- Swisshockeynews.ch: Lubomir Visnovsky tells cas.sk that he’s still looking for a NHL contract, but Europe is also an option.
“I could imagine working in the Czech league, Switzerland or in another league, or start the season in Europe, and then go overseas, if an offer came”, says the defenseman.
- Igor Eronko: Ducks Igor Bobkov told R-Sport that he is open for KHL offers.
- Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun: Mike Hoffman’s arbitration hearing with the Senators is set for Thursday. Yesterday, Hoffman filed for $3.4 million, with the Senators offering $1.75 million. Hoffman led the Senators in goals last season with 27, his first full season in the NHL. The Senators will argue that he has some defensive deficiencies.
- Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star: The Maple Leafs and Jonathan Bernier have their arbitration hearing set for Friday. Offers to the arbitrator will be filed today (Friedman just reported that Bernier asked for $5.1 million and the Leafs offered $2.89 million). If they file for a one-year deal, Bernier would be set to becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season.
“It doesn’t look like management is sold on Bernier,” said sports lawyer Elliot Saccucci of Bersenas Jacobsen Chouest Thomson Blackburn LLP. “The guy that traded for him (Dave Nonis) is gone.
“I suspect they’ll keep him, but they want to leave themselves the option of saying: ‘OK, this isn’t the guy we want to move forward with.”
Bernier will likely end up with a contract between $4.5 million and $5 million. The length on the contract during earlier seemed to be a sticking point. Bernier is looking for a long-term deal.
The Leafs will likely use Steve Mason and his $4.1 million as a comparable. Bernier’s camp will likely look towards Braden Holtby’s $6.1 million. The Leafs don’t have the option to walk away from the deal.
