Eric Stephens of the OC Register: The Anaheim Ducks have made an offer to restricted free agent Bobby Ryan. The offer is for 5-years in the $20-25 million range according to GM Bob Murray. Murray also said that if Ryan were to get an offer sheet, they’d match as they have plenty of cap space (what else is he going to say?). The Ducks are looking for a puck moving defenseman, and Murray offered this regarding the Leafs-Ducks rumors involving Ryan and Kaberle, “Why would I give up a young guy for someone with one year left on their contract?” At the moment they’ll be holding on to their 12th pick, but the 29th pick is available and getting inquiries. Murray will meet with James Wisniewski’s next week in Chicago.
Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Tim Thomas still has a no trade clause which may make trading a little more difficult. Free agent goalies that will make less than Thomas next year (and you wouldn’t have to give anything up): Evgeni Nabokov, Marty Turco, Dan Ellis, Chris Mason and Martin Biron. Jonathan Quick isn’t going anywhere according to Dean Lombardi. The Flyers met with Michael Leighton’s agent yesterday. Marty Turco could end up in San Jose if he’s willing to take a pay cut. One rumor making the rounds yesterday was Mike Ribeiro to St. Louis, but was called ‘unlikely’ by a St. Louis front office source. A Maple Leaf front office source said Thursday afternoon that “things were heading up”.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: The Flyers are looking for an upgrade over Michael Leighton, but will need to shed some salary to do so. The Flyers don’t want to move Jeff Carter, but they may have too. The Kings could use a center and move Jonathan Bernier. James Wisniewski and the Ducks are far apart, and might be shopping his rights around to see what they can get for him, they’d like a Dman in return. The Panthers have inquired about Kris Versteeg. The Blackhawks want a #1 and prospect in return. The Canucks have offered the Blackhawks a prospect and the 25th pick for Versteeg. The Dallas Stars have been targeting Tomas Kaberle and Keith Ballard. The Nashville Predators are trying to trade the rights to Denis Grebeshkov.
Larry Brooks of the NY Post: The New York Rangers have been contacted by the Boston Bruins if they’d be interested in Marc Savard. Savard has a $4 million cap hit through 2016-17, which might be too much for Rangers. Brooks mentions 10th overall pick in the same paragraph, but he doesn’t say that is what the Bruins wanted in return. The Rangers talked to Nashville about Jason Arnott before he was traded to New Jersey. The Rangers will be keeping an eye on the Dallas Stars-Brad Richards situation, Richards is in the last year of his contract and has a cap hit of $7.8 million. The Rangers could look Vladimir Tarasenko, Jeff Skinner, Emerson Etem, and Nino Niederreiter with the 10th overall pick tonight.
Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun: As of Thursday night, interest in Kaberle has hit ‘double-digits’.
Tim Panaccio via Twitter: The Flyers and Bruins have talked about Tim Thomas, but the Flyers would have to clear $5 million in cap space.
