On the Edmonton Oilers …
Jim Matheson in the Edmonton Journal: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is a career 43.3 percent on the draw after over 5,800 faceoffs. Should he move over to the wing?
“Nuge is a tremendous player, a detail player. There’s more offence to him and that’ll be the message we deliver to him,” said McLellan.
Coach Todd McLellan said it’s too early to start thinking about line combinations for next season.
The Oilers do need to look at adding a top-nine center that can win faceoffs.
Free agent center options for the Oilers could be.
Nick Bonino – Penguins – offensive upside but only 48 percent on the draw.
Brian Boyle – Maple Leafs – 6-foot-7 and over 50 percent on the draw. Maybe better served as a fourth line center.
Martin Hanzal – Wild – 6-foot-5 and over 50 percent on the draw. Could cost around $4 million a season.
Derek Ryan – Hurricanes – smaller at 5-foot-10 but is 55 percent on the draw and could be good for 30 to 35 points.
On the Pittsburgh Penguins …
Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Penguins GM Jim Rutherford isn’t in a hurry to find a replacement for recently departed assistant GM Jason Botterill, if at all. He’s also not in a rush to start contract talks with his pending free agents either.
The Penguins RFA list include Justin Schultz, Brian Dumoulin and Conor Sheary and UFA list of Nick Bonino, Matt Cullen, Chris Kunitz and Trevor Daley.
“No communication at all. When we’re playing, I feel it’s important that the player plays, and there’s an appropriate time to negotiate contracts,” Rutherford said. “So I think the player knows where he stands, the team knows where he stands. When Carolina won the Cup in ’06, I think I had 13 free agents to sign in 10 days, and for me, it was a lot easier that way. Because you cut out all of the baloney in between. You go around and around about things that don’t even matter in negotiations. When you get down to the end, you get right to the point and get it done.”