- Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun: There have been no contract talks between Dave Bolland and the Maple Leafs since early February.
“Nothing is happening right now,” Thun said. “We exchanged proposals prior to the Olympics and we were significantly apart.”
Bolland is apparently looking for a deal around $40 million over seven or eight years. If he doesn’t re-sign with the Maple Leafs, there is speculation that he could rejoin Dale Tallon in Florida. The Canucks and Canadiens could also have interest in him this offseason. Other centers that could be on the market this summer: Paul Stastny, David Legwand, Marcel Goc and Derek Roy.
- Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post: There is a mob in Washington that is going after GM George McPhee. Some wonder if head coach Adam Oates in the problem. If McPhee let Oates go, he’d be looking to hire his sixth head coach. If the Capitals chose not to bring Jaroslav Halak, Dustin Penner and Mikhail Grabovski back, they would have the cap space to try and lure from free agent defenseman.
- Tim Booth of the AP on Yahoo! Sports: There is an investor group looking to bring a NBA franchise to Seattle, but they have no interest in owning an NHL franchise.
”No one in our ownership group is interested in being a majority owner in an NHL franchise. That’s been the case since the start,” said Chris Hansen, who led the unsuccessful effort last year to purchase the Sacramento Kings and move them to Seattle. ”I’ve certainly queried our ownership group about this. I think if someone really wanted to it would be easier than bringing in an outside party.
”But the most important thing is the passion is just not there for the NHL among our ownership group that is there for basketball. Getting involved in hockey solely because basketball hasn’t worked out right now, when it’s not something your heart is in, would be a disservice to the fans here.”
- Hope Smoke: Darren Dreger: “Kesler has that full no move clause. There are certainly those around Van that wanted Kesler’s list to be longer at the deadline” … “There’s a lot of uncertainty swirling around that Vancouver organization and Kesler is certainly part of it”
- Hope Smoke: Darren Dreger: “Hitchcock has found a way to adapt his style to accommodate the new game” … “That’s the biggest beef with Tortorella. He has become less flexible. I was told he used to listen to his players and doesn’t now”
- Hope Smoke: Steve Simmons: “Nonis will make the decision on Carlyle not MLSE. Despite all the hooey about Leiweke overseeing”
- Dave Isaac of the Courier Post: Flames prospect Johnny Gaudreau is a Hobey Bakey Award finalist this year. The dad of the 5 foot 8, 160 pound forward may be a little concerned with his son’s size knowing that Brian Burke is the current GM.
“If the management they had there before was there, like (former general manager Jay) Feaster, the ones that drafted him, I’d be really comfortable letting him go,” Guy Gaudreau said. “I know that (Calgary president of hockey operations) Brian Burke likes big boys, big hockey players. My son is not a big hockey player. He’s made it clear that he likes him or whatever, but I don’t think he’s sold on him. That’s been John all his life, wherever he tried out. It’s always been, ‘He’s got to prove himself, prove himself, prove himself.’ He’s done that over and over and over.”
- Adam Kimelman of NHL.com: After the 2012-13 season, now Flyers goalie Steve Mason considered hanging up the pads.
“My mind was so beat up that I truly did not enjoy playing hockey anymore,” Mason told NHL.com. “It had definitely crossed my mind to consider other options. I was just so beat up mentally that hockey was becoming more of a chore than a passion and something that was fun. … I hadn’t thought about what I’d do, but it definitely crossed my mind to hang the pads up and focus on other aspects of life because hockey was something that was making life not enjoyable.”