On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
Mike Halford of Pro Hockey Talk: Ben Bishop finished second in Vezina voting, was a second team all-star and will be playing for Team USA at the World Cup. Yet, with one-year left on his contract at $5.9 million, it could be his last with the Lightning.
Andrei Vasilevskiy signed a three-year contract extension that kicks in next year. He’ll earn $925,000 this season before making $3.5 million next year.
There had been offseason rumors involving the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars. Teams may be thinking it’s better off to let his contract run out. Not giving up an asset in trade and trying to sign during free agent may tempt teams more.
If Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen struggle, the Stars could circle back to the Lightning. Stars GM Jim Nill could look at buying out one of his goalie after the season. Patrick Sharp’s $5.9 million will also be coming off their books.
On the Pittsburgh Penguins …
Bill West of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Pacal Dupuis won’t be playing for the Penguins this season, and his $3.76 million salary will be put on the LTIR. He’s back at home with his family in Quebec, and he’ll join the team in some capacity when he’s ready.
“He’s going to do some scouting out of (Quebec) and possibly a little bit of development work,” Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said. “I think it’s one of those things where he’s still under his player’s contract, and he’ll just kind of feel his way a little bit.”
As he was dealing with his blood clot issues last season, Dupuis watched how people from the front office and hockey operations handled their roles.
“I didn’t step into that (consulting role) at 100 percent, so I don’t think I can really assess if something I did last year is something I’d want to be,” Dupuis said.
“If I do something with a team in the NHL, it’s 100 percent going to be with the Penguins. … I was treated right, and I feel like if I’m on the other side as part of management or staff, I would want to treat people the same way I was treated. Their philosophy is something that I really respect.”