- TSN: A day after Bettman said the league would lock players out if there wasn’t a new CBA before September 15th, both sides aired more optimism yesterday that the season could start on time.
“We thought it was a good session,” said Winnipeg Jets defenceman Ron Hainsey, who spoke for the NHLPA following the session. “Constructive. We reflected on the whole process. Discipline, ice conditions, training camp, travel.”
The NHLPA will submit a counter-proposal to the NHL’s initial offer next week. They will meet in Toronto over the next 2 weeks, starting on Tuesday.
“We are looking forward to the proposal,” Daly said. “(It) gives you a better sense of how close or how far apart we are. It gives us a benchmark of where we are on economic issues. What we proposed had a variety of different elements. (I) don’t think (the players’) elements are vastly different.”
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Heika notes that Brenden Morrow could be traded before the season starts, or he could lead the team to the playoffs. There is no indication on how it may play out at this time. He’s been their captain since 2006. He’s 33 and has been bothered by neck and shoulder issues. Morrow has one year left at $4.1 million. It would like take a something pretty good to get him.
- Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun: Oilers Taylor Hall is back on ice after 4 months of recovery from this shoulder repairs.
“It’s encouraging for sure” … “It’s held up fine so I’m pretty excited about that. It’s time to start being a hockey player again.”
“The surgery was tough. They didn’t just do it arthroscopically, they cut me open and moved the bone around. I have a three-inch scar on my shoulder.
“It was a little different for me, being on all the pain killers afterward, not being able to do much. I had to sleep on a La-Z-Boy for the first week. It was a tough stretch. I had to fly my mom in to take care of me and make me food and everything.
“But now it feels like I have a brand new shoulder. It’s exciting for me because I haven’t really had that in the last two years.”
- Adam Kimelman of NHL.com: Senators assistant GM Tim Murray said that Mika Zibanejad will spend this season in North America, either in the NHL or AHL.
“He’s staying no matter what,” Murray said. “Whether its Ottawa or Binghamton, we’re not sending him back. So he’s here.”
- Tom Gulitti of the Bergon Record: The Devils are still interested in re-signing Petr Sykora but there is nothing new to report.