On the slow trade market, and free agency …
Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun Times: Is John Tavares and a few other pending free agents holding up the trade market?
“I don’t really know why, but that’s probably a pretty good theory on why it’s happening,” Hawks general manager Stan Bowman said. “There hasn’t really been much activity at all. I guess we’ll find out over the next few days, when the interview period opens up. Teams are able to talk to players and get a better feel for whether they can land that player. And if they can’t, maybe they’ll be turning toward trades a little more. It makes sense.”
On the Colorado Avalanche …
Craig Custance: Sense is that goaltender Jonathan Bernier would have preferred to remain with the Avalanche, but there may be too many goaltenders there now. GM Joe Sakic would need to make a trade for Bernier to be back. Semyon Varlamov will be an unrestricted free agent after next season.
On the Philadelphia Flyers …
Ken Campbell: Flyers goaltender Petr Mrazek won’t be given a qualifying offer from them and will become an unrestricted free agent. He made $4 million last year, and there should be lots of interest from teams at a lower price.
On the Vancouver Cnaucks …
Rick Dhaliwal: The Canucks held contract talks with defenseman Derrick Pouliot at the draft, and they will continue talks today.
Rick Dhaliwal: The Canucks called pending UFA Jay Beagle‘s agent yesterday.
On Calvin de Haan …
David Pagnotta: Upwards of 10 teams were in contract with Calvin de Haan’s camp yesterday. He’ll be one of the more popular pending free agents.
On Tim Schaller …
Mark Divver: Source saying Bruins pending UFA Tim Schaller is getting calls from a number of teams.
On Darren Archibald …
Rick Dhaliwal: Canucks pending UFA Darren Archibald was getting calls from teams yesterday.
On Thomas Vanek …
Rick Dhaliwal: Thomas Vanek’s camp received a few calls from teams yesterday. The Canucks weren’t one of the teams that made contact.