Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star: Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke will be active when the NHL free agency period opens up tomorrow. Burke may target Dan Hamhuis, if he can’t come to terms with the Penguins by tomorrow. He could then deal a Dman or 2 for a top forward. Matthew Lombardi could be a possibility down the middle. Colby Armstrong could bring some grit, but he could look at heading back to Pittsburgh (plus he will most likely want too much money). Burke has said again he isn’t interested in Kovalchuk.
Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun: “It seems I will probably be dealt this time,” Kaberle told the Czech paper Dnes (Today). “You know, a trade may be good for me and may fill me with new energy and hunger. I do not oppose a trade. Although I love Toronto, a trade is not something I will go crazy about (if it happens.)” Kaberle went on to say he’d like to go to a team and win the Stanley Cup.
Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: The Boston Bruins won’t be that active in the free agent market, as they already have about $54 million in contracts for 2010-11. Daniel Paille, Gregory Campbell, Blake Wheeler, Mark Stuart, and Adam McQuaid are free agents. Paille wasn’t qualified, but continues to talk with Chiarelli. Wheeler and Stuart may be headed to arbitration, Wheeler made $2.5 million last year. The Bruins will look to trades to fill out their roster. They’re looking for a #3 goalie (or #2 if they can move Tim Thomas) and some depth along the blueline. The Bruins inquired about a Marc Savard – Tomas Kaberle deal at the draft but were turned down.
Bob McKenzie of TSN: 3 potential players who may receive offer sheets: James Neal (Dal), Bobby Ryan (Ana), and Marc Staal (NYR). The Maple Leafs are said to have some interest in Marc Savard and Mike Ribeiro, but any trade may not happen for a couple weeks. The Leafs and Nikolai Kulemin are making some progress on a deal for the restricted free agent.
Jim Gintonio of the Arizona Republic: The Phoenix Coyotes are focusing on re-signing defenseman Zbynek Michalek before the start of free agency. Michalek made $1.5 million last season, and will look to at least double it, possibly in the $4 million range. Matthew Lombardi and Lee Stempniak are other free agents for the Coyotes but it doesn’t look like they’ll be back.
Chuck Gormley of the Courier-Post: The Philadelphia Flyers could use a right winger to play on the top line with Mike Richards and Simon Gagne, or on the 3rd line with Claude Giroux and James vanRiemsdyk. The Flyers might bring back Arron Asham. Matthew Lombardi would be a good fit for the team, but he’d have to move from center to the wing. Ray Whitney and Paul Kariya could also fit, but money would play a part for them. The Flyers could have about $5-6 million to sign a goalie, dman and a forward.
Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburgh Times: Big contracts that the Tampa Bay Lightning have may limit what they can do in the free agent market. Vinny Lecavalier, Ryan Malone, Mattias Ohlund, Andrej Meszaros and Matt Walker’s contract amount to $139.525 million over 28 years. Each player underachieved last season. Yzerman doesn’t know his budget yet for next season (not a good thing when free agency starts tomorrow).
