On the Vancouver Canucks …
TSN Radio Vancouver: GM Jim Benning saying that the Canucks will “stay the course” with head coach Willie Desjardins.
On the Arizona Coyotes …
Ryan McKenna of Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 590 on the Coyotes trying to make a run at Auston Matthews even if they don’t win the draft lottery.
“I think the Coyotes, I’m sure, that if they don’t win the lottery, they will call the team that wins and say what can we do here,” said Friedman.
“I don’t think they would do Ekman-Larsson, but if I was running the Coyotes, I might do anything else.”
Matthews is from Scottsdale and it could be a huge selling point.
“I think you could make that argument that he is more valuable there than anywhere else,” said Friedman. “Don’t forget also, they’re trying to get a new arena built out there, whether it’s at Arizona State, whether it’s part of the native lands on the casino, whether it’s downtown Phoenix, they’re trying to get something done. They have to stabilize their future.”
On the Calgary Flames …
Eric Francis of Sportsnet: Joe Colborne has career highs with 17 goals and 35 points (heading into last night) and could be in line to double his $1.275 million salary when he becomes a free agent after the season. Could he be pricing himself out of Calgary?
“I hope not,” said Colborne, a pending restricted free agent who grew up 25 minutes from the Saddledome.
“I hope there’s a way to get everyone signed here. Obviously Mony (Sean Monahan) and Johnny (Gaudreau) are the big ones we’ve got to take care of first, and I completely understand that. But this is my hometown and this has been a dream come true for me and I don’t want it to end for a long time.”
Aside from the big money that Monahan and Gaudreau will get, the Flames need to add a starting goalie and a top-six winger. Sam Bennett will need a new contract after next season.