OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports five teams - the LA Kings, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils, Atlanta Thrashers and St. Louis Blues - are rumored to be interested in Anaheim Ducks defenseman Mathieu Schneider. Of the latter three Garrioch reports only the Thrashers have the cap space to absorb Schneider's contract, and cites sources claiming the Kings have offer the Ducks defenseman Tom Priessing for Schneider but the Ducks have rejected offers thus far that have them taking on salary in return.



SPECTOR'S NOTE: I really don't see why Vancouver would be interested in Schneider, as their most urgent need is for a scoring forward. The Thrashers have the cap space but they don't want to go too far over their current level of around $40 million. The Ducks are in a bind here because it seems the only way they'll be able to move Schneider is to either take on another player in return meaning they'd have to move another player either with Schneider or in a separate deal. Kings GM Dean Lombardi has stated he's more interested in acquiring one or two defensive blueliners and if he sticks with that plan he'll have no requirement for Schneider. Quite frankly, if Lombardi were really interested in him I think the deal would've been done by now. We'll find out soon enough.