- The Fourth Period: The Panthers are hoping to re-sign pending RFAs Dmitry Kulikov and Eric Gudbranson, as well as pending UFA Tom Gilbert. Gilbert and the Panthers will talk about an extension before July 1st. The Panthers have already had trade talks involving Kulikov before the deadline, and could revisit those if they can’t get him locked up.
- Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News: Flyers GM Paul Holmgren is doing all he can to keep pending UFA Andrew MacDonald with the team. MacDonald has enjoyed his time with the Flyers.
“I’m not going to comment on anything that is ongoing,” Holmgren told the Daily News yesterday. “It just doesn’t make any sense . We’d like to get something done. We want to sign him.”
“I like what I see so far. It’s been great,” MacDonald said. “From an organizational standpoint, the team has been competitive. As a player, that’s all you can ask. That and to make you feel welcome. I’ve been really happy. We’ll see if something can get done here.”
Money could become an issue. MacDonald would be one of the top Dmen available on July 1st. The Flyers will likely need to pay market price or higher for him. He turned down a four year, $16 million from the Islanders before he was traded at the deadline.
- Sam Carchidi: MacDonald said that his agent and GM Paul Holmgren have been talking contract extension.
- Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: Randy Carlyle’s future as the Leafs coach won’t be determined quickly. GM Dave Nonis knew before he signed his five-year extension with the Leafs last year that it was possible that they would bring in another senior executive. Nonis may wait and see what other coaches come available after the season, possibilities include: Barry Trotz, John Tortorella, Kirk Muller, Dan Bylsma and Peter DeBoer. The Leafs and Dave Bolland’s camp don’t appear to be close. Bolland may be looking for an eight year deal in the $5 million range. Thought is that he won’t get that anywhere. A deal in the five year range and closer to the $4.2 million that Tyler Bozak makes, makes more sense. The Leafs would like Bolland back, but only at a reasonable price. Nonis will have to decide if he wants to bring pending UFAs Nikolai Kulemin and Jay McClement back. James Reimer will most likely ask to be traded, but it may not be easily made.
- Josh Yohe of Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Penguins Tomas Vokoun is in the AHL on a conditioning assignment is not sure if he’ll be called up to backup Marc-Andre Fleury. It could also be his last season playing hockey.
“That’s up to the coaches,” Vokoun said. “When we talked back in January, I told them I’m open-minded. Regardless of what happened, I was 90 percent sure it was going to be my last season anyway.”
- Chris Johnston: Leafs GM Dave Nonis is expected to remain GM after the hiring of Brendan Shanahan as team president.
- Hope Smoke: Ray Ferraro: “If Shanahan goes in and fires Carlyle then he should just fire Nonis too. If that’s the way then Nonis is just a puppet” … “Nonis will not be a puppet. That’s not his style. There is a fighter there that I don’t think people realize.”
- Hope Smoke: Ray Ferraro: The people that I’ve spoken to have told me that it’s Patrick Roy making the decisions there”