On the Los Angeles Kings …
John Hoven: The Kings met Ilya Kovalchuk, but wouldn’t say that he’s Plan A for them. Their main priority is to add offense this offseason, as well as getting younger and faster.
Dennis Bernstein: If Slava Voynov gets clearance to return to the NHL, doesn’t believe that he’ll return to the Kings.
On Ilya Kovalchuk …
Darren Dreger: Ilya Kovalchuk met with the Kings on Friday and will meet will meet with the Sharks today.
On the San Jose Sharks …
Kevin Kurz: Have been told that there is a “strong possibility” that the Sharks will buy out the final year of defenseman Paul Martin‘s contract. A buyout would give the Sharks an additional $2.8 million in salary cap space.
On the Carolina Hurricanes …
Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer: Most mock drafts have the Buffalo Sabres taking Rasmus Dahlin at No. 1 and the Hurricanes taking Andrei Svechnikov at No. 2.
Hurricanes GM Don Waddell seems to be thinking the same thing.
“If we were sitting there right now and nothing changes, I would say it’s pretty safe that’s the player we would pick.”
Svechnikov was in Raleigh this past week for a few days.
“As I’ve told everybody, we think we’re going to get a very top-end player, so you’d have to put something on the table that would blow us away to say, ‘This makes more sense,’ ” Waddell said. “But I think it’s going to be very difficult to do.”
Waddell added that he’s spoken with a few teams about the pick, but nothing has been even close.
Jeff Skinner‘s name keeps coming up in the rumor mill. Waddell said that he hasn’t asked Skinner to waive his no-movement clause for a potential trade.
Waddell on Pierre LeBrun’s report that the Hurricanes are looking for a first-round pick and a prospect for Skinner.
“That’s a guess on his part,” Waddell said. “We’re dealing with teams and we’ll just see where it goes.”
The Hurricanes goaltending situation could clear up a bit when free agency gets underway. Waddell said the process is “ongoing.”