- Ansar Khan of MLive: Red Wings GM Ken Holland said that Todd Bertuzzi won’t be getting a contract offer from them.
- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: The Wings currently have about $50 million committed towards next seasons roster. After bonus overages, they’ll have about $17 million in cap space and need to re-sign pending RFAs Danny DeKeyser, Tomas Tatar and Riley Sheahan and hopefully add a top-four defenseman and top-six forward.
- Ken Warren: The Senators are talking with Robin Lehner about short and long term contract extensions.
- Hope Smoke: Darren Dreger: “Some players need a bit more time to mature & that might be the case with Evander Kane” … “What most believe is that this guy is a high skilled talent” … “That’s why Cheveldayoff is reluctant to engage in any trade scenarios with Kane up to this point.” … “Even now, when you talk to GMs around league, Cheveldayoff isn’t identifying exactly what it’s going to take to make such a deal” … “Cheveldayoff isn’t suggesting that it’s going to be a multi-piece part or any of that” … “So, managers are not confused but they’re wondering if this is just the same old thing” … “There seems to be more of an appetite for Wpg to deal E.Kane whereas before it was more media driven speculation” … “What I know is, Wpg is a team that is starting to feel the pressure. They have to contend and get a playoff spot” … “Obviously Cheveldayoff is looking for better players” … “So when you throw out a name like Kane you better get a couple or more pieces that make you better long-term.”
- Josh Cooper of the Tennessean: Though Paul Gaustad is still in the Predators plans, even GM David Poile recognizes that he is better served on a good team than a bad team.
“Paul does what he does. He’s a checking center, best in the league at faceoffs and penalty killing. To me this is the good and bad news. Paul Gaustad is way more effective when our team has a lead, way more effective on our team as a shutdown guy. Give us the leads in the third period and the leads out of the gate and I think his role is better.”
- Jim Jamieson of the Vancouver Province: Pending RFA Chris Tanev hasn’t heard from the Canucks about a contract. The Canucks need to send him a qualifying offer by June 25th. Tanev is coming off a one-year, $1.5 million deal and is able to file for arbitration up to July 5th. The Canucks can file for arbitration by July 6th.
