- Connor Mellas of NHL.com: Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek will be UFAs after next season.
“Ideally, I would like to keep them here, yes,” Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said at a press conference Thursday. “But again, we have to look at it in the context of when they become unrestricted and whether or not we have the ability to do deals with them, and then the cost of those deals if we do.”
It is possible that they re-sign both, though no talks have taken place.
“We’re going to stay, we’re going to explore all of the available options. And we have been,” Regier said. “I have been. I’ll continue to do that. One of those options is that those players will remain here next year, because the market is going to dictate to large part what we’re able to do to help the organization. … They’re exploring their options as well.”
- Dennis Bernstein: (in the middle of a discussion) A Jonathan Bernier deal with the Wild and Jason Zucker is fair. Could expand the deal to include Alec Martinez and Darcy Kuemper to fill other team needs.
- Steve Simmons: The Maple Leafs, Wild and Flyers are interested in Jonathan Bernier. The Kings have targeted Jake Gardiner, Brayden Schenn and Charlie Coyle. It’s unlikely the Leafs move Gardiner for Bernier.
- Hockey Night in Canada Hotstove: “VAN to announce Tortorella early next week…IOC agrees to cover players’ Olympic insurance costs, PHI considered favourite for Bernier if that’s what Flyers want to do, but they have told LA Couturier not available, EDM gives Horcoff permission to talk to other teams to gauge interest, Will be wild week in PHO. Details of potential plan to be revealed Monday. “Cautious optimism” it will pass, but foes expected to fight hard.”