- Pat Pickens of Sportsnet: Stars GM Jim Nill on how the Jason Spezza trade went down.
When it became public knowledge he wanted to be traded, like every GM in the league, I looked into what it was going to take to make a trade and get him to come to our team. We did our homework; we kept in touch. There were a lot of other situations going on around us. There was the Kesler thing going on and other pieces going on at the same time. At the draft, things started to heat up. When you get a deadline, it’s usually when things pick up in pace. Kesler got traded , which took another team out of the mix. Bryan and I started to talk a little bit more, and it started to heat up some more.
Spezza will be a UFA after next season, but the sides have talked about it.
I’m not too worried about the contract. His agent and I have spoken, and we’re going to get Jason in here to show him around the area. I’m pretty confident we’re going to get a contract done.
The Stars are out of the free agent market. Any roster spots will be fill internally with six or seven forwards that are very close, and four defensemen who are close.
- Rich Chere: Devils GM Lou Lamoriello on contract extension talks with Cory Schneider: “Not yet, but I feel very comfortable saying we’ll get it done very soon.”
- Rich Chere: Ryan Carter is still in the Devils plans, with both Lou Lamoriello and Carter saying nothing has been finalized.
- David Pagnotta: Lee Stempniak is still talking with a couple teams.
- Jeremy Rutherford: When asked about Patrik Berglund: the Blues can’t consider trading him unless they are comfortable with Lehtera/Lindstrom.