- On Washington Capitals’ forward Niklas Baskstrom, from Alex Prewitt: Washington Capitals GM Brian MacLellan updated the team’s projection on star centre Niklas Backstrom’s return from offseason surgery: “I guess we’re saying now somewhere within the first 10 games, depending on how he feels.”
- From Ken Wiebe on Andrew Ladd: The Jets have yet to agree on a new contract with team captain Andrew Ladd. The 29-tear-old winger remains optimistic that a deal will get done. Ladd said, “I’m sure that both sides were hoping to have something done by now but sometimes it just doesn’t work out that way.”
- More from Wiebe on Grant Clitsome’s unlikely return for the Jets: Head coach Paul Maurice said defenseman Grant Clitsome did not pass his physical and that he is not expected to play hockey this season. The 30-year-old defender has endured two back surgeries in the past two years.
- On Steven Stamkos, from Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times: Jones notes that Lightning GM Steve Yzerman says signing Stamkos is the team’s top priority and that Stamkos says he loves Tampa Bay. Jones also comments that rumors continue to swirl in Toronto about a possible homecoming for the Canadian star. Jones wonders if a move to the wing could push Stamkos to consider leaving the Lightning after this season.
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From Amalie Benjamin of The Boston Globe on Matt Irwin: After a slow-moving offseason that saw many free agents wait for weeks before signing (and many others accept PTOs), Irwin is happy he signed early in Boston. Benjamin reports that an opportunity for playing time was important. From Irwin,
“That’s something you look at, too, when you’re weighing your options…Opportunity is a big thing. I like the depth we have here on D. It’s going to push all of us to be the best we can every night so the coaches feel comfortable putting the best six guys on the ice every night. It’s going to push us every day in practice against each other.”
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More from Benjamin on Rask and the Bruins’ backup goalie position: Benjamin also writes that there’s an open competition in net for the Bruins’ backup position. The contenders for the position include Jeremy Smith, Malcolm Subban, Zane McIntyre, and Jonas Gustavsson, in camp on a PTO. Benjamin speculates that Smith is the frontrunner for the job. The new backup can expect a bigger workload this season as Don Sweeney has voiced his desire to reduce starter Tuukka Rask’s workload:
“We have to find the ideal number of games for him…It’ll be less than what he played last year.”