- Darren Dreger of TSN: Players will be warned if their jersey is tucked in, and then will get a two minute penalty if it happens again.
It’s unlikely that Derek Stepan will be in the Rangers lineup on opening night. Stepan is holding firm on a two-year bridge deal at $3.5 million per season. The Rangers want to sign him to a two-year deal at $3 million per year.
The Maple Leafs seem okay with starting the season without Cody Franson, unless they have to deal with an offer sheet. They could let him sit for weeks or months. The Leafs have offered a two-year deal at just under $2.4 million per year. They don’t appear to be willing to go one-year with Franson unless it is in the $2 million range. If Franson agrees to a one-year deal, he’ll have arbitration rights next summer.
There isn’t going to be an expansion plan anytime soon.
- Insider Trading on TSN: Panthers GM Dale Tallon wants Tim Thomas come in and mentor Jacob Markstrom like he did for Tuukka Rask in Boston.
The Canucks and the Sedin’s agent, J.P. Barry, talk on almost a daily basis. The twins Swedish representative has made his way over to Canada. It will be a raise from their $6.1 million, and length of contract is not known. The Sedin’s may be looking for a four or five year deal.
Henrik Lundqvist will be 33-years old when he’s on the first year of his new deal. Will the Rangers want to go long-term or short-term with him? There could be an issue with term. He’ll get more than $7 million a season.
Derek Stepan could be looking for more than $3.5 million a year on a two-year deal.
Brenden Morrow doesn’t want to sign a PTO, he wants a contract. The Flyers and Penguins are monitoring, but they don’t have any cap room. The Hurricanes may be interested, but nothing is imminent.
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: On the Martin Brodeur – Cory Schneider tandem:
“I don’t see an issue,” DeBoer told ESPN.com on Thursday. “We’ve got a league high of back-to-back games, I think 22 of them; which right off the bat lends itself to playing both guys. And I think with the condensed schedule, with the Olympics, I think it’s going to be a real luxury to have two guys. And I think both guys get that.”
The Maple Leafs and Cody Franson are in a “holding pattern.”
LeBrun thinks that the Leafs will offer Mason Raymond a contract, but it likely won’t be for much, maybe around $1 million. Raymond could get an offer from another team before the end of camp.
This is Jaroslav Halak’s year to win or lose with the Blues. He’ll be a UFA at the end of the season. If Halak hasn’t proved to management by March that he can handle it, the Blues could turn to the trade market. Ryan Miller rumors could surface.