On the Calgary Flames …
Andy Strickland: The Calgary Flames and Brian Elliott’s camp have begun contract extension talks.
Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Darren Dreger on TSN 1050 on contract extension talks between the Flames and Elliott.
“I mean, clearly there’s a willingness from Calgary’s standpoint to get something done. You give up assets. You think that Brian Elliott is going to solve your woes in goal, then you’re willing to commit to him.
“But this is, again, very early in the process.”
On the Dallas Stars …
Mike Heika: (answering question) The Dallas Stars plan is to start the season with eight defenesmen. If Esa Lindell is not in their top-six, he’ll start the season in the AHL.
On the St. Louis Blues …
Jeremy Rutherford: Blues coach Ken Hitchcock wouldn’t comment the Vladimir Sobotka situation. He added that he has to put together the best team with the players that are at camp. They will start with Patrik Berglund and Dmitri Jaskin at center, moving away from the idea of Jaden Schwartz and Robby Fabbri.
Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Avangard president Vladimir Shalaev on Vladimir Sobotka remaining in the KHL and not joining the Blues.
“The situation with Sobotka (is) developing exactly as we expected,” Shalaev said. “In the summer, we talked about the fact that Vladimir — our team player because he has a valid contract with the ‘Vanguard’ for another year. Rumors about leaving Sobotka in the ‘St. Louis’ remained rumors, because the memorandum of mutual respect of contracts KHL and the NHL has not been canceled.”
It is rumored that it would cost about $2.68 million to buy out Sobotka’s KHL contract. The Blues still retain his rights and he’ll be on their suspended list. If he returns to the NHL, he’ll have a one-year deal at $2.75 million.
On Outdoor Games for the NHL’s centennial season …
Chris Johnston: The NHL is looking at holding outdoor games in Montreal and Ottawa next December as an end to their centennial year. There are some logistical hurdles that need to be addressed.
Bruce Garrioch: The NHL and the Canadian government are working on some issues before they can have an outdoor game on Parliament Hill.