On the Chicago Blackhawks …
Mark Lazerus: Source saying the Blackhawks and Dennis Rasmussen‘s camp have had lots of contract discussions. Both sides want to get a deal done but are waiting on the salary cap info and the expansion draft.
Mark Lazerus: A qualifying offer for Rasmussen would be $650,000, the new league minimum. If the Blackhawks qualify him, he’ll definitely be back.
On the Vegas Golden Knights …
SinBin.vegas: Vegas GM George McPhee: “We have some control over what’s happening now, but now we are on the clock.” … “We were expecting this mass redistribution of players, and that didn’t really happen. That was surprising.” … “We think can put a good team on the ice and accumulate draft picks to be in a surplus situation.” … “We are talking to UFAs and RFAs, we are considering everything.”
On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star: Maple Leafs Stephane Robidas and Nathan Horton were deemed ineligible for the expansion draft, but winger Joffrey Lupul is eligible.
“None of the draft exemptions were automatic,” said NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly. “Each were evaluated on a case-by-case basis. That includes Lupul.”
Lupul may be healthy enough to play or maybe Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello has a deal in place with Vegas to select Lupul and take on his $5.25 million cap hit.
The Leafs have bonus overages and nearly $14 million in dead money. The Maple Leafs may have to include a first round pick.
If the Leafs don’t have a deal with Vegas, they could lose a prospect like Brandan Leipsic, Kerby Rychel or Seth Griffith. Eric Fehr, Martin Marincin, Garret Sparks and Antoine Bibeau are other options for Vegas.
The Maple Leafs are believed to be interested in Sami Vatanen, with Connor Brown‘s name coming up.
The Panthers are believed to have some interest in Rychel.