On the Dallas Stars …
Sean Shapiro of Wrong Side of the Redline: (mailbag) is 99 percent sure that Antti Niemi won’t be back with the Stars next season, likely a buyout. Kari Lehtonen will be back but in a backup role playing 30-35 games.
A trade for Capitals backup Philipp Grubauer would be top choice, with Scott Darling an option (written before Darling’s rights traded to Carolina). Also a good chance that the Stars take a run at signing free agent Ben Bishop.
thinks that if the Stars are going to make a big trade this offseason, it would come before the expansion draft.
Due to their roster and salary cap situation, can’t see pending free agents Patrick Sharp or Ales Hemsky being back next season. Would take a big pay cut for either to return.
Free agent defenseman Karl Alzner would fit well in Ken Hitchcock’s system.
On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Bob McKenzie was on TSN 690 and Jonathan Drouin of the Tampa Bay Lightning came up. McKenzie thinks (opinion and not reporting as news) that Drouin will get traded at some point because of economics and team needs. Wouldn’t be surprised if it happens.
The Lightning may be feeling the salary cap crunch this offseason. GM Steve Yzerman might be able to make some deals before the expansion draft to shed some salary to re-sign Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Drouin.
“So he’s got to try and get Johnson and Palat to take hometown discounts and do club-favorable deals. If he can get all of that done, then maybe there is enough money for Drouin. But at the end of the day, he’s still missing a huge component on the blueline. And how’s he going to get that. Who’s going to get it for him. Would Ondrej Palat or Tyler Johnson get him an elite defenseman? I don’t think so. Would Jonathan Drouin get him one? I think so.”
McKenzie thinks that Drouin may view himself like fellow 2013 draftees Nathan MacKinnon, Aleksander Barkov and Seth Jones – six to eight years and above $6 million a year.