- Tim Panaccio of CSN Philly: The Flyers will have decisions to make regarding their backup goalie for next season. Steve Mason is their No. 1, but there may be some concerns regarding injuries. GM Ron Hextall wants to upgrade.
“We’ll go through our list and everything else and make a determination,” Hextall said. “It’s a long way from July 1. If we can find a backup that we feel is an upgrade, we’ll do it. It goes with every position.”
UFA options that are close to Ray Emery’s $1 million salary include Devan Dubnyk, Dan Ellis, Thomas Griess and Anders Lindback.
- Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun: The Maple Leafs will look to draft the best player available and not by position.
“I’ll talk to (interim GM) Mark Hunter, but you’re still looking for the best guy available,” Shanahan said about draft strategy in June. “There are some good players. (Whether they can step right in) depends who you get, it depends whether they’re ready. We are willing to wait.”
- Scott Wheeler: Maple Leafs assistant GM Kyle Dubas was on SportsNet 590 yesterday and when asked who comes after McDavid and Eichel has said Hanifin, Strome, Crouse, Marner, Zacha, Barzal, Provorov (in that order).
- Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic: The Coyotes dropped to the third slot after the Oilers won the lottery, but they have an idea who they want.
“We have a pretty good idea who we want,” General Manager Don Maloney said.
“Obviously, the two up top are certainly considered front-line, franchise-level players,” Maloney said. “But, man, there are some really great-looking young players that in any other draft you’d say, ‘We’d love to get our hands on one of those players.’ I can honestly say I’m not sitting here moping.”
At No. 3, they’ll have options at center, on the wing, the blueline, as well as the option of trading down.
“Obviously, the two up top are certainly considered front-line, franchise-level players,” Maloney said. “But, man, there are some really great-looking young players that in any other draft you’d say, ‘We’d love to get our hands on one of those players.’ I can honestly say I’m not sitting here moping.”