On the Vegas Golden Knights …
Dhiren Mahiban: Bob McKenzie reporting that the Golden Knights have interviewed both Jack Capuano and Gerard Gallant for their head coaching position.
On Vladimir Sobotka …
Aivis Kalnins: Forward Vladimir Sobotka and Avangard have mutually agreed to terminate his contract.
Jeremy Rutherford: Sobotka’s Avangard contract was to expire after April 30th, so he must have some plans to terminate the deal early.
Elliotte Friedman: Russian sources saying are were some talks of Sobotka rejoining the St. Louis Blues with a contract extension. We have heard this type of talk before, so we’ll see.
On the Dallas Stars …
Mike Heika: Just guessing, but have to think the chances of Lindy Ruff returning next season to coach the Dallas Stars is close to zero. His contract is expiring and teams like to change coaches.
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: (chat) would get rid of both Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi this offseason. A team may not want to expose a goalie for the expansion and the Stars may be able to trade for one. could look at Blue Jackets 22-year old Joonas Korpisalo. The Stars could then expose Lehtonen and Niemi for the expansion draft.
Korpisalo is a pending RFA and would cost around $1 million. Buying out Lehtonen and Niemi would cost the Stars $3.5 million a year for two years. They might still have room to try and sign one of Scott Darling or Ben Bishop.
Another option is to buyout Niemi at about $1.5 million for two year, keep Lehtonen and try for Bishop or Darling.
The Stars will need to bring in a coaching staff that will make them a little more defensively responsible.
They’ll need to make decisions on Stephen Johns, Jamie Oleksiak and Patrik Nemeth.
Defenseman Julius Honka should be a full-time NHLer next season.
They might not look to re-sign Patrick Sharp or Ales Hemsky because of youngsters Valeri Nichushkin, Mattias Janmark, Curtis McKenzie, Adam Cracknell, Brett Ritchie, Devin Shore, Remi Elie and Gemel Smith. Denis Gurianov and Jason Dickinson may have to spend most of next season in the AHL.