On the Chicago Blackhawks …
Scott Powers: Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman said they would make a decision on RFAs Tomas Jurco and Anthony Duclair in the coming days.
On the Buffalo Sabres …
Bob McKenzie: The Sabres held lots of trade conversations with teams about Ryan O’Reilly. The St. Louis Blues and Montreal Canadiens were among the teams that were interested in O’Reilly. He’s due for a big signing bonus on July 1st, so if he’s still with the team afterwards, it’s likely that he starts the season with the Sabres.
John Vogl: The Sabres also had trade conversations with the Philadelphia Flyers.
John Vogl: Jason Botterill: “We just didn’t feel comfortable with what was presented the last couple of days. We’ll see how things progress over the next week or two.”
On the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes …
Josh Yohe of The Athletic: The Penguins had hoped to make a trade at the draft, but GM Jim Rutherford left empty-handed and didn’t speak with the media before he left.
Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner was one player the Penguins had shown interest in according to Pierre LeBrun. Rutherford drafted Skinner when he was in Carolina.
After signing their pending RFAs, it would only leave the Penguins with only a couple million in salary cap space, so the Penguins would have to move out salary someway.
Candidates to move out salary include:
Carl Hagelin who has a $4 million cap hit, but only 30 goals the past three years.
Conor Sheary is at $3 million for two season and could be included in a package for Skinner.
Third-line center Derick Brassard could be made available for a trade like this.
The Hurricanes might be looking for picks and prospects, something that GM Rutherford has had an issue moving in the past.
