Jeff Marek via twitter: Joe Thornton was named the captain of the San Jose Sharks. From the Sharks twitter account, Dan Boyle will be a full-time alternate captain, Patrick Marleau and Ryane Clowe will be the others, one at home, one on the road.
Jimmy Murphy via twitter: The Boston Bruins and Brian McGrattan have a agreed on a 2-way deal, but it won’t be announced till Monday.
David Pollak of the San Jose Mercury News: Current (yesterday report) top 3 lines for the Sharks to start the season. Marleau – Couture – Heatley, McGinn – Thornton – Setoguchi, Clowe – Pavelski – Mitchell.
Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The Atlanta Thrashers will start the season without a captain, choosing to go with 3 alternates, Nik Antropov, Andrew Ladd and Johnny Oduya. They will rotate some others in throughout the season. The Thrashers also haven’t named a starting goalie for Friday’s season opener, but Ramsey offered this …
“I think one of the goalies will play more,” Ramsay said. “That would not be unreasonable. I’ve been with teams that have been 50-50 , and we won a Vezina with it. I don’t think that really works. It can. I’ve seen it. We definitely are going to play each night with a plan in our minds of making this young player be a star. I think he can be.
“I don’t look that far ahead. Whatever happens we will deal with it. You make too many plans in this game, and suddenly you lose three guys and everything is blown out the door and you have to start again.”
Greg Brady via twitter: Kirk Maltby is leaning to playing in the AHL, no truth to him being offered scouting position with the Red Wings.
Darren Dreger via twitter: Dreger was told that the Flames have not talked to the Oilers about either Sheldon Souray or Andrew Cogliano. Dan Tencer has heard different.
Darren Dreger via twitter: Budget constraints kept the Florida Panthers from giving Erik Gudbranson the bonuses he wanted on his entry level deal. He made the team but they couldn’t get a contract done in time.
Tom Gulitti of the Bergon Record: A good read if you can handle more on Ilya Kovalchuk titled “A small part of the story behind the Ilya Kovalchuk contract saga”
Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Kris Versteeg on the ‘crazy’ atmosphere that surrounds the Maple Leafs.
