On the Minnesota Wild …
Michael Russo of The Athletic: Wild prospect and Miami University senior defenseman Louis Belpedio could opt for becoming a free agent on August 15. Multiple sources are saying that, that likely won’t be happening though and that there have been contract talks about a two-year entry-level deal.
Belpedio NCAA career ended on Sunday night, and Wild GM Chuck Fletcher was speaking with Belpedio’s camp on Monday.
On the Calgary Flames …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Pierre LeBrun was on TSN 1040 and was asked about Calgary Flames and what has been wrong with the team. LeBrun notes that Mike Smith‘s injury was a big blow. Their defenseman has been good, but they’ve had some concerns up front. They did gamble on Jaromir Jagr. They needed to a add a top-six winger before the trade deadline.
The Flames didn’t have a first- and second-round pick in the 2018 draft. That may have meant they’d have to give up someone like Sam Bennett or Jon Gillies or their 2019 first-round pick.
“And I do know for a fact there were discussions between Calgary and Ottawa on Mike Hoffman, as there were also conversations between Calgary and Montreal on Max Pacioretty – among others.
“But whatever the reason is, and we can only assume that the ask was so high from both the Senators and the Habs that the Flames were hoping it would come down at the last moment and never did. I don’t know.”
thinks the Flames targeted guys like Hoffman and Max Pacioretty as they had term left on their deals and not a rental like Evander Kane.
“I think the reason Calgary was more focused on guys like Hoffman and Pacioretty to some degree is that those guys weren’t rentals,” noted the Insider. “And I think what scared the Flames probably is that if they go out and get a rental and he walks two months later and you miss the playoffs, isn’t that the worst-case scenario ever? So I think there was some concern about going after a rental.”