- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Nicklas Lidstrom will give his decision to Ken Holland by the end of this week if he’ll retire or play another season for the Red Wings. Many teammates and personel in management don’t see him retiring. He was 1 of 3 Wings who played all 82 games this past season. Lidstrom recently turned 40, but recorded 49 points and a +22 this past season. The Wings would like to get him at a salary around $6 million, but if he wants his 2009-10 salary of $7.45 million, he’ll get it.
- Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun: The Flames are talking with RFA Ian White, but haven’t made any formal offers to him yet. They are in the preliminary stages of negotiations and will continue to talk over the next month. Sutter is okay with going with a 1-year deal, White has arbitration rights this year. Eric Nystrom is a UFA and Sutter wants to talk with him, and they are awaiting medical clearance for Chris Higgins’.
- Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette: The Montreal Canadiens 2009 1st round pick, Louis Leblanc, is leaving Harvard University after 1 year. Chicoutimi (QMJHL) own his junior rights, but the Canadiens may send him to their AHL affiliate so that they are able to call him up during the season if he develops quicker than they initially thought.
- AP in Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Former Hartford Whalers owner, Howard Baldwin, is building an outdoor rink in East Hartford, in an attempt to gain fan support and lure the NHL back to Hartford.