- Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Rangers Rick Nash is hearing the boo birds. He’s owed $7.8 million per season through 2017-18, so the Rangers may not be able to do much with him. Nash has a no-trade clause. He may decide if it’s better to move on if provided an attractive option. If GM Glen Sather is able to find a team that is interested in Nash, there won’t be a sweepstakes for him. The Rangers have only one compliance buyout left, so if used on Nash, they would be committing to Brad Richards through 2019-20. Derek Stepan is having his third bad playoffs, and if it continues, Brooks thinks Sather may have to test the trade market for Stepan.
- The Fourth Period: Pending UFAs Nikolai Kulemin and Paul Ranger are not expected to be back next season. Pending UFAs Dave Bolland, Jay McClement, Mason Raymond and Troy Bodie could be re-signed. Bolland’s contract demands may be too high for the Leafs. Trade talk will heat up, with the names of Cody Franson, Carl Gunnarsson, Jake Gardiner, Nazem Kadri and James Reimer likely to come up.
- Hope Smoke: Bob McKenzie: “I believed last year that Nonis would look seriously at moving Kadri/Gardiner. Logic would suggest that’s just as likely or more”
- Darren Dreger: Hearing that the Canucks met with Jim Benning on Wednesday. Considered the front-runner for the vacant GM position. Some think that the job is Benning’s and that Linden is waiting for the end of the second round to make the announcement. Garry Valk: Source saying that Trevor Linden met with Jim Benning last week and the meeting went great. Capitals are also in on Benning.
- Elliott Pap: Barry Trotz said on Team 1040 that he’s interested in “every job that is out there” but has had “no contact with the Canucks.”
- Darren Dreger: The Capitals, Panthers and Hurricanes have all contacted Barry Trotz.
- Aaron Portzline: Blue Jackets pending UFA Derek MacKenzie said that both sides have shown interest in a new deal.