- Arthur Staple: The Islanders and UFA Marek Zidlicky have been talking that past few weeks about a contract. Nothing has been decided on, but there is interest.
- Jonathan Willis of the Edmonton Journal: Willis wonders if Eric Gryba has a long future with the Oilers. He’ll be a free agent after this season, and the Oilers will have a bunch of players on entry-level deals that could be ready soon. The right handed defenseman has a physical aspect to his game at 6′ 4″ and 225 pounds. The organizations depth could work against Gryba – Darnell Nurse, Griffin Reinhart, Brandon Davidson and David Musil. Gryba will make $1.25 million this season and will likely be looking for more on his next deal. Depending on where they sit around trade deadline time, GM Peter Chiarelli could look to trade Gryba.
- Rich Chere of NJ.com: The Devils may not have a captain this season. If they do, GM Ray Shero and head coach John Hynes will decide on who it will be.
“There is no rush for this. I’m not sure we’ll have one,” general manager Ray Shero told NJ Advance Media. “Maybe we will. I don’t want to paint myself into a corner by saying we’ll have one and we don’t, or we won’t have one and we do.”
- Ansar Khan of MLive: Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill has indicated that Mike Green could be paired with Danny DeKeyser this season, though he hasn’t relayed that to DeKeyser as of yet.
“I think that would be great,” DeKeyser, 25, said. “I think in the past few years with the back end, we’ve wanted to contribute a little more than we have. Obviously, (Niklas) Kronwall’s been the leader back there with that, but bringing in another guy like Green, who will bring some offense, will definitely help us out a ton.”