On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: Lightning GM Steve Yzerman maintains he wants to sign all of Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and and Jonathan Drouin.
There was a report that contract talks with Johnson were put on the back burner after their initial talks, but has learned that they’ve been steady throughout. Nothing is imminent.
Johnson is looking for a long-term deal. The Lightning only have $18 million in cap space for next season and they may need to make some moves to fit everyone in.
“The restricted free agents, we do have some control over the situation,” Yzerman said. “It just comes down to do you end up in arbitration or are you able to work out a longer-term deal.”
On the Dallas Stars …
Mike Morreale of NHL.com: Valeri Nichushkin has a year left on his KHL contract, and it’s up to him if he’s back in the NHL next year.
“He’s in Russia now and it’s 50-50 on whether we get him back next season,” McDonnell said. “In the end it’ll be up to him if he wants to come back.”
In 36 games last season Nichushkin scored 11 goals and added 13 assists for 24 points. The Stars retain his rights until he’s 27 years old, then he’d become an unrestricted free agent. He’s 22 right now and would need to be protected for the expansion draft
“, coach Ken Hitchcock and him will have to forge a relationship,” McDonnell said. “If you watch Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, that’s what a Val Nichushkin can be in the end. But it’s whether he has it in his heart. If he wants to do it, he can do it.
“It’d be huge for our franchise if we can get him back.”