On the Detroit Red Wings …
Craig Custance: Spoke with Pavel Datsyuk’s agent on Sunday, who said that the plan is for Datsyuk to talk with GM Ken Holland and the Ilitch family after the season. Agent said that Datsyuk would do anything he could to help the Red Wings out with the salary cap charge.
General Fanager: Options for the Red Wings if Datsyuk leaves: “(1) eat the $7.5M, (2) a trade partner that needs to hit floor (e.g. Pronger), (3) find a way to use LTIR.” If Datsyuk does play somewhere, LTIR is not an option. If Datsyuk left, he wouldn’t collect his $5.5 million, but the cap hit remains.
On the Ottawa Senators …
Bruce Garrioch: Senators GM Pierre Dorion: “if we win the lottery I think we’ll get a top 6 forward.”
Bruce Garrioch: Dorion: “There will be changes but they have to be the proper changes and they have to be the right one.”
On the Boston Bruins …
Zack Cox: Loui Eriksson’s thoughts on his pending free agency: “we’ll see what happens.”
DJ Bean: Guessing that Eriksson would come in around five years and $5.5 million per season.
EJ Hradek: Heard that the Bruins turned down a better offer for Dougie Hamilton from the Coyotes to take the Flames offer at last years draft.
On the Minnesota Wild …
Michael Russo: Alex Tuch is in no rush to make a decision on whether to sign with the Wild or return to school.
On the Buffalo Sabres …
Mike Harrington: Sabres GM Tim Murray understands that fans may want to see the Sabres make the first round draft pick, but he would trade it for a young player, though he appears to prefer not to.
Mike Harrington: GM Murray on free agents, especially wingers: “If I’m a goal scorer, I would love to have Buffalo give me a chance”
On Don Maloney …
Damien Cox: Don Maloney immediately becomes the leading favorite to be Las Vegas’s first General Manager.