- Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic: The budget for the Coyotes next year won’t change because of their potential legal battle with the City of Glendale over their lease.
“That is not an excuse,” President, CEO and co-owner Anthony LeBlanc said. “We are not changing our hockey budget. We are committed to our hockey budget. We all got into this for one reason. We all want to win a Stanley Cup.”
The issues surrounding the team will definitely hurt their sales pitches to free agents. The NHL put out a statement regarding the lease situation.
“The National Hockey League stands by, and will fully support, the Arizona Coyotes in their efforts to vindicate their contractual rights in response to last night’s outrageous and irresponsible action by the City of Glendale. We continue to proceed on the basis that the Coyotes will remain in Glendale and will be playing their home games at Gila River Arena.”
- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Red Wings GM Ken Holland will be meeting with Daniel Cleary next week to discuss his future. The Wings could end up signing Cleary to a one-year deal, and if he doesn’t make the team, they could put him on waivers. The sides also could work out a front-office job for Cleary.
- Todd Cordell: Darren Dreger saying that Adam Oates won’t be returning to New Jersey and that he could join Peter DeBoer in San Jose.
- Igor Eronko: Rangers Carl Klingberg is set to sign with Torpedo of the KHL.
- EliteProspects Tranfers: Dany Heatly could be signing with CSKA of the KHL.
- CSNNE: (question: with the Coyotes saying they are open to trading the third overall pick, could the Bruins dangle Milan Lucic or in some sort of package? Will Lucic be with the Bruins next season?
“I would love to see that happen, but they’re not going to get the third pick for Lucic. They’d have to give up their own first-round pick along with Lucic,” said Kevin Paul Dupont on Sports Tonight. “They’ve go to get relief here to get Hamilton, to get McQuaid back on the team. In my mind as of June, 11th Lucic is the guy to go.”