Free Agent Hits: Lundqvist, Hurricanes, Red Wings, Raymond, Leighton and Tokarski
  • Will Sammon of Newsday: Rangers Henrik Lundqvist on contract extension talks.

    “We’re talking,” Lundqvist said. “The good thing, though, is that we have another year so there’s no pressure to get it done. But we’re definitely talking, and we’ll see where it leads. So far it’s been a great time in New York and I don’t see any reasons to leave.”

  • Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Lundqvist is likely to get a deal between $8.25 and $9.5 million on an eight-year deal.

    “If we can find a solution, it’s no secret that this is where I want to be; I’m not thinking about free agency at all,” said Lundqvist, who hit the ice with a half-dozen teammates after returning to New York from Sweden on Sunday. “The way the organization has treated me, the way that our team has played over the last few years, the way I feel about New York City, this is definitely the place I want to be.

    “But we do have a few things we have to talk about.”

    “Ideally, of course it would be nice to have everything in place by the time the season starts , but at the same time, it’s not a must,” Lundqvist said. “My agent is going to be handling it all until I have to be involved at the end, so I am going to be able to focus mentally on playing without the contract being a distraction.

  • Chip Alexander: Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford said they are still talking with a couple free agents, but as for signing one of them, “I don’t know which way we will go.”
  • Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News: The Red Wings had made contract offers to Daniel Cleary and Damien Brunner before free agency started, but they both wanted bigger deals. GM Ken Holland has talked with the Gustav Nyquist’s reps a lot in the past few weeks and the sides are close on a one or two-year deal.
  • David Pagnotta: Michael Leighton signed with Donbass of the KHL for round $1.335 million.