On the Carolina Hurricanes …
Josh Yohe: Gary Bettman: “The Carolina Hurricanes aren’t going anywhere. Nowhere. They aren’t going anywhere.”
On the Boston Bruins and Loui Eriksson …
Darren Dreger: Loui Eriksson’s agent, JP Barry, was expected to meet with Bruins GM Don Sweeney last night. The Bruins are holding on four years, Eriksson wants six years. He’ll likely go to free agency. Canucks?
On the St. Louis Blues and Kevin Shattenkirk …
Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Darren Dreger on TSN 1040 on the St. Louis Blues.
“I’m paying close attention to what’s going on in St. Louis with Kevin Shattenkirk. That’s not an unload of a contract, but it definitely is going to impact the Blues in a significant way, as is the cap. They’ve got Backes. They’ve got Brouwer to deal with. I’m sure that they’d like to keep both of those guys. They’ve got Shattenkirk under contract for another year, but they’re trying to extend him and it’s not looking real good. I think that Doug Armstrong has approached the point where he’s run out of patience with this negotiation, or has faced the reality that this guy wants big money. Maybe he’s earned big money, or will as an unrestricted free agent a year from now. And he’s not going to be able to afford to keep him.”
Dreger on what a new contract for Shattenkirk could look like.
“Well, look. This is speculative, but I’ll pass it along because it was a source close to the organization who passed this on to me. The sense is that Shattenkirk wants Pietrangelo type of money. So what’s he, a $6.5 million cap hit and probably $7 million this year or next year, whatever it is. I’d have to call up the contract to look at the details. But that’s a lot of money. Is he worth it? Hmm, in his mind, and perhaps in a new world a year from now as an unrestricted free agent, he likely gets that.”
If a team is going to give up a top prospect or quality asset, they are going to want to make sure they can extend him. The Blues have given Shattenkirk’s agent permission to speak with any teams yet.
