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Gionta Habs new Captain? Neal and Niskanen close with Stars … Redden to AHL?
Mark Easson
Tom Gulitti via twitter: La Presse is reporting that Brian Gionta will be named as the new Montreal Canadiens captain.
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: The Dallas Stars feel they have made solid offers to James Neal and Matt Niskanen, and GM Joe Nieuwendyk thinks they are close. They are trying to Neal on a 2 year deal, and Niskanen on a 1 year deal. The team has an internal budget of $45 million.
Craig Custance via twitter: Agent Don Meehan expects the Dallas Stars and James Neal to reach a deal by the start of training camp.
Jeff Marek via twitter: Jordan Staal is likely to miss the start of the season after having an operation to cure the infection in his foot.
Larry Brooks of the NY Post: The New York Rangers may looking into trading for Sheldon Souray. It’s an extreme longshot that Wade Redden makes the club, he’s expected to be put on waivers, removing his $6.5 million cap hit.
Bob McKenzie via twitter: Unless Wade Redden has an excellent camp/pre-season, he’ll likely be sent to the AHL, giving the Rangers the cap relief they need.
Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: Jakub Voracek will be a RFA at seasons end. It is not known if there have been any talks, but Voracek’s side may want to hold off until after the season in hope that he has a big year. Portzline thinks they will get a deal done sooner than later.
Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: Marco Sturm is on track to return to the Bruins in mid-November after having surgery on his left knee 6 months ago. Sturm will be put on LTIR and save the club a $3.5 million cap hit, but once he comes back they’ll need to clear space, with Michael Ryder being demoted to the AHL a possibility.
Mark Everson of the NY Post: Patrick Elias will start the season on left wing according to coach John MacLean. That would make a 3rd line left winger, or MacLean will move one of Ilya Kovalchuk or Zach Parise, who are ahead of him on the LW depth chart.
Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News & Observer: Majority Carolina Hurricanes owner, Peter Karmanos, is still trying to sell the minority share of the late Thomas Thewes. He’s been trying for 4 months, and there’s still a “for sale” on the club. He has looking for an investor to by the 49% share, but will look at a group of investors.