On the Los Angeles Kings …
Jon Rosen: Kings 2016 third-round pick Alexander Dergachyov’s KHL contract has expired. The Kings have internally discussed him but don’t think it will be a quick decision for them. Negotiating a deal would be a little more complicated than normal.
On pending free agents John Tavares …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Pierre LeBrun was on TSN 690 and was asked about where pending free agent John Tavares could end up, and if he’ll be moved in a sign-and-trade before the start of free agency.
“I think the trade route is going to make more sense. And I think what the Canadiens need to start thinking about… and what got me thinking about this was what San Jose and Vegas were examining with Ottawa at the trade deadline regarding Erik Karlsson, is that both of those teams, I’m told, were willing to take on Bobby Ryan.
“And so that put San Jose and Vegas in a position where few other teams were in the Karlsson discussion, that they could absorb because of their cap space, Bobby Ryan’s deal. The Canadiens have a lot of cap room. And I think that what they need to think of is, ‘Can we capitalize on this where there’s a player we like on a team and go to that team and say we know you hate that other contract on your payroll. We’ll take it. We’ll take that off your hands as part of this deal.’
“That’s the type of thing I’d be thinking of right now because they could do it and a lot of teams in the East can’t. The other teams that have cap room in the East, most of them don’t want to spend it – the Carolinas of the world. So among the teams that are normally at the cap, Montreal has the most cap room of all of those teams in the East. That’s a weapon they have right now heading into the offseason.”
LeBrun adds that why wouldn’t the Golden Knights take a run at John Tavares. They’ve got the cap room, a good long-term plan, lots of draft picks and no state income tax.
The St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks would also be interested.
@NHL/Prospects Watcher: Gord Miller on TSN: “I think the Canadiens are the no.1 contender for Tavares”
@NHL/Prospects Watcher: Miller on TSN: “They have the cap space, they are an original 6 team, they are a Canadian team, all that appeals to Tavares.” Miller goes on to say that some teams would need to move salary to take on Tavares, the Canadiens wouldn’t. Tavares is also good friends with Carey Price and Shea Weber.