- Montreal Gazette: Quebec City and Quebecor Media Inc. have reached an agreement to build a $400 million, 18,000 seat multi-use sports complex. Construction is schedule to begin in September and be completed by September 2015. The cost will be split between the provincial government and the city.
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: With 2 Russians expected to be top picks this year, teams may be thinking if they’ll pull a Radulov and head to the KHL during their entry-level deals to get more money.
“You do as much homework as you can on a player, what kind of character he has, what drives him. The general consensus is, say, if they’re here playing junior in North America (Yakupov in Sarnia, Grigorenko in Quebec City and fellow Russian Alex Galchenyuk, also in Sarnia), the player wants to be here. I think the Radulov situation might be a one-off. The top Russian players who’ve made the committment to come over (Malkin) are staying. They do have leverage of going back to Russia which can help with an NHL contract. Yeah, that has to come into consideration, but I look at the kids in this draft, I think if you like them you’ll take them and you’ll sign them.”
The Panthers had offered UFA defenseman Jason Garrison a $2.5 million per deal, but he quickly turned it down. He may be figuring he could get $4 million on the open market. One NHL executive said his a #5 defenseman. The Oilers may be interested come July 1st.
- Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Blues forward Alex Steen returned to the lineup last night after missing the last 39 games due to a concussion. He did leave the game early after taking a skate near the mouth. Defenseman Kris Russell also returned to the lineup. David Backes is still bothered a bit by his bruised foot. He’s playing through it, but getting time off on practice days.
- Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson will be re-evaluated today after the morning skate to see if he can return against the Sharks. He’s missed the last 2 games with a back injury. Semyon Varlamov will start in net for the Avs.
- Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun: Jets center Bryan Little left Saturday’s game in the 3rd period and was seen going for x-rays.
- Steve Zipay via twitter: Rangers winger Mats Zuccarello will have surgery today to repair his fractured wrist.
- Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun: The Leafs have 6 games left with no back-to-backs, so it’s possible that Jonas Gustavsson has played his last game in a Leafs uniform. Burke should know by now if he’ll re-sign the pending UFA or not. Free agent goalies that could be available to July 1st are Tomas Vokoun, Josh Harding and Martin Biron.
- Michael Woods of the Toronto Star: Woods looks at 8 goalies the Maple Leafs could have acquired last year instead of going with James Reimer and Jonas Gustavsson: Craig Anderson, Brian Elliott, Mike Smith, Jose Theodore, Tomas Vokoun, Ray Emery, Antero Niittymaki and Ben Bishop.
