On the Boston Bruins …
Fluto Shinzawa: The Bruins continue to keep in contact with pending free agent goaltender Anton Khudobin.
On the Edmonton Oilers …
David Pagnota: Continue to hear that the Oilers are having trade talk involving goaltender Cam Talbot. The Chicago Blackhawks are one team that is looking for a goaltender.
David Pagnotta: Milan Lucic has a no-movement clause but he’s willing to accept a trade out of Edmonton. Could come down to how much money the Oilers are willing to retain or take back in a deal.
On the Columbus Blue Jackets and Artemi Panarin …
Brian Hedger: Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen on Panarin’s trade value with his expiring contact: “I don’t think there’s that much difference between trading a player with one year left or trading a player at the deadline. The biggest difference is at the deadline, you can only mostly get futures …”
Steve Gorten: Kekalainen on Panarin: “We want to have him for 8 years. We made it clear to him that we want to have him as a big part of our future. We want to build our team around him. That doesn’t change. We’ll keep trying until it’s too late, if it is too late. Hopefully not”
Brian Hedger of NHL.com: Forward Artemi Panarin has a year left on his deal at a $6 million cap hit.
The Blue Jackets could look to maximize their return and move him now, or they would wait to see if he wants to talk extension later on.
GM Jarmo Kekalainen didn’t rule out a trade, but said they hope to be able to extend him.
“I never rule out anything,” he said. “I say it all the time. In this business, got traded. Nobody’s untouchable. I know it’s cliché and been heard before, but if somebody throws something at us that will make our team better in the long run, and it makes sense for the organization, we have to listen and look at it. But our priority is to get him signed and do everything we can to persuade him to stay in Columbus long-term. He’s a great player and we also love him as a person and as a teammate. He’s a great guy off the ice and I’ve nothing but good things to say about Artemi.”