On the Detroit Red Wings …
Craig Custance of The Athletic: The Red Wings have let RFA Andreas Athanasiou know that they want him to play for them this season.
The Red Wings and Athanasiou’s camp had a conference call on Monday, with the Wings laying out the role they wanted for Athanasiou and how they came up with the number for the two-year offer.
It also appears that they have increased their one-year offer to a tad more than the $1.25 million.
Athanasiou’s agent and GM Ken Holland met again on Wednesday when the Red Wings were in Toronto.
Teams are calling the Red Wings, but multiple sources are saying the asking price is high – a young player who projects as a top-six forward or a top-four defenseman.
Due to the current salary cap situation for the Red Wings, a one-year deal may be the best to get him back in their lineup.
On the New York Rangers …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: The New York Rangers don’t appear to have any urgency to sign Rick Nash to a contract extension according to Bob McKenzie.
“No, none whatsoever,” NHL Insider Bob McKenzie noted bluntly during the Wednesday evening NBCSN pregame show. “Now, I should point out that Rick Nash made it clear to the New York Rangers in the offseason and continues to feel this way that he wants to return to the New York Rangers. He wants to re-sign in New York. He likes it there and would like to continue to be a member of the team.”
adds that Nash is going to have to take a pay cut from his $7.8 million cap hit, but how much will it take? Nash could ask for Patrick Marleau’s three years at $6.25 million per, with the Rangers may be thinking Eric Staal’s three years at $3.5 million per.
“But in the meantime, they want to see where they are. If things aren’t going well for the New York Rangers, then Rick Nash is likely to be traded as a rental sometime between now and the trade deadline.
“But lots of runway to go down before they get to that point.””