On the Los Angeles Kings …
Aivis Kalnins: Sounding like the LA Kings are exploring their options to bring back defenseman Slava Voynov from the KHL.
On the Buffalo Sabres …
WGR 550: Darren Dreger on WGR 550: “I think the chances of Tavares signing in Buffalo are as close to 0% as you can get. I’m not suggesting he doesn’t give Buffalo consideration, but they would be further down his list.”
On the Minnesota Wild …
Elliotte Friedman: Word last night was the Wild are close to naming Paul Fenton as their new GM. When they will officially announce it not known.
Michael Russo of The Athletic: Sources saying that Wild owner Craig Leipold offered the job to Fenton Saturday afternoon and that he didn’t accept the job until last night.
The negotiations have been ongoing but not finalized.
One thing holding them up a bit is that Fenton’s agent, Neil Glasberg, has been in Denmark at the World Championships.
On the St. Louis Blues …
The Fourth Period: If pending RFA Nikita Soshnikov doesn’t get a full-time shot at the NHL from the Blues next year, he could look to head back Russia and the KHL.
Soshnikov said to RIA Novosti in Russia that he has “the opportunity to sign in Russia.” Soshnikov continued:
“For me, money is not the main thing,” he told RIA, adding he wants “to develop as a hockey player, to have such an opportunity, to be at the heart of everything first.”
On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
Steve Simmonds of the Toronto Sun: Brendan Shanahan interviewed at least two other candidates before he reached out to Lou Lamoriello back in 2015 – one was George McPhee.
There has been no word from Lamoriello if he’s going to stay on with the Maple Leafs as a consultant.
No word from Mark Hunter either if he wants to stay.