Canucks prospect in no rush to make a decision on where to play …
Rick Dhaliwal: Vancouver Canucks 2018 first-round pick Quinn Hughes is in no rush to make a decision on where he’ll be playing next season. There is no timetable.
Irfaan Gaffar: Quinn Hughes and his family will sit down this week or next with his agent and will talk about which route they will take.
Trymakin could return to Vancouver in a year or two …
Rick Dhaliwal: Canucks Nikolai Goldobin talks to KHL defenseman Nikita Tryamkin: “I try to get him back to NHL but I don’t think it’s happening for a year or two.”
Ducks arbitration date with Montour nearing …
Eric Stephens of The Athletic: The Anaheim Ducks and defenseman Brandon Montour have an arbitration date set for Tuesday.
It’s not known if they are looking at a two- or three-year bridge deal or a long-term deal for the right-handed defenseman.
Montour’s agent said contract talks are “going well.”
Ondrej Kase and Nick Ritchie are RFAs with no arbitration rights and their deals may take until September if necessary.
Nothing close for Nelson and a wait-and-see for Lee …
Arthur Staple of The Athletic: A deal between the New York Islanders and restricted free agent forward Brock Nelson doesn’t appear to be close.
The Islanders qualified Nelson at $3.5 million and he can only be awarded a one-year deal in arbitration.
It’s not known if new GM Lou Lamoriello is interested in going longer than a one-year deal for Nelson. If they do a one-year deal, and he shows he can handle being a No. 2 center, they could look to extend him.
Winger Anders Lee is entering the final year of his deal and could be a candidate for their captaincy. While there have been some talks about an extension, Lee’s agent said Lamoriello is taking the wait-and-see route.
“He’s told me they really want to evaluate everyone they’ve got,” Sheehy said. “They know how important Anders is to the team, but this is a whole new management and coaching staff there now.”
On the open market, could see Lee getting seven years at $8 million per.