On Spencer Foo …
Ryan Rishaug: Spencer Foo will be meeting with his agent in Edmonton today and tomorrow and should have a decision by mid-week.
Ryan Rishaug: The four teams that are in the mix for Foo are the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings and Vegas Golden Knights.
On the Minnesota Wild …
Michael Russo: The Wild would like to work out a deal for RFA Christian Folin. If they don’t re-sign him today they may not qualify him and he would become a UFA. Michael Russo: The Wild didn’t qualify Christian Folin.
Michael Russo: The Wild could still trade defenseman Marco Scandella. The Bruins are still interested. GM Chuck Fletcher is wanting better offers.
On the Columbus Blue Jackets …
Aaron Portzline: The Blue Jackets acquiring Artemi Panarin won’t stop their search for top-six offensive players.
Aaron Portzline: Ilya Kovalchuk would have to sign with the New Jersey Devils first and can’t be traded until after July 1st, so there is a lot that could happen this week …. but as of yesterday the Blue Jackets are not in a full-on pursuit of him. They have been talking trades with a few teams. They are looking for a top-six center.
Aaron Portzline: Kovalchuk could help any team that is looking for offense. Depending how things go in the next couple weeks, the Blue Jackets could take a look at him.
Tom Reed of the Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets GM isn’t afraid to make a big trade – see Artemi Panarin – Brendan Saad, Seth Jones – Ryan Johansen and the original Saad deal with the Blackhawks.
“I try to live by a principle of ‘Don’t be afraid to make mistakes’ and if you do, you learn from them and move on,” Kekalainen said. “It’s something that’s in the values of our organization right down to the locker room.”
Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman said that Kekalainen is reasonable to deal with and is fair.
“I like the way he operates,” Bowman said. “I think he’s a straight shooter. He’s also fair. He understands that sometimes you have to give to get.”
Kekalainen will continue to look to improve his team. They are believed to looking for another center – preferably a play-making one.