makes sense for both sides. (Ben Nelms/Reuters)

By Allan Muir

There are plenty of good reasons for gentlemen of culture to visit Washington this time of year: the museums, the Auto Show, Restaurant Week, the International Wine Festival. So it’s possible that Mike Gillis and Lawrence Gilman were in D.C. for any or all of those and figured they’d stop in at the Capitals-Penguins game just to top off a fabulous weekend.

But probably not.

When scouts from a team at the center of every other trade rumor show up in another building on the opposite side of the country, it could mean anything or nothing. That sort of thing happens all the time.

But when the general manager and assistant GM show up, there’s probably a very specific purpose for their visit.

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