On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
Erik Erlendsson: Don’t expect the Lightning to be involved much in free agency when it gets underway as noon.
On Brian Campbell …
George Richards: Heard that the Panthers offered Brian Campbell a one and two year deals.
Darren Dreger: Think that the Stars want Brian Campbell, but they are second to the Blackhawks. Believe that Campbell signs with the Blackhawks.
Jimmy Murphy: Hearing that Campbell will end up with the Stars unless the Blackhawks can clear some salary cap place.
On the Florida Panthers …
Harvey Fialkov: GM Tom Rowe said that they were close to an extension – hearing eight years at about $60 million.
Harvey Fialkov: Winger Kyle Okposo would be a good fit with the Panthers and a successor to Jaromir Jagr if he ever retires.
George Richards: Sources saying the Panthers are out on Kyle Okposo, but two forwards are in the works.
Harvey Fialkov of the Sun Sentinel: The Panthers have about $19 million in salary cap space and need to improve their secondary scoring with a few more veterans. Potential targets could be Kyle Okposo and Loui Eriksson.
“The Dmitry Kulikov deal freed up some space to fill in the third line with a couple of forwards, and that’s the area we needed to tighten up,” Panthers general manager Tom Rowe said this week.
” Vinnie Viola gave us a mandate to win the Stanley Cup within three years. We feel we got the guys to do that but we also feel we need to complement the group we’ve got here with more help and more offense.”
The Panthers have talked to Jason Chimera and Darren Helm. Dale Weise could be another option if he doesn’t re-sign with the Blackhawks.
The Panthers have lots of depth up the middle and they’ve held some talks with Nick Bjugstad about moving to the wing.