On the Buffalo Sabres …
Igor Eronko: Source saying that Viktor Antipin has terminated his deal with Magnitogorsk Metallurg (KHL) to sign the Sabres.
Aivis Kalnins: Source saying that a deal between the Sabres and Antipin could happen sooner than initially expected. Original thought was that it would happen after the World Championships but that may no longer be the case.
Aivis Kalnins: There appears to be more interested in Antipin so the Sabres want to get him signed ASAP.
On the Toronto Maple Leafs, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild and San Jose Sharks …
Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: This offseason could be one of the busiest with the expansion draft and a relatively flat salary cap.
Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello said that with the expansion draft, there could be players available that no one is thinking about yet.
There is lots of talk around the Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild and their surplus of defense that they won’t be able to protect. It’s unlikely that they will let the Vegas Golden Knights take a defenseman for free. They will either make a side deal with Vegas or make a trade.
The Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets and Tampa Bay Lightning will want to check in with the Ducks and Wild.
Although they may want to add a top-four defenseman, the Maple Leafs will keep their long-term plan in place, they won’t force the issue and will only make a trade for the right price. Seems unlikely they would be interested in trading William Nylander.
Joe Thornton has said he’d like a three-year, but it’s hard to see the Sharks wanting to go more than one year. Also hard to see the Sharks offering Patrick Marleau more than one year. If they re-sign either it won’t happen before the expansion draft.
Expect the Sharks to sign Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Martin Jones to contract extensions this offseason. Both would be unrestricted free agents after next season.