- Dave Hyde of the Sun Sentinel: The Panthers are letting teams know they are open for business.
“Maybe it’s time to package some of our youth in a deal,” he said.
“We have 12 kids over 6-3 who are under 23 in our system,” Tallon said. “So we have enough youth now that it won’t affect the future. We have 10 picks next year. We have the No. 1 and No. 32 pick this year.”
The Panthers could use a scorer to go along side centers Nick Bjugstad and Aleksander Barkov. Tallon has been given the go ahead by owner Vinnie Viola to spend closer to the cap.
- George Richards: Panthers GM Dale Tallon said that they’ve had one concrete offer for the first overall pick. It was a fair offer, but they might as well wait until the draft and see what else could happen. Tallon added that 10 teams have called about the pick. Tallon said that they don’t want to drop down past the eighth slot at the draft if they move the first overall, ten would be the maximum they’d move back too.
- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Daniel Alfredsson has told the Red Wings that he wants to play next year. Alfredsson said his back is feeling pretty good, but hopes it will get a little better. Both sides will talk again later this week. Alfredsson will fill their need for a scoring winger. They are still looking for a top-four defenseman.
- Todd Cordell of Hockey Buzz: Devils Jacob Josefson has not received a qualifying offer yet, according to his agent Peter Wallen. The sides are talking and are hopeful they can get a deal done.
“Jacob is focused on getting a contract with Devils,” Wallen said “Hopefully we will have everything in place before the summer is over.”