Question: There’s a lot of speculation surrounding Ryan Smyth. Are you getting a lot of calls on him, and is he a guy that you’re open to moving at this point?

LOMBARDI: “I think it’s pretty well-documented, in terms of what I’m doing here. This has kind of evolved over the last two months, actually. When Ryan asked to be moved, at first I was really troubled. Ryan, in our first 40 games last year I thought he was one of our better players. He kind of tailed off a little and then, in the playoffs, was one of our best players. And certainly, left wing, it’s not one of our strongest positions. So first off, my reaction was, `No way,’ and I couldn’t figure out why, because I think Ryan had adapted well. So I talked to him a couple times, and he was very clear that it had nothing to do with hockey, that it was strictly for his family, that he wanted to go home. I thought about it (for) a week or so and talked to his agent and said, `If it’s a hockey issue, I would not approve of this, because if it’s coaching, the power play, his ice time, who he’s playing with, these are things that we will work through.’ But if it’s a personal thing, a family issue, it’s hard to argue with that and have a player that’s not going to be happy. So I resigned myself. He asked to go back closer to home, and I’ve primarily dealt with three teams, and particularly two right now. This kind of hit the front burner last week, in terms of coming out publicly, because of the predicament I was in. I was talking to other teams about getting a left winger if Ryan goes, and teams say, `Why is he going?’ and I had to explain it to them. I tried to move this along because I have to replace him. I’m not in a great position here. We’re just going to have to adapt. I’ve talked to one team a number of times, and they’ve been very forthright in trying to piece it together. I hope to have that wrapped up here in a day or two. Maybe he changes his mind now that Mike Richards is in our lineup, I don’t know, but it’s an awkward situation. I’ve never had this before. It’s nothing I’ve certainly ever planned on. I think his contract is very favorable, in terms of the cash and (it being) the last year, but we’ve got to adjust to it. So that’s kind of the soap opera that’s been going on for a month and a half. It just kind of broke last week.”

A short post for sure, but with the news many have hoped for...

According to multiple sources, including Darren Dreger and Nick Kypreos, the former Atlanta Thrashers team will return to play with the name of Winnipeg Jets next season. The initial wish of ownership was apparently to change the name, although it is thought that public pressure led them back to the Jets name. Up to very recently, however, there was a distinct possibility they would be called the Manitoba Jets, although the indication is that this has been scrapped as well.

In spite of re-adopting the name, it is expected that the team colours and logo will be modified from when the team left Winnipeg for Phoenix in 1996. It is expected that the team will announce the name just prior to making their first pick tonight. If so, I hope they drag out the old school jersey for the kid to throw on, regardless of whether it's what they plan on using or not!

On the Leafs Rumors...

Like before the Phaneuf/Giguere trade things have gone very quiet in the forest. The official, unofficial line is "Nothing Imminent" which is almost alwats exactly the case until a deal is imminent. The actual mood was better put by another Leafs source who said, "Hurry up and wait."

Ok, so here's the bottom line. Toronto and Brian Burke are prepared to take over the news day, but of course they need another team to play ball. They have several "minorish"possible moves in the works, and one (possibly two) flat out EPIC moves. They are waiting on the epics to determine how to proceed with the minor moves, but rest assured fans of this team should be very pleased.

I was informed: "The Leafs are waiting for another team's team meeting to break up because that "other" team is making an "owner's level decision" regarding the direction the team will take in the next week or so."

The Chicago Blackhawks unloaded a huge contract Friday night, sending talented defenseman Brian Campbell to the Florida Panthers in exchange for winger Rostislav Olesz, a source told ESPN.com.
Campbell, who had to agree to waive his no-trade clause, has five years left on his contract paying him $7.14 million a season.

Olesz has three more years on his deal with a cap hit of $3.125 million.

Campbell had refused to waive the no-trade clause as recently as Thursday night, a source told ESPNChicago.com's Jesse Rogers earlier on Friday. Campbell's agent confirmed Friday night that he had agreed to waive his no-trade clause but would not confirm the trade itself.

Campbell was a Blackhawks-best plus-28 this past season, which placed him eleventh in the league in that category. Campbell had five goals and 22 assists in 65 games in 2011-11.

Olesz had six goals and 11 assists in 44 games for the Panthers last season.