Tentative Stanley Cup Final schedule if…
Pierre LeBrun: Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals is on Thursday. If the Tampa Bay Lightning win, it’s expected that the Stanley Cup Final would get underway on Saturday. Game 2 would be Monday, then go Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Monday.
That schedule is not official but is the current plan if the Lightning win.
No talks between the Flames and Gustafsson’s camp
David Pagnotta: The Calgary Flames haven’t spoken to the agent for pending unrestricted free agent defenseman Erik Gustafsson. As of this time, Gustafsson plans on testing the free agent market.
Gallagher and the Canadiens have talked extension
Eric Engels: Montreal Canadiens Brendan Gallagher said his agent and GM Marc Bergevin has spoken about a contract extension but nothing is concrete yet. He thinks that both sides are interested in working a deal out.
Eric Engels: Gallagher: “For me (winning) is pretty much everything. The $ is important. I’m not going to sit here and lie and say it’s not going to be important… But it’ll be enough $ regardless of what it is. I’ll be able to live a happy life post-hockey+ that’s not going to be a worry.”
Eric Engels of Sportsnet: Brendan Gallagher is entering the final season of his six-year, $22.5 million deal. The 28-year old will be looking for a nice raise on his next deal.
New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider could be comparable. He signed a seven-year deal worth $45.5 million.
Gallagher wants to win.
“So, going into this next contract, however many years I’m able to sign for, you just want to be in a position where you have that opportunity each and every season.”
He’s had good chemistry alongside Phillip Danault and Tomas Tatar, who are both also entering the final year of their contracts.
“(Agent) Gerry (Johansson) and the team have talked, but nothing in detail. Obviously those conversations are going to happen, and I think both sides are very open to it,” Gallagher said. “But, for me, my job’s to get ready for next season. If that means I have a contract, fantastic. If it means I don’t, my job doesn’t change.
My goal is to help this team, next year, be a winner. I’m going to put in the work to do that regardless of the contract situation. As an athlete, I’ve got to do my best to block that out and let those guys… I obviously pay my agent to take care of that stuff and I’m going to let him do his job and the team will take care of whatever’s best for their future interest and they’ll make that decision.”
