- Rich Hammond of LA Kings Insider posted a transcipt of a phone interview with Kings GM Dean Lombardi about Drew Doughty, and you should check it out in it’s entirety. A couple quick quotes from Lombardi:
“The problem we have, and we’re going to have to see how this evolves, is that generally with a player, you establish his market value and he signs up for 275 days of work. That was the one thing that changed during the CBA, that players were paid during training camp. So, quite frankly, it’s the way we have to approach this. Let alone missing a day or work, as well as getting behind your teammates in terms of preparation. It probably makes this a little more difficult, but you have to factor that in now. You’re not getting a full year’s work as of today.”
“Yeah. Well, it’s not that one . It doesn’t mean, certainly, that there isn’t going to be dialogue. The point is that missing days of work has to now factor into this negotiation. There’s no doubt in my mind that this kid is going to play here and play here a long time. But now, like I said, missing a day of work has to be factored into this. It’s no different than any other player. The lines of communication are certainly open. There was a cordial discussion last night, and that’s it.”
- Josh Yohe via twitter: Sidney Crosby has been cleared to practice but with no contact. Brooks Orpik is okay to skate but it doesn’t look like he’s 100%. Dustin Jeffery has been cleared to skate but with no contact.
- Darren Dreger via twitter: The $3.6 million for 5 years the Maple Leafs gave Luke Schenn is more than they wanted to spend. They could have signed Schenn for 3 years at around $3 million, but they wanted to a do a longer term. Jonas Siegel via twitter: Leafs GM Brian Burke said that they explored 2, 3, and 5 year contracts with Schenn. A 4 year deal was never discussed as it would take Schenn to unrestricted free agency.
- Dan Rosen via twitter: Wade Redden isn’t listed on the Rangers training camp roster.
- Tom Gulitti via twitter: Devils Martin Brodeur said the thought that this could be his last training camp has crossed his mind. Contract is up and retirement is a possibility … But … Rich Chere via twitter: Brodeur added “Even (if) there was a work stoppage (after this season), I might be interested to keep going.”
- Kevin McGran via twitter: Maple Leafs forward Matthew Lombardi won’t be taking contact for awhile. Rob Longley via twitter: Leafs coach Ron Wilson said that he could see Lombardi starting as a 3rd line winger.
- Dmitry Chesnokov via twitter: Dmitry asks Bob McKenzie when he thinks the Maple Leafs will start talking to Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin. Bob McKenzie doesn’t think that there is no rush, that Burke will want to see “their full body of work” during the season before they make any commitments.
- Rich Chere via twitter: Steve Bernier said that he turned down a 2-way contract offer from other teams but decided to “risk everything” and take a tryout offer from the Devils.
- Pierre LeBrun via twitter: Blue Jackets coach Arniel said that Prospal, Vermette, Brassard, Umberger are early candidates to be on the big line.
- Marc Antoine Godin via twitter: Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov: “I won’t be ready tomorrow but I will be ready one day.”. October 6th? “There’s always a chance.”
- Mark Spector via twitter: Canucks coach Vigneault said that Ryan Keslser is “out indefinitely,” he won’t be skating when camp opens. Mason Raymond is also out indefinitely.
- Don Brennan via twitter: Though Pascal Leclaire is not under contract with the Senators (or anyone else), but they are responsible for helping bring him back to health as he was injured while under contract with them.
- TSN’s “Insider Trading” video link: Come on TSN, enable the embed code.