On the Florida Panthers …
Mike Chambers of the Denver Post: University of Denver head coach Jim Montgomery said he’d only leave for the NHL is it was a “the perfect opportunity.”
Montgomery has had two interviews with the Florida Panthers. The Panthers have also interviewed Bob Boughner and Michel Therrien.
On the Buffalo Sabres …
John Vogl of the Buffalo News: With the NHL possibly not going to the 2018 Winter Olympics, Sabres prospect Cal Petersen has a shot at being a goaltender for USA if he doesn’t go pro. That opportunity may lead him to not signing with the Sabres and going back to Notre Dame for his senior year. He’s the U.S’s third string goalie at the World Championships.
“I’ve definitely thought about , especially after the NHL said it wasn’t going,” Petersen told IIHF.com in a story published Friday. “I’m sure this will help, and if it leads to the other things like the Olympics, that’d be great.”
On the Boston Bruins …
Steve Conroy of the Boston Hearld: The Bruins don’t appear to be stressing over the expansion draft and their protected list.
“Well, there’s always a fear of losing a player you don’t really want to lose,” said team president Cam Neely last week. “There is going to be a lot of conversations that I know (GM) Don (Sweeney) is going to have with other GMs and (Vegas GM) George McPhee, for that matter, on seeing what his appetite is and what his interest is.”
The Bruins may not want to lose Ryan Spooner for nothing and may try to trade the RFA forward. The Bruins could protect Riley Nash as their seventh forward, exposing Matt Beleskey and Jimmy Hayes. Vegas may not want be interested in Beleskey’s contract – three more years at $3.8 million.
thinks the Bruins should protect Kevan Miller to go along with Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug. Vegas could choose between Colin Miller and Adam McQuaid.
thinks the Penguins pending UFA Nick Bonino could be a good fit for the Bruins. The Penguins would like to keep Bonino but they may not be able to fit his contract in.