On the Vancouver Canucks …
Rick Dhaliwal: Canucks GM Jim Benning on free agency: “We want to be thoughtful with the use of money. We want players who will help our young kids.”
Rick Dhaliwal: Canucks goaltending prospect Michael DiPietro on not having a contract yet: “I have a great agent in Darren Ferris, I leave that to him. I love being a Canucks prospect, hopefully things work out.”
On the Dallas Stars …
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: The Stars have the 31-year old Ben Bishop locked up for another five season, but once again he’s been hit with injuries.
The Stars will need to find a reliable for next season.
Re-signing 34-year old Kari Lehtonen is an option, but when they needed him down the stretch as their No. 1, he went 3-8-1 with a 2.83 GAA and .902 save percentage. They could probably sign him to a one-year deal at under $2 million.
Prospects Jake Oettinger and Colton Point aren’t ready yet.
St. Louis Blues Carter Hutton will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Calvin Pickard of the Toronto Maple is another option.
On the New York Islanders and John Tavares …
Andrew Gross of Newsday: The Islanders last home game of the season is tonight, and it could be John Tavares’ last in a home game in an Islanders jersey.
“The fan base has been tremendous since I got here,” Tavares said on Wednesday as the Islanders prepared to face the Rangers on Thursday night at Barclays Center. “People say certain things. I hope it all works out, too, and I’m back as well. I just want to focus one game at a time and finishing the season strong and in the days and weeks ahead there will be plenty of time to think about it and start looking at the future and move forward.”
Money shouldn’t be an issue for the Islanders and Tavares, but the direction of the team and the arena issues will be.
Tavares added that he’s not trying to approach tonight’s game as his last home game in New York.