Duchene eyeing Nashville
@Prospects_Watch: Elliotte Friedman on Matt Duchene: “He’s always wanted to play for Nashville, we all know that.”
Aaron Portzline: Hearing that the Nashville Predators may be Matt Duchene’s first choice. Haven’t been hearing anything about Montreal.
No talks between the Golden Knights and Engelland
David Pagnotta: As of there have been no contract talks between the Vegas Golden Knights and defenseman Deryk Engelland‘s reps.
He’ll consider all options if he hits the open market on July 1st.
Penguins players still in the rumor mill
Sean Gordon of The Athletic: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang understands that GM Jim Rutherford can be aggressive and that some of their star players aren’t going to be around forever and they need to take advantage.
Letang’s name has been in the rumor mill, but fellow defenseman Jack Johnson (four years at $3.25 million) and Olli Maatta (three years at $4.083 million) are more likely to be dealt.
Letang has been in constant contract with Phil Kessel, who is also in the rumor mill.
“I talk to him almost every day, and we chat about it, but all this is stuff we don’t control,” Letang said. “Of course the noise is going to be loudest to his ears and it must affect him at least a little bit. But business is business.”
Potential buyout candidates
Jonathan Willis of The Athletic: Top 25 buyout candidates and the level of it happening.
Weak Candidates
25. Dale Weise – Canadiens – one-year, $2.35 million.
24. Matt Hunwick – Sabres – one-year, $2.25 million.
23. David Schlemko – Flyers – one-year, $2.1 million.
22. Matt Beleskey – Rangers – one-year, $1.9 million.
21. Brandon Manning – Oilers – one-year, $2.25 million.
20. Justin Abdelkader – Red Wings – four years, $4.25 million per.
19. Dion Phaneuf – Kings – two years, $5.25 million per.
18. James Neal – Flames – four years, $5.75 million per.
17. Andrej Sekera – Oilers – two years, $5.5 million per.
16. Ryan Spooner – Canucks – one-year, $4 million.
15. Jonathan Ericsson – Red Wings – one-year, $4.25 million.
14. Bobby Ryan – Senators – three years, $7.25 million per.
Credible candidates
13. Marco Scandella – Sabres – one-year, $4 million.
12. Corey Perry – Ducks – two years, $8.625 million.
11. Brendan Smith – Rangers – two years, $4.35 million.
10. Karl Alzner – Canadiens – three years, $4.625 million.
9. Michael Stone – Flames – one-year, $3.5 million.
8. Valeri Nichushkin – Stars – one-year, $2.95 million.
7. Brandon Dubinsky – Blue Jackets – two years, $5.85 million.
Strong candidates
6. Vladimir Sobotka – Sabres – one-year, $3.5 million.
5. Andrew MacDonald – Flyers – one-year, $5 million.
4. Dmitry Kulikov – Jets – one-year, $4.333 million.
3. Ryan Callahan – Lightning – one-year, $5.8 million.
2. Mike Condon – Senators – one-year, $2.4 million.
1. Scott Darling – Hurricanes – two-years, $4.15 million