- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Senators defenseman Marc Methot is hopeful that their planned contract extension talks lead to a new deal.
“I hope it settles quick,” said Methot before the club’s one-hour flight here Monday after practice at the Canadian Tire Centre. “I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t thinking about it every day. This kind of stuff is hard to ignore.
“The potential of being moved is real at this point. It’s no secret that I want to stay here. At this point, I’m leaving it all to my agent and the team to settle it. All I can do is play.”
It is believed that Methot is looking for a five-year contract in the $4.75 to $5 million a year range. There have not been substantive talks since October.
“Now that there’s a little pressure on both sides — and for myself included — to get something done, I’m hoping that will speed the process up. I know that (Liut) is taking over now. I’ve got all the respect in the world for (Kelly) because he’s taken care of me since I was 15-years-old. They’re both professionals. They both handle things differently. I just hope it gets settled.”
If they can’t reach an agreement, Methot will be moved. Teams looking for defensemen include the Red Wings, Kings, Ducks, Canucks and Sharks.
- Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun: Mike Hoffman wants to remain with the Senators, he just isn’t sure if he’s ready to a sign long-term.
“Depends how long,” the Senators winger, who is slated to become a restricted free agent after the season, said Saturday morning. “Three years, yeah, no problem. But five and six … it would all depend on the numbers, right?”
The 25-year old rookie leads the team with 17 goals.
“Sometimes it’s hard to get a value or estimate on what you’re worth, or what would be right for the player and the organization,” said Hoffman. “We’ll just have to see. I know it’s not going to be a two-year (deal), that’s the only thing I know, because that would put me to UFA after that.
“That’s already been discussed. But other than that, not too much.”
- Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen: Senators David Legwand knows his name will be out there.
“I’ve got to talk to Bryan to see what’s going on here in the next couple of weeks and we’ll go from there,” Legwand said Monday.
“Nothing has been said, so I have no idea,” he said.