Craig Custance of ESPN: (from his ‘mailbag’) Custance doesn’t think the Avalanche are interested in moving Paul Stastny. Burke is looking to use his defensive depth as part of a deal to get an impact player. If Colorado were to do any sort of big deal, salary would play a part as they are close to the salary floor. Custance thinks there are 7 elite goalies, Ryan Miller, Ilya Bryzgalov, Carey Price, Henrik Lundqvist, Tim Thomas, Pekka Rinne and Roberto Luongo. Any contract extension for Alexander Semin from the Capitlas won’t come until after the season. Custance doesn’t think the Capitals will trade him during the season as you need high-end players to win the Cup.
Bob McKenzie via twitter: Jason Blake suffered a severe forearm laceration last night. He was wheeled out on a stretcher to a hospital.
Dan Tencer via twitter on Oilers arena issues: “Katz Group has withdrawn the request for a non-compete from Northlands, who will continue to operate the current building as they see fit.” … “The City of Edmonton will assume all land options for the arena site and make the purchases pending paperwork and their current prices.” … “The City of Edmonton is still actively pursuing a written commitment from the Province of Alberta for funding to cover the $100M money gap.” … “The City of Edmonton will spend $20M over 10 years with the Oilers to promote Edmonton. Think logos, rink boards, commercials etc.” … “There will be another meeting at the end of the month, hopefully with a $ commitment from the Province by then. Will discuss Plan B if not.”
Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer: Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos has added Michael Kahn as an investor and should be adding more shortly. So far he’s sold $22 million in equity to 9 people from North Carolina. In the next 6 months he’s looking to sell another $20 million to North Carolina people.
Elliotte Friedman via twitter: Players escrow refund cheques are going to be delayed. The NHL and NHLPA are disagreeing about what qualifies as hockey revenue. Renaud Lavoie via twitter: The NHLPAs dispute could amount to millions more for the players.
Pierre LeBrun via twitter: He isn’t saying that the Islanders would buyout Rick DiPietro next summer, but if they did under the current CBA rules it would cost them $1.5 million per year for the next 18 years.
Pierre LeBrun and Scott Burnside of ESPN talk Rick DiPietro: Burnside thinks DiPietro’s deal could go down as one of the worst hockey decisions ever made. He also wonders how the Islanders would have made out if they had kept Roberto Luongo and not drafted DiPietro 1st overall. LeBruns wonders if there will be a “one-time buyout provision for teams to get rid of one bad contract” in the new CBA. Al Montoya has started all 3 games for the Islanders, and if they want to showcase Evgeni Nabokov for a trade, they’ll have to get him in some games. LeBrun thinks they will move Nabokov before the trade deadline regardless of DiPietro’s health. If the Islanders are in a playoff hunt, Burnside thinks they may not use Nabokov as straight trade bait.
K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: Corey Crawford will start in net for the Blackhawks tonight against the Bruins. Viktor Stalberg could also make his season debut.
James Gordon of the Ottawa Citizen: Alex Auld will be in net for the Senators tonight against Capitals. Bobby Butler re-aggravated a groin injury and won’t travel to Washington.