On the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, St. Louis Blues, New York Islanders, Florida Panthers and the Detroit Red Wings …
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: Though the seven-year, $31.5 million contract extension for Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Nikita Zaitsev hasn’t been announced yet, doesn’t think that it will fall apart. He would have been two years away from being an unrestricted free agent and the higher term help keeps the cap hit down.
The addition of the Vegas Golden Knights next year makes it less likely the players will use the five percent escalator for next year. Vegas needs to spend money, so it gives teams options.
Sources saying Vladimir Sobotka coming back to the St. Louis Blues is getting closer. He owes the Blues and other year and his KHL contract has already been terminated. The Blues may not be interested in him playing a few games this year to burn the year. The Blues appear to be progressing on getting a contract extension done with him.
There is some speculation connecting the New York Islanders and Dale Tallon. The Panthers have said they haven’t given Tallon permission to talk with anyone and word is they want to have him back next year.
Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland doesn’t have any intention of stepping down.
The Red Wings will protect seven forwards, three defenseman and one goalie and there will be questions involving Riley Sheahan, Danny DeKeyser, Gustav Nyquist and Petr Mrazek.
“We’re going to sit down after the season and we’re going to go through it. Because these players are better than they’ve shown. We just have to figure why it happened.”
Defenseman Niklas Kronwall has two years left on his deal, his salary decreases and he has a partial no-trade clause.
“He has earned the right to sit in my office and discuss what he wants to do. Even if he is injured, we see a lot of value in his attitude and what he brings.”