- Bob McKenzie: The Penguins will get a 2016 3rd round pick from the Sabres as compensation for hiring Dan Bylsma. The pick was originally the Islanders, but due to the condition attached to it, the Penguins may end up with the Canucks pick.
- Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: The Penguins asked the Sabres for compensation for Dan Bylsma, but they didn’t when the Devils asked permission to speak with Bylsma.
“The rule is not as clear as it should be,” Penguins GM Jim Rutherford told Trib Total Media. “We felt that the intent of the rule was for employees that were still with the team, that were working with the team, not terminated employees.
“Once Edmonton got a pick for (former Bruins GM) Peter Chiarelli — when he was a terminated employee — we decided to ask for picks for future employees.”
Rutherford insisted they weren’t confused by the rule. He expects at the next board of governors meeting that they will get more clarification on the rule.
“With Ray and New Jersey, we knew about it a few weeks ahead of time,” Rutherford said. “In order to accommodate that, as we thought the new rule for compensation read for employees under contract, we told New Jersey that there wouldn’t be compensation.
“Around the very same time that Ray was announced, Peter Chiarelli went to Edmonton, same status as Ray, they ended up getting a draft pick. So at that point in time, as an organization, we decided that we would ask for a pick.”