Possibly why the NY Islanders haven’t signed Lee and Lehner yet
@Prospects_Watch: Elliotte Friedman on his 31 Thoughts Podcast said that he’s been told by a couple of people that the reason the New York Islanders haven’t re-signed goaltender Robin Lehner and captain Anders Lee is because they plan on going after pending free agents Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin.
NY Rangers to with Panarin
Rick Carpiniello: Have heard the New York Rangers plan on meeting with Artemi Panarin this week. Rangers president John Davidson is familiar with Panarin from being with the Blue Jackets. It’s still possible, if not probable, that both Panarin and Bobrovsky sign with the Florida Panthers.
A couple of Canucks free agent targets
Rick Dhaliwal: Source saying that there isn’t a deal between the Vancouver Canucks and Tyler Myers and the process is far from done. Myers has more teams to meet with this week.
Rick Dhaliwal: Believe that the Canucks have shown some interest in forward Gustav Nyquist.
Satiar Shah: “If you’re wondering how the Canucks would be able to fit Boeser’s contract plus Nyqusit & Myers, they can create up to $22M in cap space if they buyout Spooner. Canucks don’t necessarily have to trade a contract to spend big in free agency”
Canucks and Ben Hutton still talking
Rick Dhaliwal: The Canucks didn’t qualify defenseman Ben Hutton and he will be a UFA. Believe the Canucks will continue to talk with his agent.
Ben Kuzma: Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning on Ben Hutton not being qualified: “We’re still talking to his agent and trying to figure out a contract,” Benning said Tuesday night. “We’ll see how it goes this week because we still own his rights until July 1. We’ll see if there’s common ground.”
Sportsnet 650: Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet 650: “I think Chicago was in on Hutton until they got De Haan… I don’t think the Leafs have the cap room for Hutton… I just don’t know if there’s a team that has the want or will for Myers other than the Canucks right now.”