Hyman skates
Kristen Shilton: Toronto Maple Leafs winger Zach Hyman was on the ice skating yesterday. Do not know if it was the first time he’s been on the ice since he tore his ACL last April.
Gomez leaves the Islanders
Andrew Gross: New York Islanders assistant coach Scott Gomez left the team and won’t be with them this season. The Islanders didn’t fire him.
McKenna retires
Mike McKenna: Though there is still some ‘gas left in the tank,’ will be retiring from professional hockey.
Will Pominville get a deal?
Bill Hoppe of Buffalo Hockey Beat: The 36-year-old Jason Pominville doesn’t have a contract but is getting ready for the season in Buffalo just in case.
He’s spoken with Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill and knows where the Sabres sit with it.
Pominville hopes to play this year but knows it may not happen.
“I know I can still play, I know I can still produce,” je said. “But I think the biggest thing right now is family. We got to be in a situation that’s good for everyone. When you play, you kind of have to be a little selfish in some ways to be able to have success. You kind of miss a lot of things like family-wise. I want to make sure I’m there a little bit more.”
Kekalainen on Duchene and Werenski
Greg Wyshynski of ESPN: Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen when asked about Matt Duchene and why he didn’t return. Kekalainen says that it was Duchene’s decision and they were okay with it.
“But it was a bit of a two-way street . We felt where our team was at, to give up another first-round pick and then go into the term of that new contract with the dollar amounts that were involved … it was a tough decision for us, too.
I’m sure he had a lot of options. Everyone talked about Nashville. Everyone seemed to think that’s where he was going all along. And that’s where he did go. It is what it is. Panarin was the guy we did everything to keep.”
The Blue Jackets did what they could right up until the ‘start’ of free agency with Artemi Panarin – giving him a fair contract and trying to make him feel appreciated.
Kelalainen on RFA defenseman Zach Werenski.
“We think it should be resolved before the team gets together and gets ready for the season.”
