Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Rangers Henrik Lundqvist won’t be talking with management about a contract extension anymore.
“For me, all my focus is going to be on hockey: on the game and winning,” Lundqvist said before the Blueshirts’ flight to Phoenix for Thursday’s season opener. “That’s all I care about.
“If the Rangers and my representatives talk, that’s fine, but me personally, I am not going to get involved.”
Newport Sports represents Lundqvist and have been talking with the Rangers since the September. Little progress has been made. Both sides are apart on term and money. The 32-year old Lundqvist is reportedly seeking an eight year deal for at least $8.5 million a season.
The Rangers have also started talks with Ryan Callahan, but they haven’t progressed far. He’ll be a UFA and could get a seven year deal worth between $6 and $7 million on the open market.
“I have no problem talking during the season,” the captain, who will turn 29 in March, told The Post. “But as soon as it becomes a distraction or gets into my head, that’s when I’ll end it.
“I’m going to keep an open mind. But I love it here and want to be here.”
Darren Dreger of TSN: Some GM are speaking out against fighting. Lightning GM Steve Yzerman,
“Yes, I believe a player should get a game misconduct for fighting,” Yzerman told The Dreger Report. “We penalize and suspend players for making contact with the head while checking, in an effort to reduce head injuries, yet we still allow fighting.
“We’re stuck in the middle and need to decide what kind of sport do we want to be. Either anything goes and we accept the consequences, or take the next step and eliminate fighting.”
Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford,
“We’ve got to get rid of fighting, it has to go.”
Rutherford would be open to discussing additional penalties for fighting, suspensions for multiple fights.
Penguins GM Ray Shero thinks they should look at banning fighting.
“It won’t happen overnight, but we need to be leaders, not followers in this area,” he explained. “I respect other GMs and their views, but we need to look at this and not just when an incident like last night (Parros) happens.”
Josh Rimer: Barry Melrose on Steve Yzerman being a part of GMs to eliminate fighting: “Steve never hated fighting when he had Probert & Kocur on his team.”
Darren Dreger: Rumor that Ilya Bryzgalov is about to sign with Las Vegas of the ECHL.