- Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: Avs Patrick Roy is confident that they will be able to re-sign Paul Stastny and Ryan O’Reilly, “I’m certainly very confident things will go well.” He doesn’t really want to go through arbitration, but O’Reilly said at the NHL awards that he’ll let his business people handle that end of it. Roy isn’t concerned with the potential impasse.
“I’ll tell you why: Joe and I were players, and we also had to be businessmen. At this time of the year, it’s no different for other teams. It’s an unpleasant time. It’s a negotiation, and Ryan has to do what he thinks is the best,” Roy said. “Obviously, as a team, you always wish players are buying in to your structure, buying into your plan, and Joe is doing a super job. He’s the one dealing with the contracts. From a coaching perspective, I don’t see it as a problem.”
- Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: While they seem to have hope that they can make a deal, and progress has been made, the Lightning and Ryan Callahan don’t appear to be close on an extension.
“It’s at a critical stage where we have to find a way to close the gap,” Bartlett said.
At this point it seems likely that Callahan will at least test the market to see what comes his way. Teams are allowed to speak with free agents starting tomorrow, and agent Steve Bartlett expects to hear from teams.
“We’re never going to close the door on Tampa,” Bartlett said.
- Lisa Dillman: The Kings and Matt Greene are close on a contract extension.
- Columbus Blue Jackets: Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said that they sent qualifying offers to all of their RFAs yesterday.
- Michael Russo: The Wild will continue contract talk with defenseman Clayton Stoner. They expect to hear from Cody McCormick as early as yesterday. Both Stoner and McCormick are pending UFAs.