- Dan Rosen via twitter: Predators GM David Poile said that Nashville did everything that Suter wanted, including a big contract offer. Suter said he choose the Wild for family reasons.
- Darren Dreger via twitter: The ball is now in the Blue Jackets court. The Red Wings, Penguins, Rangers, Flyers and Sharks are all on Rick Nash’s list, and possibly the Hurricanes. There has to be a ‘homerun’ offer in that group.
- Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: Teams looking to add 30 goal scorers now have to look at Nash and Ryan. It’s confirmed that the Red Wings, Rangers, Flyers, Penguins and Sharks are on Nash’s list, but there may to another team or two on it. There has also been hints that Nash may expand his list. Neither side wants a be faced with Nash being a Blue Jacket in September. If Nash expands his list, the Hurricanes may be a team that is added. The Rangers have tried to get Nash without giving up any proven NHL players (other an Brandon Dubinsky) or top level prospects.
- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Options for the Red Wings now are Matt Carle (written before he signed) and Carlo Colaiacovo. Colaiacovo is injury prone and they wouldn’t want to commit a lot of term for him. They could go the trade route. They have 5 defenseman under contract for next year (Niklas Kronwall, Jonathan Ericsson, Ian White, Brendan Smith and Jakub Kindl) and they are working on re-signing Kyle Quincey. The Wings will look at Shane Doan if he hits the open market, and they will continue to explore a Rick Nash trade.
- Ansar Khan of MLive: The Red Wings could use another defenseman and a high-end forward. “We’ll explore what’s left on the market. We’ll talk to some teams to see if there are any players available (by trade).” Forward possibilities through free agency or trade are: Alexander Semin, Shane Doan, Rick Nash and Bobby Ryan. Possible defenseman: Matt Carle, Keith Yandle, Carlo Colaiacovo, Shea Weber and Jay Bouwmeester.
- Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Oberserver: The Hurricanes are pushing hard for Nash, and are thought to have made a strong offer. The Penguins could now ratchet up the ante. It’s not known what the Hurricanes offered. It’s believed that Jeff Skinner would not be part of any package.
- Todd Cordell via twitter: Semin’s agent Mark Gandler: “All I can tell you is that Alex will sign with an NHL team.”
- Pierre LeBrun via twitter: It would take a really good offer to get Keith Yandle out of Phoenix. If he is moved, LeBrun figures could be to Eastern Conference where several teams are interested. Tab Bamford via twitter: If Yandle is available, and Ray Whitney’s replacement is Steve Sullivan, would have to think Shane Doan is considering a new home.
- Jim Matheson via twitter: There are now more suitors for Rick Nash now that Parise has signed with the Wild. Matheson isn’t sure if the Penguins or Red Wings have the young forwards that the Blues Jackets would want though.
- Josh Yohe of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review: The Penguins have a hole in their top 6.
“If we could (find center Sidney Crosby) a winger, that would be fantastic,” Shero said. “It would make my life a lot easier, (but) Sid does pretty well whoever he plays with. I’d love to get a winger for Sidney, but those guys don’t fall off trees.”
The Penguins best free agent options could be Shane Doan or Alexander Semin. Ryan or Nash could be available through trade. They have young defenseman assests in Simon Despres, Joe Morrow, Scott Harrington, Olli Maatta and Derrick Pouliot.
“We’ll go with what we have at this point,” Shero said. “We’ll see what’s available. … If you can improve your team, you’re going to do that. One thing that we have now that we haven’t had in a while is cap space.” “We like our defense the way it is. If there’s a chance to upgrade, certainly we’re going to do that. But there are a lot of teams looking for defensemen. They’re not easy to find.”
Shero hasn’t ruled out having one of their current forwards moving up to their top 6, maybe Tyler Kennedy.
- Josh Yohe via twitter: Penguins GM Ray Shero on Rick Nash or Bobby Ryan: “They’re under contracts. There’s only so much I can say. But if there’s a trade that makes sense, we’ll look.”
- Roger Millions via twitter: The Flames haven’t tried to trade Jay Bouwmeester. Teams have expressed interest. Could find out quickly if that is so.
- Jim Matheson via twitter: Matheson thinks the Wild defense is a little sketchy even with the Suter addition. He wonders if they would deal Devin Setoguchi for defensive help.
- Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: Shane Doan interests the Flyers, but he’ll likely stay in Phoenix if they don’t move the franchise. The Flyers could deal for Rick Nash or Bobby Ryan. Carchidi via twitter: The Flyers are not willing to trade Sean Couturier in a Nash or Ryan deal.
- Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune: The Blackhawks have lost out on Parise, Suter and Brodeur. Their only addition has been Sheldon Brookbank. Sources are saying that GM Stan Bowman is under significant pressure from management to improve the team. “We’re going to keep pursuing different things,” he said. “It’s only July 4 — the summer hasn’t played itself out yet.” Chris Boden via twitter:
Bowman wouldn’t say if trades are more likely than free agency now.
- Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times: The Blackhawks are still dangling defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson.
“Our objective is not to make a splash,” said Bowman, who confirmed his pursuit of goalie Martin Brodeur. “Our objective is to win hockey games.“Our objective is to put a team on the ice that is going to give us the best chance to win the Stanley Cup next year. You have to look, and it’s not like we have seven holes to fill.”
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk on Derek Roy being a UFA after this season:
“I think we want to see what’s going on with the CBA. There’s still a lot of uncertainty with the CBA. I think we’ll all catch our breath now, he’ll get situated in Dallas, and we’ll go from there.”
- St. Louis Post Dispatch: Are Carlo Colaiacovo’s (UFA) days as a Blue numbered? Jeremy Rutherford thinks it’s 50-50 that he’s re-signed. The Blues are looking at other options in their attempt to bring in a defenseman. If they can’t find an upgrade, he could be back. Dan O’Neill says it’s unlikely he’s back.
- Andy Strickland via twitter: The Blues were in it to the end with defenseman Matt Carle.
- Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun: Flames G Jay Feaster said he’s looking for some 3rd – 4th line grit.
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: UFA Jesse Winchester is still waiting to be picked up. The Senators don’t have a forward spot open for him. He was injured for a good part of last season with a concussion. He passed his baseline test last week.