- Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic: Coyotes GM Don Maloney is focusing on re-signing winger Mikkel Boedker.
“Hopefully we’ll get that done in relatively short order because he’s important to us,” Maloney said. “He’s a key guy for us.”
Talks have been ongoing and “moving forward” according to Maloney.
“It’s just a matter of whether we do something long, long-term or long-term or short-term,” Maloney said.
The Coyotes continue talks with Viktor Tikhonov. The Coyotes retain his rights until July 1st.
“We would like to bring him back if the price is right,” Maloney said. “I don’t know whether that’s going to happen.”
- Adam Vingan of the Tennessean: Pending Predators UFA Matt Cullen wants to play next season – would be his 18th – but according to his agent, it’s unlikely that he’ll be back with the Preds.
“Matt wants to play next season,” Pat Morris said in an email Wednesday. “Nashville has too many forwards so it is highly likely not to be there.”
Cullen a few idea of where he wouldn’t mind playing next year.
“I know already in my head that there’s a few places, if I do (decide) to play, I’d consider going to,” Cullen told The Dickinson (North Dakota) Press in April. “I want to be close to home. My family will be home (in Minnesota) regardless next year.”
- Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: Mike Giardi on Bruins RFA defenseman Dougie Hamilton.
“There is the potential, he’s 21 years old, so we don’t know,” said Giardi. “Victor Hedman, who is shining in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, six years in the league now, finally becoming the player that they thought they had when they drafted and developed him. It could take that long for Dougie Hamilton. I’m not going to turn around and give him six or seven million a year when he’s not that guy yet.”
Haggerty on hoping Hamilton would do a bridge deal instead of handcuffing the Bruins by signing an offer sheet.
“It comes down to whether Dougie Hamilton wants to take less and accept a team-friendly bridge contract,” said Haggerty. “If he’s willing to do that, he’s on board with what Don Sweeney’s doing and the Bruins are doing, and they can figure it out and make it work.”