- Jeff Neiburg of the Philadelphia Daily News: The Flyers had wanted to upgrade their offense this offseason – they added Sam Gagner and subtracted Zac Rinaldo. They need more from players other than Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek.
“We need more from the rest of the group of forwards,” Hextall said Thursday in Vorhees. “You can never depend on one line for the course of a long season to carry you to the playoffs or to winning playoff series. It just doesn’t happen. So our other guys will have to step up for sure.”
- Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: The Blue Jackets signed defenseman David Savard to a five year, $21.25 million contract extension that starts next season. Savard will make $1.3 million this season. Salary breakdown on his new deal: $3.5 million, $4 million, $4.75 million, $5 million, and $4 million.
“We asked him to make a commitment on a different level; we challenged him,” Kekalainen said. “We saw the talent he had, but we needed to see the commitment. The hard work has paid off. Not just today, with the contract, but look at the player he has become. This was earned, and we still think he’s young and improving.”
- Stephen Whyno: Goalie Ray Emery will be attending the Lightning’s training camp on a tryout.
- Mark Belko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The mayor of Pittsburgh is bidding to get the city a cut of the sale of the Penguins if the sale includes the development rights to where the Penguins old arena (Civic Arena) use to be. There doesn’t appear to be any precedents set for this type of transaction.
“The deal, as it is written out, doesn’t say that if they sell , they have to give proceeds of the sale to the city,” said John Clark, professor of sport management at Robert Morris University. “I don’t see it happening.”
Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle are asking $750 million for the franchise and it’s not known if the development rights are going to be included in any sale.