On Alex Steen …
Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: (chat) Alex Steen would like to get a contract extension done before the season starts, and the Blues might be hopeful as well. GM Doug Armstrong doesn’t want to lose another free agent after losing both David Backes and Troy Brouwer this year.
On Jimmy Vesey …
Adrian Dater: Talk that the Maple Leafs could be back as the front-runners for Jimmy Vesey.
On Matt Bartkowski …
Jeff Peterson of the Vancouver Province: Free agent defenseman Matt Bartowski is getting some interest and hopes to sign a one-way deal.
“Some teams are definitely interested, but it’ll likely happen closer to the end of summer,” said Stephen Reich, who believes he’ll be able to land his client a one-way deal.
“I’m confident we’ll find a home for him and a place to play. In the meantime, I think the wedding and the honeymoon have both been nice distractions.”
He played in 80 games for the Canucks last year logging close to 19 minutes a game.
On the Winnipeg Jets …
Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun: Some thought that the Jets might be looking for a top-four defenseman when the offseason began. Seems unlikely unless they can’t get Jacob Trouba signed and they look to move him in a deal that brings in a left-handed defenseman. It is a possibility, but it’s more likely that he’s re-signed.
GM Kevin Cheveldayoff went into the offseason hoping to bring in a left-handed blueliner, and they did sign Brian Strait to a one-year deal on July 1st.