- Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: Mikael Granlund’s agent said Wild fans shouldn’t worry about contract talks.
“The only deadline would be next training camp, but Mikael is not the type of person that would want to use that as leverage at all,” said Granlund’s agent, Todd Diamond. “That position would be uncomfortable and painful for him and wouldn’t really serve any purpose, so we obviously intend and hope to have it done well before then.”
Both sides have said it’s not going to be a long-term deal for the pending RFA.
“We feel a shorter term works in favor of both sides in a completely respectful manner,” Diamond said. “Now we’re just trying to plug in the right numbers that satisfy both sides. Right now we’re both searching for the right answer. Eventually we’ll get there.
“I can’t tell you if it’s going to be Monday or one week or one month or six months, but eventually we will get there.”
- Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: (mailbag) No direct knowledge of any trade talk between the Blues and Oilers, Jordan Eberle or anyone else. Rutherford thinks it would be tough for them to make a deal at this moment.
- Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 Radio on Nail Yakupov and Tyler Myers. The Oilers scouts wanted them to draft Ryan Murray but ownership overruled and they drafted Yakupov.
“I do believe now, if they want to trade him, they could… I don’t think the owner is so fierce in his determination to keep him and I think if they could do it, they would.”
- Nichols on Hockey: Pierre LeBrun on TSN 690 Radio on Yakupov.
“I mean listen – at the end of the day, you certainly think that at some point he’ll be a trade chip – whether it’s this year or next year or whatever.
“The one thing I’ll say that I feel for him is that at the end of the day, he’s always stuck behind those big three young guys. He doesn’t get the chance to be a first liner really and I think that’s really the position in which he would shine at some point, whether that’s in Edmonton or elsewhere. I think the problem though, if you ever do consider trading him, is that his value is not as high as it should be right now. So you’re dealing from a position of weakness, which is never a good thing. That’s the catch-22 if you’re Edmonton.
“I haven’t heard his name out there at all, so it’s too early for that, but at some point that wouldn’t surprise me if his name came up.”
- DJ Bean: Islanders backup goalie Chad Johnson received eight offers this offseason, with three being serious, before he decided on the Isles two-year deal.