An aggressive market for Boston Bruins UFA Johansson
Darren Dreger: Over 10 teams have checked in with forward Marcus Johansson. He’ll be looking for a raise from $4.6 million.
Joe Haggerty: With the Boston Bruins salary cap situation, they never really had a shot at re-signing Johansson. He was a great rental pick up for them. Will end up costing too much for a third-line winger now.
The Florida Panthers still looking to move Reimer
Pierre LeBrun: The Florida Panthers are still trying hard to trade goaltender James Reimer. They would rather trade Reimer than buy him out.
The Vegas Golden Knights close to re-signing a defenseman, no urgency on a RFA
Jesse Granger: The Vegas Golden Knights are close to re-signing defenseman Deryk Engelland. They are still working out the bonus details.
Justin Emerson: Golden Knights Geoge McPhee on RFA forward Nikita Gusev: “There’s no real urgency to the Gusev situation.” So don’t expect the RFA to be signed anytime soon.
Justin Emerson: McPhee said that he doesn’t anticipate them making another salary cap related trade.
Some extra space for the Vancouver Canucks
Darren Dreger: The Ryan Spooner buyout creates some extra space for the Vancouver Canucks to possibly sign defenseman Tyler Myers, another defenseman or some other potential adds.
Guessing that if they sign Myers it would be for five or six years for something between $6 and $7 million per season.
Washington Capitals notes involve the former Burakovsky, Connolly, Vrana, and Smith-Pelly
Isabelle Khurshudyan: Washington Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said that Andre Burakovsky was wanting a top-six role.
At the trade deadline, the Capitals didn’t want to get draft picks for him, and they waited until they got the return they liked.
Their priority now is to sign a right winger in free agency who could play in their third-line.
Isabelle Khurshudyan: MacLellan said that are still in contact with Brett Connolly‘s camp. He’s getting the sense that they’ll be priced out on Connolly.
Brian McNally: With the salary cap dropping to $81.5 million the expected $83 million, it likely nixed any long-term extension for Jakub Vrana. There had been some mutual interest, but now they will work towards a bridge deal.
Brian McNally: MacLellan on free agent Devante Smith-Pelly: “We’ve talked to him. I haven’t talked to him recently.”