On the Carolina Hurricanes …
Josh Rimer: Signs are pointing towards Rod Brind’Amour as being the Hurricanes next head coach.
On the Edmonton Oilers …
Aivis Kalnins: Salavat traded the rights to forward Anton Slepyshev to CSKA Moscow. Slepyshev is expected to sign with CSKA.
On the Vancouver Canucks …
Rick Dhaliwal: Petrus Palmu said that he’s been released by TPS of the Finnish league and is expecting to sign with the Canucks. He was the top rookie in Finland.
On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
Amar Basi: Darren Dreger earlier this week on Mitch Marner’s value: “His value is real high…some in Marner’s camp believe contract should be similar to Matthews”
Amar Basi: Bob McKenzie earlier this week on Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner contracts: “If I’m them, I’m not signing this summer, I am betting on myself, they’ll probably have even better seasons next year, if I am them, I am taking this all the way to the end of their entry-level contracts.”
Chris Nichols of FRS Hockey: Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek on their 31 Thoughts podcast were talking about the Toronto Maple Leafs. Friedman thinks the Leafs are going to be in the market for a defenseman. It may not be a free agent like John Carlson. They looked at Canucks defenseman Chris Tanev and then Rangers Dman Ryan McDonagh. Friedman then brings up a theory he has involving John Tavares.
“I have a nagging theory. And I know people are going to go bonkers with this, so I’m just going to say it’s my theory, okay. I don’t know that this is going to happen. Do you think they would go – Auston Matthews and John Tavares are represented by the same guy – would they ever go and say, ‘How can we get both of them.’
“… I don’t know. But the thing is CAA might not – and I understand the agents, both of those guys might not want to take discounts. They might just want to say no. But if they do, maybe you work it out that way.
“But I’m trying to think what Toronto is doing with their roster. They’ve got room to do stuff there now.”