- Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Sources are saying that an hour long meeting between Gary Bettman, Bob Batterman and Coyotes Shane Doan broke the critical issue of next years salary cap ceiling. The league had moved their offer up to $62.5 million, but the players were after $64.3 million. Doan explained that the lower salary cap would disrupt the lives of players and families who may be forced to move due to trades and buyouts for the teams that needed to get under the lower salary cap.
The Coyotes’ winger convinced Bettman and Batterman that the issue wasn’t about financial gain for the players, but on the contrary, for players would inevitably suffer greater escrow loss via a higher cap. It was, Doan said, about family life.
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Senators GM Bryan Murray confirmed yesterday that they’ve received calls about Ben Bishop and Robin Lehner. Garrioch would bet that one of the calls has come from the Oilers, who have been looking for a goalie.
- Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: In the offseason, the Blues may have been looking for a veteran, lefthanded defenseman through trade for free agency.
“Obviously we had talked with quite a few teams at the entry draft, quite a few teams over the summer,” Armstrong said. “A lot of people wanted to see how this (new) CBA was going to affect their franchise.”
The Blues will start training camp with Alex Pietrangelo, Kris Russell, Barret Jackman, Roman Polak, Kevin Shattenkirk and Ian Cole as their top 6, and have depth with Jeff Woywitka and Taylor Chorney.
“That’s our roster, that’s our team,” Armstrong said.
- Darren Dreger via twitter: Maple Leafs Jake Gardiner passed his baseline test but is still experiencing some concussion related symptoms. No time-frame on his return.