On Chris Lee …
Aivis Kalnins: Hearing the defenseman Chris Lee has left Magnitagorsk Metallurg of the KHL to pursue NHL options.
On the Jan Rutta …
Scott Powers of The Athletic: Source saying that the Chicago Blackhawks are one of the teams in the running for Czech Republic free agent defenseman Jan Rutta. Rutta is a 26-year old offensive defenseman.
Darren Dreger: Hearing that the Calgary Flames are one of the teams in on Rutta.
Darren Dreger: The Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens are not in on Rutta.
Darren Dreger: The Ottawa Senators are not in on Rutta. The Flames and Edmonton Oilers are only Canadian teams interested.
On the Vancouver Canucks …
Rick Dhaliwal: Hearing that the Canucks are leaning towards sending a qualifying offer to RFA Joe Labate. Labate played 13 games for the Canucks this season.
On the San Jose Sharks …
Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area: Pending unrestricted free agents Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau are no closer to signing a contract extension than they were when their season ended.
There are no ‘handshake’ deals between the sides to do a deal after the expansion draft.
Re-signing Thornton would be more a priority than getting Marleau locked up. Thornton centers the top line and Marleau played up and down the lineup on the wing, with most of his time on the third line.
thinks Thornton would be looking for at least $5 million a season, $15 – $17 million on a three year deal. It’s not known if the Sharks are interested in going than much and for that long for the soon to be 38-year old.
If Marleau is looking for a longer term deal, doubt full the Sharks will be interested.
The Sharks also want to extend Martin Jones and Marc-Edouard Vlasic after July 1st.