On the Minnesota Wild …
Michael Russo: Sources saying that the Wild have informed Thomas Vanek that he will be bought out.
On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
Joe Smith: The Lightning have held preliminary talks with RFA Nikita Kucherov. There have been no offers made yet.
On the Philadelphia Flyers …
Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: After re-signing Radko Gudas yesterday, the Flyers cap space is shinking. Unless they are able to trade Mark Streit or Matt Read, they won’t have much room for the free agent market.
The Flyers have about $11.9 million in cap space with free agents Brayden Schenn, Ryan White, Nick Cousins, and Brandon Manning to possibly re-sign.
GM Ron Hextall would like to have at least a $2 million cushion, which could grow to $3 million if they send Andrew MacDonald to the AHL again.
On the Calgary Flames …
Andy Strickland: Sounding like the Flames are really trying to land a goaltender.
On the Dallas Stars …
Mark Lazerus: Source saying the Stars could be looking to move Patrick Sharp. They need help on their blueline. Wonder if Dmitry Kulikov is a possibility.
On the Chicago Blackhawks …
Tracey Myers: Source saying it’s 50-50 that the Blackhawks and Andrew Shaw get a deal done. Like Lazerus noted earlier, the Panthers are interested.
On the Los Angeles Kings …
Dennis Bernstein: The Kings could carry Kyle Okposo defensively if they were able to sign him. He would get in the same ballpark money wise as Milan Lucic.
On the Detroit Red Wings …
Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: James wonders if the Red Wings should try and trade for Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler. He’s not a No. 1 defenseman, but a good No. 2. Would it take the Red Wings No. 16 pick and a good prospect? Their first and Anthony Mantha? Would be a steep price, but it’s not easy to get high-end young defensemen.
