- Larry Brooks of the NY Post: The Rangers locked up another one of their RFAs yesterday, signing Brian Boyle to a 3 year deal worth $5.1 million, a $1.7 million cap hit. Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky have both filed for salary arbitration. Dubinsky’s hearing is next Thrusday and the Rangers are expected to select a 2 year arbitration award. Dubinsky is scheduled to be a UFA in 2 years. Callahan would be a UFA after next season. Dubinsky and Callahan are expected to get between a $3.7 and $4.4 million arbitration award. The Rangers are looking for a veteran 3rd pair defenseman.
- Steve Zipay of Newsday: The Rangers have about $11.2 million remaining, so there is plenty of room to get Dubinsky and Callahan signed. Both players are expected to sign multi-year contracts worth around $4 million per season.
- Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: Kristian Huselius had surgery yesterday to repair his torn pectoral muscle. GM Scott Howson will meet up with Huselius today, in between phone calls where he’ll be looking for a free agent winger.
“We’re going to be active,” Howson said. “We’re going to do our best to find somebody who can help us get through this stretch of games without (Huselius) – however long that may be.”
They will be seeking to sign someone to a 1 year deal worth $2 million or less. Some possibilities are: Cory Stillman, Vaclav Prospal, Brendan Morrison, Steve Bernier, Sergei Samsonov, J.P. Dumont, Marek Svatos and Jason Williams.
- Aaron Portzline via twitter: Portzline wouldn’t be surprised if Kristian Huselius’ injury sparked talk on the long-whispered Ales Hemsky to Columbus deal.
- Stephen Whyno via twitter: Karl Alzner’s agent in a text: “We are still talking and will continue the negotiations .”
- Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburg Times: Teddy Purcell’s arbitration hearing is set for July 20th, but GM Steve Yzerman hopes to get a deal done before that. The sides are not far apart after they had a “good, long” conversation last night.
“I fully expect to see Teddy in the lineup in September and have a contract done,” Yzerman said. “Whether it’s through the arbitration process or before that, we’ll have a contract in place next week.”