- Ansar Khan of MLive: The agreement to bring Jiri Hudler back to the Detroit Red Wings should be finalized by GM Ken Holland and Hudler’s agent sometime this week. In the next couple days, Hudler’s camp should be able to make it official that he’s being released from his KHL contract. When adding his salary cap number of $2.875 million, the Red Wings will have 14 players under contract at a $43.6 million cap number.
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: The Red Wings will have to let Jason Williams, Kirk Maltby, and Brad May walk to fit in Hudler’s salary. Matheson thinks the Capitals should offer Tomas Fleischman or Eric Fehr and a pick to the Flames for Robyn Regehr.
- Paul Branecky of NHL.com: Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford may have tipped their NHL draft wish in a recent interview. “If we end up getting one of these top-three guys, one of them could end up making the team,” said Rutherford. Rutherford is referring to defenseman, Cam Fowler, Brandon Gormley and Erik Gudbranson. The Canes pick #7, so they’ll need couple teams that are picking between #3-6 to select forwards. See MyNHLdraft.com for more NHL Draft info.
- Terry Frei of the Denver Post: Chris Stewart of the Colorado Avalanche is a restricted free agent, and could be in-line for a nice raise. Stewart had a breakout season in the final year of his entry level contract, recording 28 goals and 36 assists for 64 points in 77 games. Frei likens Stewart’s situation and stats to Corey Perry and his 5 year, $26.25 deal that he signed in 2008.