Overview
- Fitzgerald said he is calling counterparts daily ahead of the March 6 trade deadline to seek roster improvements.
- Dougie Hamilton was a healthy scratch in Winnipeg for performance reasons, then returned with two assists in a 5-2 win at Minnesota, with his agent reporting no issues with management.
- Hamilton carries a roughly $9 million cap hit and a 10-team trade list, and Fitzgerald declined to address a report about a past waiver decision.
- Ondrej Palat, signed at a $6 million cap hit through next season, has seen reduced usage and production but scored twice to halt a four-game skid, drawing praise for his leadership.
- Fitzgerald rejected reports that contract protections blocked a bid for Quinn Hughes and said the club’s 13th-place standing is on him, noting regular conversations with owner David Blitzer.