Free Agent Hits: Wild, Coyotes, Leafs, Islanders, Penguins and Red Wings
Michael Russo: Niklas Backstrom's 3-year contract extension is for $10.25 million, a $3.42 million salary cap hit. Sarah McLellan: Coyotes GM Don Maloney said that management and coaches had talks with Mike Smith and his agent last week. Jeff Simmons…
Buyout Hits: Teams that won’t or are not expected use buyouts and Brad Richards
James Mirtle: Teams that won't be using buyouts: Flames, Blue Jackets and New Jersey. Teams expected to not use buyouts: Stars, Penguins, Jets, Hurricanes, Sabres and Ducks. Bob McKenzie: Guesses teams that won't use buyouts: Ducks, Bruins, Sabres, Hurricanes, Stars, Senators…
Quick Hits: Capitals, Gagner, Leafs retain salary, Alfredsson and Glendale meeting
Katie Carrera: Capitals GM McPhee said they would match any offer sheets their players receive. Josh Rimer: Oilers GM Craig MacTavish won't be announcing a Sam Gagner contract extension today, but they are working on one. CapGeek: In the Jonathan…
Maple Leafs Hits: Bernier, Phaneuf, Lupul, Gagner, Stastny, Komisarek, Bozak, MacArthur, Grabovski and Liles
Renaud Lavoie: The Leafs and Jonathan Bernier's agent spoke yesterday. Contract talks will start this week. Darren Dreger: Will talk in the next day or two. Bernier could become a UFA in three years. L.A. Lariviere: Bernier's deal could get…
Morning Hits: Bernier, Read, Luongo, Grigorenko and Nichushkin
Pierre LeBrun: Believes that the Flyers and one other team were in Jonathan Bernier talks. The Flyers were offering Matt Read. Pierre LeBrun: Doesn't think the Islanders went too far down the road with Bernier talks. Darren Dreger: The Canucks…
Quick Hits: Bergeron, Scuderi, Komisarek, Kaberle and Tortorella
Joe Haggerty: Confirms that Patrice Bergeron's injury "isn't a ruptured spleen" as he wouldn't have been able to fly with the team. Pierre LeBrun: The Maple Leafs retain $500,000 in the Jonathan Bernier deal which gives the Kings an important…
Morning Hits II: Miller and Vanek, Three Bernier landing spots and Hotstove video
Connor Mellas of NHL.com: Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek will be UFAs after next season. "Ideally, I would like to keep them here, yes," Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said at a press conference Thursday. "But again, we have to…
Morning Hits I: Letang, Blue Jackets and Clarkson
Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: The Penguins may be looking to sign Kris Letang to a longer term deal at $6 million a year and with a limited-movement clause. Letang has other ideas of his worth. Shero may be…
Draft Hits: The Avalanche stirred up the market and Hurricanes could move back
Craig Custance of ESPN: The Avalanche stirred up the market when Joe Sakic said they would be taking a forward with the first overall pick. "He's trying to drum up a market," Oilers GM Craig MacTavish said Wednesday. "It's going…
Stars talked about trading up, undecided on Bachman … Penguins careful with Dupuis … Nonis talks Leafs
Mark Stepneski: The Stars have the 10th overall pick in the draft and have held discussions to move up, but the price hasn't been right. “We’re looking at all options,” said Nill. “I talked to a team today about the…
Leafs have best offer for Bernier? Kings could use LWer … No Byzgalov buyout at this time
Renaud Lavoie: The Maple Leafs, Flyers and Wild are in the running for Jonathan Bernier. The Kings will take the best offer from one of them. Tim Panaccio: The Maple Leafs, New York Islanders, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild and the New…
Morning Hits: Hemsky, Stafford, Stastny, Richards, Messier and Lundqvist
David Staples: Staples thinks that a Ales Hemsky for Drew Stafford deal could work for both teams. Dennis Bernstein: When asked if the Leafs go after Paul Stastny? They should, and if the Avalanche draft Nate MacKinnon, even more so.…