Here's a bit of the buzz I'm catching while kicked back in my basement on a day off .....
Two teams have emerged as the clear frontrunners in the Marian Hossa Sweepstakes - the Senators and the Detroit Red Wings. Word is both have intensified efforts to land the Thrashers star since Teemu Selanne returned to the defending champion Ducks. It's also believed that whatever reason the team is giving, the Senators recalled Nick Foligno for tonight's game against the Islanders at the request of another club - possibly Atlanta - that wants to look at him as possible inclusion in a package.
To get Hossa, I'm guessing it would take Foligno, maybe an Antoine Vermette and probably a decent to first round draft pick.
Also, there's talk Senators GM Bryan Murray has discussed dealing Ray Emery to the Chicago Blackhawks in a trade that would bring Ottawa
35-year-old 'tender Nikolai Khabibulin and perhaps face-off specialist Yanic Perreault. Khabibulin will make $6.75 million this season and next, which means Murray would likely try to move him during the summer. He's won a Stanley Cup, but Khabibulin has also had some rough nights behind the young Chicago defence this season. In fact, he at least temporarily lost his No. 1 job to Patrick Lalime while the latter went on a four-game winning streak from Jan. 13-19.
Rumor is a deal between the Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning has also been bandied about, with Murray swapping Emery and defenceman Joe Corvo for Ottawa-born defenceman Dan Boyle and Vinny Prospal.
Boyle, an unrestricted free agent July 1, would be a huge upgrade on Corvo. Prospal, a former Senator, would meet Murray's Top 6 forward requirement. That, however, would leave the Senators with Martin Gerber and a pressing need to find another goalie.
The Tampa-Ottawa discussions would be scrapped, we're told, if Lightning GM Jay Feaster can make the Martin St. Louis for Marty Turco deal he's trying to swing.