On Top 16 UFAs …
Luke Fox of Sportsnet: a look at the top 16 pending unrestricted free agents.
1. Steven Stamkos
2. David Backes
3. Kyle Okposo
4. Andrew Ladd
5. Milan Lucic
6. Eric Staal
7. Jaromir Jagr
8. Keith Yandle
9. Loui Eriksson
10. Brian Campbell
11. Kris Russell
12. Cam Ward
13. Mikkel Boedker
14. Jiri Hudler
15. James Reimer
16. Radim Vrbata
On Marc Crawford …
Dennis Schellenberg: Coach Marc Crawford won’t extent his contract with the ZSC Loins in Switzerland.
On the Vancouver Canucks …
Brad Ziemer: Would be surprised if the Canucks re-signed Ronalds Kenins.
Blake Price: Canucks GM Jim Benning thinks that Brock Boeser could return for another NCAA season and that Thatcher Demko might turn pro. Not close to being official, but that is Benning’s ‘sense.’
TSN Radio Vancouver: Benning on Demko: “We hope he turns pro, we get him signed, and we get him started on his course of development.”
On the Arizona Coyotes …
Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic: Pending RFA Jared Tinordi was suspended for 20 games for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. The Coyotes will reassess Tinordi’s situation once they are done playing.
“He’s still a young player with lots of upside,” General Manager Don Maloney said. “So we’ll address Jarred’s situation with us at the end of the season.”
Tinordi tested positive before he was traded to Coyotes, and likely was he was playing for the Canadiens AHL team in St. John’s. Tinordi was traded on January 15th, and neither team knew of the positive test.
Bill Daly released a statement yesterday saying:
“no reason to believe or conclude that the Canadiens acted inappropriately at any time in relation to this matter.
“NHL Clubs are not parties with whom information relating to the drug testing results or process are shared until a final determination has been made and formally announced by the League and NHLPA, which in this case was (Wednesday). The NHL has been given no basis whatsoever to consider reversing or revisiting the terms of the Montreal/Arizona transaction.”
Craig Morgan: The Coyotes are saying that nobody in their organization knew about the failed drug test before they traded for him.
Elliotte Friedman: Checked into whether the Coyotes could be entitled to any further compensation and was told no.
Craig Morgan: Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin after the Tinordi-John Scott trade was made: “I can’t really tell you why I had to make that trade”