Duchene and Senators haven’t exchanged numbers
TSN: Pierre LeBrun said that no firm contract numbers were exchanged between the Ottawa Senators and pending UFA Matt Duchene.
LeBrun has been told that Pat Brisson will be in contact with the Senators next week to continue talks.
LeBrun believes that the sides have discussed that when it gets to about two weeks before the deadline and if a deal hasn’t been reached to that point, the Senators will need to explore the trade market.
Dzingel and Ceci should get interest
TSN: Darren Dreger was on TSN 1200 and said that he’s surprised there hasn’t been more talk about the Senators other pending UFA Ryan Dzingel.
He could be the first of their pending free agents to be moved and there will be a number of teams that will be interested.
Teams that are looking for a defenseman will also be looking at Cody Ceci who has been in and out of the rumor mill.
No contract talks for the Lightning and Point during the season
Nick Kelly of the Tampa Bay Times: The Tampa Bay Lightning and Brayden Point‘s reps won’t be talking contract extension until the offseason.
“I don’t know what I’m going to have to pay Brayden Point,” BriseBois said. “And he’s going to obviously be a priority in the offseason.”
Point would be eligible for an offer sheet this offseason, but Lightning GM Julien BriseBois isn’t concerned about it.
“I’m not concerned at all about offer sheets,” BriseBois said. “The way it’s set up, there’s no point in making an offer sheet if you’re not going to get the player. And teams match, you’re not going to let go of these good young players that can be good for your team for many, many years to come.”
Point doesn’t have arbitration rights.
They could look a bridge deal like Nikita Kucherov’s or they could look at a long-term deal.