- Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: Blues owner Tom Stillman doesn’t deny hearing the rumors that some players were not happy with coach Ken Hitchcock, though downplayed if they were universal.
“I know there is a lot of speculation about that,” he said. “I would also point out if you named the top 10 coaches in the NHL over the last decade, in virtually every case you would find the players can’t stand him. They hate him. That’s just the way it is. I kind of discount that kind of stuff. That goes for those (coaches) who are seen as the best now, the best ever and those who have recently won Stanley Cups. Almost to a man, the players can’t stand him. I don’t know how much stock I would put in that kind of a thing.”
The current mix of coaching and players doesn’t appear to be working. GM Armstrong could see what the trade market is for T.J. Oshie or Patrick Berglund.
- Andy Strickland: Martin Brodeur would like to stay on with the Blues, but in a more defined role.
- Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: Wild goalie Josh Harding is expected to retire.
“I wouldn’t want to speak for him, but he has bigger issues than just hockey,” Fletcher said.
- Chad Graff: Wild GM Chuck Fletcher said he’s okay with big minutes to his top five defensemen, which if true, then there is less urgency to trade a Dman like Jared Spurgeon.
- HabsLinks: Bob McKenzie on TSN 690 radio on Monday: “I think on the open market a d-man like Jeff Petry would probably get somewhere between 4.25-5.5M / yr”
- Dennis Bernstein: Pending UFA Jarret Stoll may only get a training camp invite from someone after his Vegas incident.
- Jason Brough: Jordan Subban’s agent in an email: “All I can tell you at this stage is that we are continuing talks with the Canucks.”
- Elliott Friedman: Hearing that Bruins goalie prospect Zane McIntyre is planning on going pro. He can become a free agent, but word is that he wants to sign with the Bruins.
- David Staples: (answering question) Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid would be a great one-two combo down the middle, but thinking that McDavid could start out on the wing.