On the New York Islanders …
Arthur Staple of Newsday: A source is saying that Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic has rescinded his trade request and will remain with the team.
Hamonic hasn’t addressed the media, but the source confirms that Hamonic told GM Garth Snow that he’s okay with staying with the team and not playing closer to his home in Winnipeg.
Arthur Staple of Newsday: Sources from both the Islanders and Kyle Okposo’s camp once again say that there have been no contract negotiations of any substance regarding an extension.
Okposo will be one of the more coveted unrestricted free agents this offseason if he gets to July 1st. There is still plenty of time for the two sides to work out a deal, but there would need to be some big movement for both sides.
The Islanders would like to sign pending UFA Frans Nielsen, but he could be looking to double his current $2.75 million salary.
Matt Martin is also a pending UFA, and a team might be willing to overpay him – maybe in the $3 million a year range. He would have to take a discount if he were to return to the Islanders.
The Islanders have pending RFAs in Ryan Strome, Casey Cizikas, Shane Prince and J-F Berube.
On the Arizona Coyotes …
Jon Lane of NHL.com: Shane Doan thinks that he’ll play next season, but there are still some details that need to be worked out.
“There’s still some things that we have to get over, but at the same time I think I’m capable of doing it,” Doan said. “Whether or not it all works out is another thing but I’m capable of doing it; just talking with my family and seeing if it was something that was doable as a group, it was. So from there we’ll try to figure out the details of it. It if all works out it’d be great.”
The Fourth Period: Doan’s agent confirmed that Doan will meet with management this week to talk about his future with the team.
One source said that it’s not a guarantee that he’ll be back with the Coyotes next year, though many believe that he will.
