On the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens …
TSN Insider Trading: Darren Dreger: Think there is a “strong possibility” that Auston Matthews could get more than Connor McDavid on his next contract – may be in the $13 to $13.5 million per season range on an eight-year deal. Matthews agent will factor in the salary cap going up each season.
Pierre LeBrun: The Maple Leafs have had contract talks with pending RFA forward William Nylander. The longer he plays with Matthews, the higher the number likely goes, and it could start at $7 million a season.
Pierre LeBrun: Nikita Kucherov has another year on his deal and thinks it’s more than possible that he’ll get more than Steven Stamkos on his next contract. It may not be that they think he’s better than Stamkos, but it’s the shifting dynamics of the league.
Pierre LeBrun: The Montreal Canadiens are working with Alex Galchenyuk and are trying to turn him around. Now is not the time to trade Galchenyuk as his trade value is low.
On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: Defenseman Slater Koekkoek was a healthy scratch for their first two games and only played three minutes on Monday. Koekkoek needs to play to continue to develop. The Lightning are carrying eight defensemen.
There has been some speculation that the Lightning could be shopping right-handed defenseman Andrej Sustr. Sustr is on a one-year deal at a $1.95 million salary cap hit.
Teams have likely been calling GM Steve Yzerman and asking about Koekkoek.
On the Ottawa Senators …
TSN 1200: Senators GM Pierre Dorion said that there is nothing new to report on Kyle Turris contract extension talks. Negotiations continue, and they still have eight months to work out a deal for the pending unrestricted free agent.