On the New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes, and the Los Angeles Kings …
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: The Lou Lamoriello rumor to the New York Islanders won’t go away. believes it’s possible, and it would be a new pitch to John Tavares. wonders if a surprise team would take a run at Tavares, and guesses that maybe Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford try to figure something out.
Sounding like the Edmonton Oilers looked at Ilya Kovalchuk, but it won’t be happening.
The number of teams that are calling the Carolina Hurricanes about Jeff Skinner is increasing
Glen Gulutzan was considering assistant coaching offers from the Buffalo Sabres and Oilers last weekend. Some teams would like him to coach their AHL teams.
The Los Angeles Kings are eligible to sign Drew Doughty to an extension July first and GM Rob Blake has already started the process. Blake:
“This won’t surprise anyone, but I sat down with him 1-on-1 after the season and outlined our plan for the next four to five years. We want him here, and he knows how much.”
On the Arizona Coyotes …
Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports: Defenseman Kevin Connauton is a pending unrestricted free agent. GM John Chayka said that Connauton was one of their most improved players last year, but is unsure if re-signing Connauton will happen.
“My job is to build a team and you’ve got to be disciplined,” general manager John Chayka said of his tight budget. “It’s got to make sense and it’s got to fit.”
Connauton wants a larger role and it may be hard to find that on the Coyotes given the five defensemen who earned more ice time than him – Oliver-Ekman Larsson, Alex Goligoski, Jason Demers, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Jakob Chychrun. He could also be looking for money than the Coyotes want to go for a third pairing defenseman.
“He’s always been, in my mind, a little bit underrated from an offensive standpoint,” Oates said. “I think he can contribute and do even more. He wants to be given more opportunity. That’s going to be for Arizona to determine. I know what they have there. I know who’s signed and who’s not.”