- Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: A trade for Dustin Byfuglien would start with a package similar to what they got for Milan Lucic – a first round pick, roster player and a top prospect. It would likely be more than that. Other defenesman that could be available for the Bruins include: Nikita Nikitin, Rob Scuderi, Luke Schenn and Andrew MacDonald.
- Joe Hagerty of CSNNE: Rumors have come up again that Bruins prospect Alexander Khokhlachev wasn’t happy and that he could be heading back to SKA St. Petersburg. His agent calmed things down a bit.
“At the present time Alexander Khokhlachev is at the Boston Bruins training camp, has one more year NHL deal and does his best to be the Bruin,” said Dementiev to CSNNE.com. “In this circumstance we can’t and we don’t talk to SKA St. Petersburg, the KHL team, who has his rights in Russia.
“Regarding Alexander’s interview several days ago, all I can say that we really want hockey people to hear how much he wants to be an NHL player and nothing about complaints or other innuendo – just a simple statement of facts.”
- Dave Isaac of the Courier Post: Flyers Brayden Schenn has been skating with Chris Porter and Scott Laughton at camp on one of the five lines, and while Laugton has received some praise from GM Ron Hextall, Schenn hasn’t.
“Brayden’s been OK,” Hextall said. “It’s training camp. It’s early. … I think we all know where he is and what is and that he prefers to play the right side. We’ll see where it goes.”
Schenn has a $2.5 million cap hit in the last year of his deal and could become a trade candidate.
- Jonathan Willis of the Edmonton Journal: Willis thinks that teams might come calling the Oilers if injuries occur on their blueline. Nikita Nikitin is in the last year of his contract could be moved, especially if they retain salary. The Oilers logjam on the blueline gives them insurance if someone gets hurt, and it could net them a mid-round pick in a month or two.
- Stephen Whyno in the Toronto Star: The Maple Leafs will likely start William Nylander in the AHL.
“We think he’s good,” Babcock said. “You see players, you see whether they’re ready, you see if they’re ready defensively, you see if they’re ready offensively.
“You just watch to see if they’re ready. We want our guys over-ready.”
He would have to take someone’s job to remain with the Leafs.
