- Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Unless the Blues and Ryan Miller go deep into the playoffs, GM Doug Armstrong may be reluctant to pay big money to retain Miller. The Blues have Jake Allen waiting for a shot in the AHL. Likely heading to free agency are Brian Elliott, Derek Roy, Brenden Morrow and Carlo Colaiacovo. They also have restricted free agents in Jaden Schwartz, Vladimir Sobotka and Patrik Berglund.
Sabres that could be traded this summer: Christian Ehrhoff, Tyler Myers, Chris Stewart and Drew Stafford.
The Blue Jackets may have some money to spend this summer and may look at Matt Moulson.
The Ducks could look to the trade market this summer to replace the departed Dustin Penner and Teemu Selanne’s retirement.
- Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Rangers Marc Staal does not want to go through what Ryan Callahan and Dan Girardi went through.
“I saw those two guys go through it with the negotiations and all of the rumors that are impossible to avoid if you’re on the last year of your contract, and it’s not something I really want to go through,” Staal told The Post on Sunday following the Rangers’ buttoned-down 3-0 victory over the Red Wings at the Garden.
“You can say all you want that it’s not on your mind and it’s not a distraction, but it’s something that has to weigh on you,” No. 18 said. “I know my brother, Jordan, went through a lot of that early on in a season when he was in Pittsburgh and basically said, ‘Enough of that.’
“For me, the contract situation is definitely something I would like to take care of over the summer. That’s the goal, but that also has to be the way management looks at it, too, in order to get it done.”
It might take a long-term deal in the $5.5 to $6 million range.
- Amy Moritz of the Buffalo News: It is sounding like the interim tag could be removed from Ted Nolan in the near future.
“I put into my representative’s hand and I guess he and Tim will be talking soon if not have talked already,” Nolan said. “Just formality and getting a couple of things ironed out and doing all the legal stuff. We’ll leave it in their hands for now.”
- Hope Smoke: Bob McKenzie: “I’ve heard the cap next year could be anywhere between $68-70 million. Nothing confirmed yet”