- Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen questions Ryan Johansen’s agent Kurt Overhardt motivation.
“Our success is going to come from being a team, not a bunch of individuals or stars, or whatever,” Kekalainen said during the NHL prospects tournament last night. “To me, it’s huge that you go through training camp together and get ready.
“When training camp starts, that’s it. After that, the focus is on the guys who are there on tryouts or guys who are under contract. That’s it. That will be the only focus.”
On whether his comments meant that they’ll no longer negotiate with Johansen’s camp.
“Draw your own conclusions,” he said.
Kekaleinen doesn’t think he’s earned franchise money just yet.
“(Johansen’s) potential is great,” Kekalainen said. “But we’re not there yet, after one year, where we’re willing to invest franchise-type money into his future. Do it once or twice more. Make us pay. Go ahead and make us pay.
“We have no problem paying the dollars when it’s earned, but the key word there is ‘earned.’ While we believe in his future, we want to see him do it a little bit longer than just one year.”
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Senators GM Bryan Murray said there will be no contract talks with Bobby Ryan next month, and that they could wait until November as Ryan wants to see where he fits with the Senators.
“We’re not talking dollars or anything at this point,” said Murray. “It’s just a matter of let’s see what happens (during the season) from Bobby’s point of view. We’ll make the effort sometime in October or November to get something done.”
“Bobby wants to wait to see the role and the importance he has,” said Murray. “Is he going to be one of the top core guys?
“There were games last year he felt he didn’t play very much or play a very important role. He’s the kind of guy, he’s got a big upside for us, but he wants to be one of those guys you count on. I totally understand that.”
Contract extension talks with Marc Methot’s agent over the weekend didn’t get anywhere.
- Bob McKenzie: The Wild want to sign Darcy Kuemper on a two-way contract. Kuemper is looking for a one-way deal at $850,000. Michael Russo: The Wild have offered a two-year deal with a two-way for the first year, and a one-way for the second year.
- John Lu: Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin wouldn’t confirm if he spoke directly with Martin Brodeur or with his agent, but said that goaltending isn’t not an area of need for the team.
- Helene St. James: Red Wings RFA Danny DeKeyser is still confident that he’ll have a deal this week.
- The Fourth Period: Source saying that it doesn’t look like Ryan Ellis and the Predators will come to an agreement on a new deal by the start of camp tomorrow. Paul Krepelka, Ellis’ agent, said that “no progress to report.” Money appears to the issue in their talks.
What term and money do you think Johansen and the Blue Jackets should agree too?
