Renaud Lavoie: Kris Letang’s contract with the Penguins is 8-years for $58 million, a $7.25 million cap hit. Has a limited no-trade clause to 15 teams. Dave Molinari: Sides “still working” on it but it’s very close.
Pierre LeBrun: The Penguins and Letang were debating on two contracts last night: 4-years at $7.5 million per or 8-years at $7.25 million per.
Sarah McLellan: Mike Smith contract with the Coyotes (awaiting NHL approval) is for a cap hit of $5.67 million a year.
Pierre LeBrun: The Blackhawks and Bryan Bickell are getting closer on a deal, but still not done.
Howard Berger: The Leafs are still looking to acquire a center before July 5th, likely through a trade. GM Nonis knows that free agent bidding will be tough and expensive.
Will DePaoli: Penguins made a $2 million qualifying offer for Tyler Kennedy.
Will DePaoli: The Penguins plan B options for Pascal Dupuis could be moving Jussi Jokinen into a top-6 role. There is no guarantee that he stays though, could be traded.
Wayne Scanlan: If Dupuis hits the open market, the Senators should make a play.
Igor Eronko: Jets Alexander Burmistrov’s agent has said that Burmistrov is close to signing a 2-year deal with Ak Bars of the KHL.
Chris Kuc: Sources saying the Blackhawk and Nick Leddy haven’t talked about a new contract but plan on meeting soon.