Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: The Bruins want to keep pending UFA Carl Soderberg, but they won’t be able to pay him top-two center money. The Bruins have $13.75 million committed to David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron. If someone dangles $5 million for Soderberg, he’ll have to take it.
The Bruins may still be interested in Chris Stewart. If the Sabres lower their asking, they could circle back to the Bruins. Stewart only has six goals in 45 games.
The Bruins are not in a rush to re-sign pending RFAs Reilly Smith and Torey Krug. Both players could receive short-term extensions.
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: The Stars have pending UFAs Erik Cole and Shawn Horcoff. Do the Stars trade them for prospects or picks, or do they hold on to them and continue their playoff push.
“It’s no mystery. Our veteran UFAs are the guys you’d look to try to monetize if you didn’t believe in where you’re going or like your team. Those guys would be on the bubble,” Stars owner Tom Gaglardi aid. “But I think we’re going to be right in it. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Dallas Stars did little to nothing at the deadline. We’re an incumbent playoff team and we’re close. We’re in it. If we put together 3-4 in a row, we’re in the playoffs. Trading the veteran UFAs doesn’t make us a better team.”
The Stars have been looking to add a top-level defensman since GM Jim Nill was hired over a year and a half ago.
“You’re always preparing. I’m scouting every day and looking for solutions every day,” Nill said. “Sometimes, the trade deadline presents opportunities because teams might consider different paths for their team at that time. But I tend to think that these things get done more in the summer. Top defensemen are hard to find. You don’t just go down to Home Depot and pick one up there.”
The Stars could look at Keith Yandle or Mike Green, but they seem to be focusing on Dmen with a bit of size, which could include: Zbynek Michalek, Dion Phaneuf, Cody Franson and Marc Methot.
Tom Gulitti of The Record: Devils GM Lou Lamoriello will have to starting looking to trade some of his pending UFAs: Jaromir Jagr, Scott Gomez, Marek Zidlicky (who has a no-trade clause), Michael Ryder and Martin Havlat. On if it’s harder to make trades recently.
“With the collective bargaining agreement and the length of contracts, it makes it very difficult – and I’m sure I’m not the only one to say this – to make hockey trades. There will be an occasional one here or there. It becomes the exception in these days rather than the norm. You take chances in certain areas, but you’ll pay or it later and you see that in a lot of situations.”