Panthers may not be done
Jameson Olive: Recently spoke with Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon who said there were still some players that are available that they like. The Panthers may not be finished this offseason.
Linden’s departure not really amicable
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: Trevor Linden leaving the Vancouver Canucks wasn’t really amicable as “he was, for lack of a better word, fired by owner Francesco Aquilini.”
Owner Aquilini was becoming impatient and wants to get back into the playoffs now, and GM Jim Benning and John Weisbrod basically sold out Linden.
Nelson could be used as trade bait
Andrew Gross of Newsday: The New York Islanders management and coach staff have gone through lots of changes this offseason. They have also brought in a lot of depth free agents.
The Islanders re-signed center Brock Nelson to a one-year, $4.25 million deal. They could decide to use him as trade bait for a defenseman.
Could be Kevin Hayes last season with the Rangers
Larry Brooks of the NY Post: It’s looking like the New York Rangers and Kevin Hayes will be doing a one-year deal that will take Hayes to unrestricted free agency. They have an arbitration hearing scheduled for Thursday.
He’ll likely then be traded at the deadline for a late first-round pick.
Sources saying that there has been much movement on a long-term contract extension. It is believed that Hayes is looking for between $5 and $6 million a season on a five- or six-year deal. Rangers GM Jeff Gorton doesn’t appear to want to make that big of a commitment to Hayes.
On the open market next year a comparable could be Adam Henrique‘s recently signed five-year deal at a $5.85 million salary cap hit.
Other potential rentals the Rangers could make available are Mats Zuccarello and Ryan Spooner (arbitration on August 4th).