On John Tavares and the Islanders management …
Jimmy Murphy: A source that is part of an NHL teams management: “Your tweet earlier on #Tavares staying if Garth and Doug stay is right. Tavares didn’t want Lou and I don’t think Lou wanted JT and that contract. Lou doesn’t do big contracts. Kovalchuk’s in NJ was owners’ doing not his!”
Kucherov signing could put Stone and Duchene in the $7.5 plus range …
Don Brennon of the Ottawa Sun: With the Tampa Bay Lightning locking up Nikita Kucherov for $9.5 million per season, it should put Senators forwards Mark Stone and Matt Duchene in the $7.5 to $8 million range per season over eight years.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: As of last week there had been any serious contract talks between the Senators and RFA Stone. Filing for arbitration last week will likely speed up things. Speculation could put a new deal in the $7.5 to $8 million range.
Zucker wants to stay but knows it may not happen …
Dane Mizutani of the Pioneer Press: Forward Jason Zucker filed for salary arbitration last week and remaining with the Minnesota Wild isn’t a guarantee. He wants to stay and loves it in Minnesota, but his name has been in the rumor mill since Paul Fenton took over as GM back in May.
“I’m trying not to think about, and even when I do think about it, it’s part of the business,” he said. “If I get traded, it is what it is and I’ll look forward to a fresh start. That said, I would love to be here. This is where I want to be. That is Option A. And the rest is out of my control.”
Zucker made $2 million this past season and will be looking for a nice raise after scoring 33 goals and recording 31 assists. He could get a new deal in the $5 million per season range.