On the Detroit Red Wings …
Ansar Khan of MLive: Red Wings GM Ken Holland and Andreas Athanasiou‘s agent, Darren Ferris, spoke last Thursday in Arizona. Holland is hopeful that he and coach Jeff Blashill can talk with Athanasiou on the phone sometime this week.
The Red Wings are holding firm at $1.9 million per over two years and $1.25 million for one-year. Athanasiou appears to be sticking with $2.5 million per year.
The Red Wings aren’t shopping Athanasiou but are listening. Source has said that the Red Wings haven’t received an offer that intrigues them. They’d rather have Athanasiou sit out the entire season as opposed to making a trade that doesn’t net them the return they’d want.
Their top priority is to re-sign him.
Ak Bars of the KHL has rescinded its offer. He could sign in the Swiss league, but it would be for less money as top salaries in the Swiss league are around $400,000.
On the Ottawa Senators …
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Johnny Oduya returned to the Senators lineup after missing three games. Erik Karlsson is about to return to the lineup. Thomas Chabot was returned the AHL, but could quickly be recalled if need be.
The Senators could look to trade a defenseman for some added depth up front. The timing may not be right for the Senators at the moment though.
GM Pierre Dorion appears to be active on the trade front, but other teams aren’t as eager. Other GMs are still evaluating their roster, which sometimes lasts until the 20 game mark.
On the Ottawa Senators and Los Angeles Kings …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Elliotte Friedman was on Sportsnet 960 on Friday and was talking about the LA Kings and how they are playing under a new head coach. Friedman brought up Dustin Brown and how he didn’t see eye-to-eye with then-coach Darryl Sutter and how Brown thought he could have been moved.
“I think he has a no-trade to Canada. I think it was possible that L.A. and Ottawa, when they were talking Phaneuf last summer, Brown and/or Gaborik’s name came up.
“But what they’ve decided to do is instead of saying, ‘Okay, we can’t trade this contract. What are we going to do with it’ (they instead said) ‘We’re going to put this guy in a position to try to succeed.’”
Brown is back on the Kings first line and playing 20 minutes beside Anze Kopitar, who also struggled last year.
