- Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News: Two sources are saying the Sabres are trying to add defenseman Cody Franson on a two-year contract. Franson has been looking for a multi-year deal and has been linked to the Bruins, Penguins and Blue Jackets. The Sabres have around $12 million in salary cap space.
- Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: Blues Patrik Berglund will be having surgery on his right shoulder that he originally dislocated in April of 2014. He will be re-evaluated in three months. He re-aggravated the injury earlier this summer.
“It didn’t happen Monday,” Armstrong said. “He injured it in Sweden and made us aware of it right away. We asked him to come over and see our doctors. He didn’t re-injure it here. The reason he came back (to St. Louis) so early was because it was hurt and he wanted to see our doctors and trainers.”
The Blues announced yesterday that they are bringing in Scott Gomez and four others on a tryout.
- Rich Hammond of the OC Register: Mike Richards has been charged with possession of a controlled substance. The Winnipeg Free Press obtained a document saying that it was oxycodone. Richards has a hearing set for September 10th. First time offenses could be up to a $1,000 fine or up to six month in prison. The Kings terminated Richards contract on June 29th. The Kings are confident the termination will hold up. Richards never informed them that he was arrested, and the Kings found out about the arrest nine days later when they were trying to trade him.
- Chris Johnston: The NHL and NHLPA haven’t set a hearing date for Mike Richards grievance.
- Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer: The Hurricanes have signed Elias Lindholm to a two-year contract extension worth $5.4 million.
“Elias played well last season, nearly doubling his offensive numbers from his rookie year,” general manager Ron Francis said in a statement. “We expect he will be a very important part of the Hurricanes as he continues to develop as a professional.”
- Chuck Gormley of CSN Mid-Atlantic: Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom’s recovery from hip surgery is progressing slowly and he may not be ready for their season opener. Backstrom has only skated five times since his May surgery.
“I didn’t want to go on ice before I was ready for it,” he said. “I waited until it felt OK to skate again. Because of the injury I had to postpone my on-ice training compared to when I have done it in years past. But there is still time to go at it before the season starts.”
With Backstrom missing part of training camp, Evegeny Kusnetsov is expected to move onto the first line with Alex Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie. Andre Burakovsky could get an extended look down the middle, along with Marcus Johansson and Brooks Laich.