Sunday Notes: Sakic doing some scouting, Olausson on a tear

A good Sunday to all. About 55 degrees and not a cloud in the sky here in Denver. But it’s supposed to go down to the teens in the next couple of days. That’s Colorado weather. Let’s do some NHL notes, starting off with one involving Avs GM Joe Sakic.

• Kevin Kurtz, Islanders beat writer at the Athletic and a good dude, noted earlier today that Sakic was on the list of people in the press box today for the Islanders’ game with the Montreal Canadiens. Who could he be looking at? A lot of names could be tossed out there, but I’m going to guess it would be a veteran D-man.
• We still don’t know what’s going to happen with Bo Byram this season (he remains on personal leave) so Sakic is probably going to need to factor in his situation to the March 21 NHL trade deadline. Jeff Petry of the Habs is supposed to be available. Zdeno Chara could be available. A lot of guys from those two out-of-the-hunt teams could be available.
• Yes, the Claude Giroux rumors still exist. I stand by my report from last week that Colorado is his No. 1 choice of a potential destination.
• Avs 2021 first-round pick Oskar Olausson is on another scoring tear. He was traded from the Barrie Colts to the Oshawa Generals a few weeks ago. In 17 games for the Generals, he has 11 goals. He scored four in a game the other night. He has 23 goals in 39 combined OHL games this season.
• Is he going to make a guy like Andre Burakovsky expendable? Could be. Burakovsky is UFA this summer and is making $4.9 million right now. If the Avs need to clear up some cap space to sign others (Nichushkin, Kuemper, Francouz?) then a guy such as Burky can be let go easier when you know a forward like Olausson is on the way.
• Vegas: Frustrating setting in for the Vegas Golden Knights these days.
• Philadelphia: Hockey Now’s Sam Carchidi says the Philadelphia Flyers should go after Johnny Gaudreau if he becomes a UFA this summer.  Also, Broadcaster Lou Nolan will be honored by the Flyers.
• Vancouver: The Vancouver Canucks lost two defenseman to injury Saturday in a loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
• Larry Brooks is puzzled why Tuukka Rask would be a Hall of Fame candidate (NY Post)
• Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons thinks that the Marc-Andre Fleury to the Bruins NHL trade rumors are true. He lists the B’s as the only team Fleury may end up with.
• NYI: Stefen Rosner had a dose of Murphy’s Law hit him on his first road trip covering the New York Islanders.