Gustav Nyquist knows his name will likely come up in rumors
Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: The 29-year old pending free agent Gustav Nyquist should draw some interest from a Stanley Cup contender. He’s a former 30-goal scorer and holds a no-trade clause. The Detroit Red Wings could ask him to waive it at some point.
“It’s a business and that’s part of the game,” Nyquist said. “I’m sure my name will pop up. It will be a little bit new situation for me because this is my last year of the contract. It’s different, but it’s nothing I’ve thought about. Probably more as I get closer to the deadline. We’ll see.”
Jeff Skinner going to get paid by someone
Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Darren Dreger was on WGR 550 and was asked if there have been any contract extension talks between the Buffalo Sabres and pending UFA Jeff Skinner.
“I’d be surprised if they haven’t already engaged, to be fair,” said Dreger. “And that’s just common practice. You have your preliminary discussions and then they get a little bit more aggressive when both sides are comfortable in doing that. But it’s in Jeff Skinner’s interest to just focus on what he’s doing because he’s been terrific for the Buffalo Sabres, as you guys can plainly see.”
Dreger notes that Skinner was a definitely in need of a fresh start this year. His name came up in the rumors in previous years and his history with concussions would always be there. Both the Sabres and Skinners camp have basically agreed to let the season get going it see how the fit is.
Skinner is definitely going to paid and Dreger thinks the Sabres are going to want to extend him, but at what numbers they haven’t worked out yet.
When asked if Skinner could be looking along the same lines as Patrick Kane and his seven-year, $49 million deal, Dreger says it could be a similar deal, possibly more if he continues to play this way.
“But Jeff Skinner, as long as he continues to play the way he’s playing, he’s going to earn a big paycheck. Is it in the vicinity of Evander Kane? Is it slightly higher than that? I think it’s a little too soon to say, but if you get to the midway point of the season for the Buffalo Sabres and his production hasn’t dropped a little bit, maybe the number is a little bit higher than that.”