- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Ray Emery hasn’t retired from the NHL, and is hoping to get back in the new year. “He’s working really hard. He wants to get back and he’s committed,” said agent J.P. Barry. Marc Savard passed his exertion test, and could resume skating soon. Owen Nolan is still skating in San Jose and hopes to sign on with someone, Pittsburgh could be a possibility. The New York Rangers are keeping their eye on the Brad Richards-Dallas Stars situation. The Rangers are looking to move Matt Gilroy. The Carolina Hurricanes are looking to add a tough defenseman and a centerman. They made a pitch for Brendan Morrison before he decided on Calgary. Coaches on the hotseat: Brent Sutter (Cal), Randy Carlyle (Ana), and Todd Richards (Min). Washington, Columbus, and Anaheim are keeping an eye on Sheldon Souray.
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland will propose new overtime format at next months GM meeting, 4-on-4 for four minutes and 3-on-3 for the remaining four minutes. What LeBrun has been told the Oilers could be thinking with regards to Souray,
1. Do they eventually put him on re-entry waivers and live with paying him half of the remainder of his contract once another team picks him up at half the price?
2. Or do they continue to wait to make a hockey deal, which they’ve been doing for more than a year, and perhaps not move him until June, when he’s suddenly more attractive to teams because he only has a year left on his deal?
The Rangers are mildly interested in Souray, but only through re-entry. The Blue Jackets may no longer be interested in Souray. Marc-Andre Bergeron will have his surgically repaired ACL looked at to see how the progress is going. Teams looking for power play help will be interested.
- Hockey Night in Canada Hotstove: Ron MacLean, Eric Fancis, Glenn Healy & Pierre LeBrun.