- Matt Halman of CBS Boston: Bruins Brad Marchand has three year left on his contract, and has a no-trade clause. Halman thinks the Bruins have some serious decisions to make regarding Marchand, if he’s to continue in their top-six.
“He was ineffective against Chicago and Toronto in the 2013 playoffs and he earned a pass for the way he played against New York and Pittsburgh. He got off to a rocky start in 2013-14 (four goals in the season’s first three months) and he got a pass because he was strong enough the rest of the year to finish with 25 goals, he avoided league discipline all season and his playoff track record was pretty strong. Then he erased all the goodwill with a playoff run to forget. Marchand not only failed to produce, but he also took boneheaded penalties, and his yapping both inspired Montreal and even made Detroit a little more motivated than they otherwise should’ve been, considering the talent disparity for that series.”
- Chuck Gormley of CSN Washington: The Capitals used one of their compliance buyouts on Jeff Schultz last summer. Brooks Laich (three years and $13.5 million left) and Mike Green (one year at $6.083) are the Capitals leading candidates for a buyout this offseason. Assistant GM Don Fishman doesn’t expect the Caps to use their last compliance buyout. If they were to buyout Laich, he’d be required to pass a physical, something he failed at the end of the season.
- Hope Smoke: Elliotte Friedman: “I expect Gaborik would stay. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re working on an extension with him”
- L.A. Lariviere: Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin wouldn’t say if Mike Weaver will be back next year.