On the Florida Panthers …
Bill Whitehead: GM Dale Tallon on their offseason needs: “We’d like to get more scoring. Maybe get a little deeper up in the forward position on the wings.”
On Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils …
Mike Morreale: Devils GM Ray Shero could look to get an established defenseman and a draft pick for Ilya Kovalchuk.
On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
Aivis Kalnins: CSKA had offered defenseman Nikita Zaitsev a two-year, $11 million contract.
On the Columbus Blue Jackets …
Aaron Portzline: Nothing is settled yet, but the more learns the less likely it seems like defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov will come to North America.
On the Colorado Avalanche …
Slava Malamud: (answering question about Nikita Zadorov and if his agent using the KHL to get more money from the Avalanche) A bit of both as he wants to stay in North America and will use the KHL as leverage. If it doesn’t work, he’ll leave for the KHL.
On the Buffalo Sabres …
Paul Hamilton: From Darren Dreger’s understanding he thinks the Sabres interview process for hiring a new GM is over and that he feels there is something clogging things up.
Jon Rosen: Sounding like LA Kings assistant GM Mike Futa is no longer under consideration for the Sabres GM position.
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 on the Buffalo Sabres GM search.
“I think it’s Botterill’s job to lose,” said Friedman, who was then asked about Botterill’s role in the Penguins’ success over the years. “I think that he’s been a stabilizing influence there for a long time. He worked under Shero. He worked under Rutherford. He has a lot of say over their Wilkes-Barre team, which has been really good for a long time – consistently good… he’s a player who knows the cap, he did a lot of negotiations.”