Dubas wants an idea of what pending RFAs Kapanen and Johnsson may be thinking
TSN: Bob McKenzie said that Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas wanted to talk to the agents for pending restricted free agents Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson this week to get an idea of what could be coming when they sit down on future talks.
“Now, I don’t believe that Kyle Dubas and the Toronto Maple Leafs want to trade Kasperi Kapanen or Andreas Johnsson between now and Monday, but I also think that Dubas and the Leafs wanted to get a handle on what the reasonable expectations of the player might be in a contract just in case the Leafs are presented with something that would open the door for them to maybe trade one of those guys because there may be financial reasons why they can’t keep them long-term anyway.”
Jets talking to a couple other teams and not just the Senators
TSN: Darren Dreger said that Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is talking to others aside from the Ottawa Senators.
“There’s no question about that he’s staying in touch with the New York Rangers as well. There are lots of teams with interest in Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello and interestingly enough, those guys are in the lineup for the New York Rangers – they’re playing in Thursday’s game.
He’s also checking in with the Philadelphia Flyers on Wayne Simmonds, so he’s pretty keen on trying to add a significant piece as we know, but he’s getting a significant piece regardless of trade because Nikolaj Ehlers is very close to coming in off injury.”
Simmonds trade market on a holding pattern
Chris Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman on his 31 Thoughts podcast on the Philadelphia Flyers pending UFA Wayne Simmonds
“The thing about Simmonds is I think his market has come to a halt,” said Friedman. “Every time I check in on the Simmonds market, I keep hearing, ‘Wait until the Ottawa guys, wait until Panarin, wait until all of that stuff.’
“I think San Jose would love to steal a guy like Wayne Simmonds. I think Boston would love to steal a guy like Wayne Simmonds. Would Philly deal with Pittsburgh? I don’t know. Calgary too.”