On Salary Arbitration …
Rick Dhaliwal: Safe to assume that Troy Stecher will file for salary arbitration today as it doesn’t appear that the sides will reach a deal beforehand. The Vancouver Canucks and Stecher’s camp will continue to talk before their potential hearing date is set.
Murray Pam: Can expect that defenseman Cody Ceci and forward Mark Stone will both file before today’s deadline. That would open the second buyout window for the Senators once one of the players sign, or goes through arbitration. The next window would be for 48 hours.
On the Columbus Blue Jackets …
Kevin Weekes: One situation to keep an eye on. There have been no negotiations between the Blue Jackets and Sergei Bobrovsky, and it’s not difficult to conclude that he may not be with them beyond this contract, “if not sooner as per Russian Rumblings.”
On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
Tyler Dellow: Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas made the point on TSN radio yesterday that the Leafs don’t plan on losing any of their top forwards, and that it wouldn’t be fair to John Tavares if he signed with them and then they had to trade guys.
On the New York Rangers …
Larry Brooks: For those that may have been hoping, the NY Rangers are not in on any Erik Karlsson trade talks, and never where. He wouldn’t sign an extension with the Rangers.
On the Vancouver Canucks …
Jason Botchford of the Vancouver Province: The Canucks have been saying they will looking at the trade market. goes through some areas they should consider.
1. Retain salary on a defenseman – The Canucks should consider retaining 50 percent of Ben Hutton‘s salary ($2.8 million) and Michael Del Zotto ($3 million). At half the price they may generate some interest.
2. Look to move Nikolay Goldobin and Brendan Gaunce: They could be the odd men out after recent roster additions. Goldobin likely wouldn’t clear waivers.
3. Consider trading a veteran – Brandon Sutter draws some interest but it seems unlikely they’d move him as he could get big minutes on the second-line. Sam Gagner and Sven Baertschi might have some trade value.
