The New York Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks still in on Lee
David Pagnotta: Have been hearing that the New York Islanders are still in on Anders Lee. The Chicago Blackhawks are also among the teams that are interested.
Guessing that he’ll get a deal in the five- to seven-year range at around $7 million per.
The Islanders are the only team that is allowed to exchange numbers with Lee.
No contract progress for Cody Ceci
David Pagnotta: There has been no progress made between the Ottawa Senators and restricted free agent defenseman Cody Ceci.
Ceci is arbitration eligible and if he’s not re-signed by July 5th he can file for arbitration. The Senators could trade him if they can’t get him signed.
Washington Capitals back in on Connolly?
Isabelle Khurshudyan: The door may not be totally closed on the Washington Capitals re-signing UFA Brett Connolly after the Andre Burakovsky trade. The Capitals could also have something else in mind. They need a right winger for their third line.
Tom Gulitti: Wonder if the Capitals plan is to re-sign Brett Connolly or go after someone else.
Forward and goaltender options for the Edmonton Oilers
Ryan Rishaug: A few third-line center options for the Edmonton Oilers could include Valtteri Filppula, Derick Brassard and Brian Boyle.
Beer League Heroe: Bob Stauffer on the Edmonton Oilers: “It is my belief that the #Oilers have lots of balls in the air, maybe more than I initially believed a week and a half ago… Do I think there will be big trades? No. But we could see some mechanisms deployed to open up cap space.”
Jim Matheson: Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland continues to try to find a Jesse Puljujarvi trade. Sources say that the Oilers want:
(a) somebody else’s top prospect or
(b) a ready-made F from 25-30 yrs who can play on their team for not just one year…several years.
Jonathan Willis of The Athletic: Five free agent goaltenders that might make sense for the Oilers: Petr Mrazek, Mike Smith, Semyon Varlamov, Keith Kinkaid and Curtis McElhinney.
Less likely candidates for the Oilers: Sergei Bobrovsky, Robin Lehner, Cam Talbot, Anthony Stolarz, Cam Ward, Michal Neuvirth, Chad Johnson, Antti Niemi and Calvin Pickard.