Blues to re-sign one of two defensemen?
Tom Timmermann of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Expect the St. Louis Blues to try to re-sign one of their pending UFA defenseman in Jay Bouwmeester and Carl Gunnarsson but not both.
Can’t see McDavid wanting to leave
TSN: Pierre LeBrun on TSN when asked if the Edmonton Oilers continued struggles might lead to Connor McDavid wanting to leave.
“Well not any time soon, if ever, really. But I can tell you this. My understanding is Connor McDavid is fully invested in seeing this franchise turn things around. Obviously the general manager hire looms large and so does the coaching decision. He’s part of wanting this to go right. He’s not looking for reasons to look elsewhere so that’s important. It’s not surprising. If you know Connor McDavid you know he’s not looking for any copouts.”
LeBrun adds that if things are still the same three years from now, who knows what would happen.
Pavelski’s camp unsure what the Sharks are thinking
Kevin Kurz of The Athletic: The San Jose Sharks haven’t been in any rush to sign pending UFA forward Joe Pavelski. Pavelski’s agent Dan Plante doesn’t appear to know what the Sharks are thinking either.
“I wish I could tell you one way or another I knew he was going to be here or there, but I don’t. He’s going through the year, they’ve got a good team, he’s really focused on playing well for them right now and trying to help them win a Cup. His last contract when he signed it (for five years and $30 million in 2013) with the Sharks was because he believed that they had an opportunity to win the Stanley Cup. He believes that even stronger right now. That’s where his focus is. He thinks they have a real chance.”
Pavelski says that his first option and main goal is to re-sign with the Sharks.