Free Agent Hits: Selanne, Kadri, Fransen, Tanev and Maxwell
  • Helene Elliott: Teemu Selanne is still deciding on whether to play next season or not. He is expected back in SoCal within the next 10 days to get his kids ready for school.
  • Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun: There has been no progress made between the Maple Leafs and RFAs Nazem Kadri and Cody Franson according to assistant GM Claude Loiselle. The Leafs have about $4.9 million in cap space to sign the two. The Leafs and Kadri could look at a ‘bridge’ contact.

    “There are a few options we have to deal with,” Kadri said. “Really, it’s just a battle for them trying to work players in. I think (his agent) is being pretty reasonable and we’re taking that (Leaf cap) into consideration.

    “Franny and I believe we can be pretty big pieces. We both want to be here for the long run. How ever way we can make it work, hopefully we’re willing to. But it’s really none of our business as players. You go out there, perform and put yourself in the best spot possible for when these (contract) situations come up.”

  • Jim Jamieson: Canucks defenseman Chris Tanev (RFA) has received interest from the KHL and Swiss elite league. Contract talks are at a standstill with the Canucks. Jim Jamieson of the Vancouver Province:

    “We fully anticipate a deal getting done with Vancouver, but there has been serious interest from Europe,” said Gurney.

    There has been no offers made between the two sides, but they have talked money and term. Tanev’s KHL offer is for significant money. Canucks assistant GM Laurence Gilman:

    “No, it doesn’t change anything,” said Gilman. “If he goes, he goes. We have to run a business here and we operate within a system. We want to get him signed. He’s a valued member of our organization.

    “But there has to be mutual assent to get a contract done. There’s still a lot of time to camp, and we’re optimistic it’ll get done.”

    The Canucks are looking for another NHL-calibre defenseman.

  • Igor Eronko: Jets Ben Mexwell signed a one-year deal with Karpat of the Finnish league.