On the Carolina Hurricanes …
Tom Gulitti of NHL.com: The Carolina Hurricanes could use a top-six center and GM Ron Francis isn’t ruling out a trade before the start of the season, but is okay if they don’t make one.
“We’re still kicking tires and talking to teams on things,” Francis said. “But if there’s nothing we feel makes sense at this point we’re comfortable with what we’ve done and starting the season with what we have.”
On the Boston Bruins …
Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: (mailbag) The Boston Bruins and unrestricted free agent forward Drew Stafford have kept communication open. Stafford might need to sign a PTO and that could be an option for the Bruins. He’d be good insurance if one of their young wingers isn’t ready to make the jump. can’t see the Bruins offering him a guaranteed contract that would block one of Jake DeBrusk, Zach Senyshyn, Anders Bjork or Danton Heinen.
thinks the Bruins current blue line is what they’ll head to training camp with and won’t be adding a top-four defenseman. If Kevan Miller or Torey Krug don’t work out with Charlie McAvoy over the first few months, then GM Don Sweeney could look to trade for a top-four defenseman. Maybe Jakub Zboril will be ready to make the jump. The Bruins could use a “young, veteran two-way defenseman” to play with McAvoy and trading for one of those isn’t cheap.
On the Detroit Red Wings …
NHL.com: With Andreas Athanasiou left to re-sign, and if everyone is healthy to start the season (excluding Johan Franzen), the Detroit Red Wings will likely have to make a move according to GM Ken Holland.
The Red Wings could look to trade defenseman Mike Green. Green carries a $6 million salary cap hit in the last year of his three-year deal.
Forward Riley Sheahan carries $2.075 million salary cap hit and could be another trade option. He’ll be a RFA after the season.