Ryan-Ducks “very close” … Maple Leafs notes … Lecavalier ready by camp … Thrashers-Bergfors still talking
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  • Eric Stephens via twitter: (late last night post) A “well-placed source” said that a Bobby Ryan-Anaheim Ducks contract is “very close”.
  • James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail: Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke, “We’re going with this unless something miraculous happens,” he said. “This is the group. We’re going to start with this.” Burke expects the team to improve as they’ll have a full season with Phil Kessel, Jean-Sébastien Giguère, Dion Phaneuf and Fredrik Sjostrom.
  • Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun: Tomas Kaberle and coach Ron Wilson will discuss the rumors of a rift between the 2. “My relationship is not going to change,” Wilson said. “We’re going to try to figure out what’s been said. We will sit down either at the end of the week or early next week and have a heart-to-heart talk and see what the issues are if there are any.” Burke says it’s all non-sense.
  • Mike Heika of Dallas Morning News: Dallas Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk tried to use Mike Ribeiro to bring in a top level defenseman. Ribeiro is owed $5 million a season for the next 3 years, the Stars would have had to take back similar money on a deal. In the end they decided they didn’t want to take on someone else’s problem.
  • Aaron Portzline via twitter: The Columbus Blue Jackets and goalie Steve Mason have started contract talks for an extension. Mason is on the last year of his entry level deal.
  • Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Bay Tribune: Vincent Lecavalier says everything is alright with his knee (Aug. 24th arthroscopic surgery), and he should be ready for the start of training camp, Sept. 18th.
  • Dmitry Chesnokov via twitter: The KHL will start moving their rink size to between the NHL and IIHF sizes. I think this is a great idea. I’ve always thought it should be something the NHL should consider. It doesn’t have to much, a few feet on all sides could make a difference.