- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Ryan Callahan’s agent, Steve Bartlett, said that he spoke with Lightning GM Steve Yzerman over the weekend, with Yzerman saying he’d like to talk contract extension after the season.
“Yeah, we’d love to sign him,” said Yzerman. “He’s a good fit, a good person, a good player, has style of play that really complements our group well; he’s fit in really well. So we hope to sign him. But we won’t talk until after the year.”
It’s likely that John Tortorella will be fired by the Canucks after the season. There will also be the question whether or not to fire GM Mike Gillis. Both Tortorella and Gillis have four years left on their deals.
The Canadiens and Andrei Markov’s agent, Sergei Berezin, have continued contract talks.
“I met with Marc a couple of days ago when they were here ,” Berezin told ESPN.com Tuesday.
“I don’t think we’re in any rush to get anything done. I have an idea what they’re offering, they know what we want, and I don’t actually think we’re that far apart. I’m hopeful in the end it will work out.”
Jaromir Jagr’s agent, Petr Svoboda, met with Devils GM Lou Lamoriello a few days ago to talk about a contract extension. Talks will pick up after the season.
Contract talks between Peter Chiarelli and Jarome Iginla’s camp will wait until after the season.
Randy Carlyle’s future with the Maple Leafs could be in doubt if they miss the playoffs.
- Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press: Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has some trade chips he could use after the season. Evander Kane would get them a big return, including roster players and picks/prospects. Tobias Enstrom could get a nice return, but they would need a frontline defender in return. Zach Bogosian’s stock might be down at the moment. Lawless wouldn’t move Brian Little or Andrew Ladd.
- Hope Smoke: Steve Simmons: “I highly doubt that Gardiner will be dealt considering Nonis believes dealing young D is the biggest mistake a GM can make”
- Hope Smoke: Ray Ferraro: “If Cal trades Giordano they get rid of their hardest competitor. Giordano embodies what you want from your leaders” … “I hate the word lifer but Giordano is a lifer in Calgary” … “If the Leafs want to acquire Giordano what can they trade back? Connor McDavid?” … “I wouldn’t trade JVR for a top end D because you’re stealing from Peter to pay Paul”
- Corey Pronman: Sabres GM Tim Murray: “If Ekblad is the best player available that we deem at the end of the year we’ll take Ekblad”
- John Vogl: Sabres GM Tim Murray said they are close to signing Jake McCabe and that he would likely report to Sabres and not to the AHL.