NHL Rumors II: Senators and Devils
  • Ken Warren: Senators Jason Spezza was non-committal about what is next. He added that both he and Bryan Murray will need some time to “reflect.” Wayne Scanlan: Spezza said that he can see himself with the Senators long-term, but wants to reflect before thinking about a new contract. He has a no-trade clause in his current deal. (expires at the end of next season)
  • Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Jason Spezza on trade talk.

    “I’m not naive to the talk. I’ve been asked the question lots,” said Spezza. “There’s a lot of reflecting to go on here during the months leading up to next season and I’m sure that will be a topic.”

    The Ducks and Blues have shown interest. The asking price would be a first round pick, a player who could play in the NHL right away and a top prospect. Spezza has a no-trade clause.

    “That’s one of the things you have in your contract and it’s there for a reason,” Spezza said about the clause.

  • Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen: If the Senators are going to trade Jason Spezza, it would likely cost them Ales Hemsky.

    “I want to play with a good centre,” said Hemsky, scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. “That’s the most important for me. Jason been great to me. I had a blast to play with him. I would like to know what they want to do.”

    “I came here with high expectations and in the end, we didn’t make it,” said Hemsky.

    “We’re having meetings now (between his agent and Senators general manager Bryan Murray) and we’ll see what’s going on. I’ve got to know what’s the future here and what they’re thinking and I will go from there. It’s just a few talks, nothing really big. I’m not rushing anything. I will see my options.”

  • Wayne Scanlan: Senators Milan Michalek: “I love it here and I’d like to stay but we’ll see what happens.”
  • Rich Chere: Devils Jaromir Jagr said that his familiarity with the organization and their system would be a factor in where he plays next year: “When I think about where I’m going to play next year it will be a big factor for me. Hopefully I come back and I’ll have better numbers and help the team make playoffs.”
  • Rich Chere: Devils pending RFA Adam Larsson: “I’m going home and see what I’m going to do. For sure there’s been some ups and downs, but I’m still a young guy.”
  • Tom Gulitti of the Bergon Record: Indications are that the Devils will try to re-sign Marek Zidlicky.

    “I’d like to stay, but we’ll see,” Zidlicky said. “That’s up to Lou. That’s what I said (last summer), I’d like to say, but it’s not only my decision.”

    It is unclear what they will do with Mark Fayne.

    “I would love to, so I hope so,” Fayne said of re-signing. “But at the same time, who knows?”

    There are questions on what they will do with defenseman Bryce Salvador (one-year left) and Anton Volchenkov (two-years left).

    “All personnel questions are for Lou. I think him and I will sit down like we always do at the end of the year and look at things like that.”

    “I think every NHL team needs to have younger guys in the lineup,” DeBoer continued. “That’s the norm across the board. You need young people, you need young legs. You can’t have a whole team of them, but I think you need those young players.”

    If they will look to trade or buy out Salvador and/or Volchenkov remains to be seen.

    “I think whatever changes you make have to be for the better,” Lamoriello said. “So, whenever you can get better, you make changes. If you can make the right changes to get getter, we certainly will. As far as ‘have to,’ you’d like to do a lot of things, but you might not be able to. So, we’ll do the best we can to make us better.”