On the Dallas Stars …
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Don’t think that the Stars will consider any of the remaining free agents. They will go into the season giving the kids the first opportunity. They know that there will be some veterans available later on if the kids don’t pan out like they had hoped.
On Matt Benning …
Guy Flaming: There has been lots of speculation that Matt Benning will sign with the Canucks, but Flaming expects him to sign soon with the Oilers.
On the New York Rangers …
Steve Zipay of Newsday: The New York Rangers will be younger this season, and have more depth upfront. There is chance that they upgrade their blueline at some point in the upcoming months.
“As we close in on camp, I don’t know what’s next, any kind of moves or anything like that,” general manager Jeff Gorton said Friday. “But we’re happy. We think we have a lot of good players. We think we have some good youth and this really helps that.
“Satisfied? No. I don’t think anybody in our organization is satisfied.”
GM Gorton where Jimmy Vesey could fit in.
“He’s got an ability to score. He can make plays,” Gorton said. “Where, what number, what line, I wouldn’t want to go down that road and say yet . . . I think he’s going to come into training camp and do his best to try to fit in as high as he can in our lineup.”
The Rangers currently have around $2.5 million in salary cap space. That include Tanner Glass’s $1.45 million – he might not make the team – and Oscar Lindberg’s $600,000 who will start the season injured.
The Rangers could look to acquire another experienced defenseman. The Ducks have plenty of defensemen, and Blues Kevin Shattenkirk is a possibility.