- Will DePaoli: Kris Letang talks haven’t been shut down and the team will circle back one more time. Rob Rossi: The Penguins are willing to go “around” $7 million a season for 8 years.
- Aaron Portzline: Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen and Sergei Bobrovsky’s agent talked on Wednesday and Thursday in New York. Indications arethat the talks did not go well at all and there are no further plans to talk. Both are in New York so it could happen.
- Harvey Fialkov: The Panthers will let Stephen Weiss, Jose Theodore and Tyson Strachan test the free agent market next week.
- Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: If the Bruins aren’t able to re-sign Nathan Horton, who is reportedly looking for a 5-6 year deal worth around $6 million a season, there are a couple options. Jarome Iginla and David Clarkson could be two options. A source said that Vincent Lecavalier could be an option to play on right side rather than his natural center position.
- L.A. Lariviere: Vinny Lecavalier would prefer to stay in the Eastern Conference. Ready to listen to the Canadiens. Pierre LeBrun: Lecavalier can’t sign a deal until July 5th but his is allow to talk with teams.
- Jim Matheson: No chance the Oilers will sign Lecavalier. He’ll sign with an Eastern Conference team.
- Bob McKenzie: The Rangers and Henrik Lundqvist’s reps started contract extension talks last night in New York.
- Pierre LeBrun: The Blackhawks and Bryan Bickell’s side have started contract talks the past couple days.
- Bob McKenzie: The Wild are talking contract extension with the Cal Clutterbuck. They are also talking trades with him. Pierre-Marc Bouchard (UFA) won’t be brought back and Matt Cullen most likely won’t be back.
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Possible center free agent targets for the Stars: Vincent Lecavalier, Stephen Weiss, Tyler Bozak, Daniel Briere, Valtteri Filppula, Derek Roy and Mike Ribeiro.
- Will DePaoli of Inside Pittsburgh Sports: The Penguins have started contract talks with Craig Adams.
- John Vogl of the Buffalo News: Steve Ott’s agent “hopes and expects” to begin contract extension talks with the Sabres next month.
- Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times: Bryan Bickell could get a deal around $3 million, but he’s said something are more important than money and could take a bit of hometown discount.
“You’ve got to do what makes you happy,” he said. “I know there are a lot of good teams around this league, and a lot of teams you won’t have as much fun as if I stayed here. This is a great city, I enjoy it here, I got drafted here, this is a second home to me. We’re going to work on something, and hopefully it works out for the best.”