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Marchand still without deal … NHLPA should be polled on fighting … 2 spots open on Blues roster … Pandolfo gets PTO … No PTO for McCabe and Samsonov … Wild lines
Mark Easson
Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: There’s 12 days until the start of Bruins camp and Brad Marchand still hasn’t re-signed. GM Peter Chiarelli and agent Wade Arnott won’t comment. 3 comparables that will likely be used are: James van Riemsdyk’s 6 years and $25.5 million, Logan Couture 2 years at $5.75 million, and on the low end Nathan Gerbe 3 years at $4.3 million. Shinzawa thinks Marchand should come in just under Couture’s deal, possibly a 2 year deal at $5 million.
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: Simmons thinks the NHLPA should poll it’s members to see if they think fighting should stay in the NHL and the ones doing the fighting deserve to be heard.
Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: The Blues may have only 2 spots open on their 23 man roster heading into training camp which starts on the 16th. David Perron won’t be ready for camp. The Blues have 12 forwards and 5 defenseman (Alex Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk are on 2-way deals but will be with the team) on 1-way contracts. Basically Chris Porter, Evgeny Grachev, Jonathan Cheechoo and Ryan Reaves will be battling for the final 2 spots.
Katie Strang via twitter: Bryan McCabe and Sergei Samsonov are likely reluctant to accept a tryout invite and are hoping for a deal. They might wait and see if there are training camp injuries.
Michael Russo of the Star-Tribune: The Wild’s lines could look like: Mikko Koivu-Devin Setoguchi-Dany Heatley, Matt Cullen-Guillaume Latendresse-P-M Bouchard. Darroll Powe-Kyle Brodziak-Cal Clutterbuck, Colton Gillies-Eric Nystrom-Brad Staubitz.
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Eric Belanger signed a 3 year deal with the Oilers earlier this off-season, his 7th team since the lockout. It will be his oldest daughter (8 years old) 4th school in 4 years. “It’s the reality of the new NHL. You see lots of guys moving around. It’s not a bad thing. It means lots of teams want you. You’re doing something right. I actually was in one organization for 10 years, in Los Angeles. But since the lockout, I have moved around. Every place I’ve been has been nice,” he said.