Ivan Barbashev angling for a better deal?
Jeremy Rutherford: The St. Louis Blues wait to see what Ivan Barbashev may do next. Would he take a KHL deal for even one year? His agent says they are looking on both sides of the ocean at this juncture. Also, it has to be noted that this is not “a negotiation ploy from Barbashev’s camp”.
Andy Strickland: Again, the emphasis is on a salary difference that is not that substantial. Barbashev looking at a range between Zack Sanford and Oskar Sundqvist. With decreasing leverage, Barbashev hopes to get lucky and maybe a few hundred thousand dollars extra.
Marlies Ink Nicholas Baptiste
Michael Augello: The Toronto Marlies have signed forward Nicholas Baptiste to a one-year contract.
He’ll get an AHL-only contract which means Baptiste will not count towards the 50-man limit for the Toronto Maple Leafs. It is nice depth for Toronto who can always use extra forwards.
Victor Hedman looks healthy for Tampa Bay
David Satriano of NHL.com: Victor Hedman looks healthy and ready to go for September. Hedman is skating overseas with MODO while on the NHL’s European Media Tour. The Tampa Bay defenseman skates like he is 100% and raring to go this season.
Kevin Hayes quotable quote
Frank Seravalli: On signing with the Philadelphia Flyers according to a player.
““I don’t understand why (the Flyers) felt the need to spend a pick in order to go out and (trade for Kevin Hayes’ rights). I don’t think there was a team that would’ve come close to the Flyers’ number, because if there were, Kevin Hayes would’ve just waited until July 1, and I have that on good authority. I was with a current NHL player the night before Game 7 in Boston who – five minutes before seeing me – ran into Kevin Hayes outside of somewhere in downtown Boston, which is obviously his hometown. He goes, ‘Oh yeah. I just ran into Kevin Hayes.’ He said Kevin Hayes told him the only way he’s going to the Flyers is if the Flyers overpaid to get him. And how much did they overpay by? It’s hard to answer that specifically, but I would say at least $600k-700k a year times seven years.”