On the St. Louis Blues …
Andy Strickland: Should expect some Vladimir Sobotka news as soon as today.
Andy Strickland: In Vladimir Sobotka‘s KHL contract, it was negotiated that it would be terminated immediately after his KHL season was over.
Aivis Kalnins: Sobotka has signed an agreement with Avangard of the KHL that if he is going to return to the KHL next year, it can only be with them. He is going to be playing in the NHL next season.
On the Dallas Stars …
Mike Heika: (asked if the NHL’s Olympic decision and the Russian Federation wanting to have players back in the KHL for the Olympics next year, will it be a speed bump in getting Valeri Nichushkin back in Dallas next season) – “Like I said, lots of moving parts. Still not clear on contract options, and we don’t know what Val wants, either.”
On the Chicago Blackhawks …
Scott Powers of The Athletic: Blackhawks prospect Radovan Bondra had been playing with Prince George of the WHL for the past two season, and is now with Rockford of the AHL. They will decide later on whether to sign him to an entry-level contract for next year or to wait another season. Though he’s been playing in the WHL, he was drafted when playing for a team in Slovakia.
The 6-foot-5 2015 fifth-round pick scored 32 goals in 62 games this past season.
The Blackhawks could also look at signing Roy Radke to an entry-level deal this offseason.
On the Philadelphia Flyers …
Tim Panaccio of CSN Philly: Goaltending will be Philadelphia Flyers GM Ron Hextall‘s biggest offseason issue that he needs to address.
The Flyers re-signed Michal Neuvirth, giving them a goaltender to expose for the expansion draft and not being forced to expose Anthony Stolarz.
Steve Mason‘s season numbers aren’t great, but in his last 16 games he has a 2.15 GAA and a .933 save percentage.
Mason has a history of being very vocal and critical in his postgame scrums, something which hasn’t always sat well with teammates.
Two questions GM Hextall needs to ask if he’s thinking of re-signing the pending UFA.
1. Does he deserve to return?
2. If so, is he a goaltender the Flyers will play for? Or is this just a goaltender the Flyers will play in front of?