- Bob McKenzie: The Sabres and Cody Franson are expected to finalize a two-year contract with a cap hit around $3.3 million.
- Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News: Franson would fit into the Sabres top-four, along with Rasmus Ristolainen, Zach Bogosian and Josh Gorges. Mark Pysyk and Mike Weber should make the team. The remaining spot on the blueline could be a battle between Carlo Colaiacovo, Jake McCabe, Chad Ruhwedel, Matt Donovan and Bobby Sanguinetti.Sabres Ryan O’Reilly is back in court this morning at 9:00 am regarding his DUI and leaving the scene charges.
- Renaud Lavoie: Next week there should be a meeting between the NHL, the Blackhawks and Patrick Kane. Before the start of training, there should be a decision made on his future. The question will be if he gets the go ahead from the league to attend training camp.
- Jimmy Hascup of USA Today: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman and captain Dion Phaneuf isn’t letting the never ending trade rumors involving him or his teammates get into his head.
“I don’t pay attention to the distractions on the outside,” Phaneuf told USA TODAY Sports during the NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour. “Because as soon as you do that, it affects you where it matters most, and that’s on the ice.”
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning Stars: (chat) Heika thinks that Patrik Nemeth and John Klingberg are locks to be with the Stars for while. They have a couple young defenseman prospects that could make the jump soon, which would open up the possibility of potentially trading either Jyrki Jokipakka or Jamie Oleksiak. Heika would prefer to see Oleksiak and Jokipakka playing in the AHL instead of the Stars carrying eight defensemen to start the season, but both would have to clear waivers.
