- Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun: Jets Andrew Ladd is entering the final year of his contract. The sides have been able to talk about a contract extension since July 1st. It sounded like they had started someone talks, but it’s been quiet on the matter since early July.
Dustin Byfuglien will also be a UFA after the season. It is expected that the Jets will also try to re-sign him.
Ladd will turn 30-years old during the season and will be looking for a big deal, possibly a seven- or eight-year deal at more than $6 million per season. They Jets may prefer a four- or five-year deal, but that isn’t going to happen. Don’t expect that Ladd would go lower than six-years and $36 to $39 million.He has a modified no-trade clause for this year if the Jets figure they can’t re-sign him and start looking for move him.
- Scott Powers of ESPN: The Blackhawks still haven’t signed RFA Marcus Kruger, but he said on Tuesday that he’s not concerned yet.
“I want to have it done. I think that’s for everyone,” said Kruger, who shared a Stanley Cup day with Johnny Oduya in Sweden on Tuesday. “But I don’t feel too stressed out about it, yet at least. We have another month until training camp.
“Right now I just try to focus on getting in the best shape I can be in a month from now. That’s all I can do. Then, I think everything else will sort out. I love playing hockey. I know I’m going to do that. We will see what happens, but I’m not too worried about it.”
Kruger has told the Blackhawks that he’d like a long-term contract, but would accept a short-term deal as they realize the Blackhawks salary cap situation.
- Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Penguins GM Jim Rutherford said that Oskar Sundqvist didn’t have surgeries in July to repair a severed hamstring tendon which was reported in a Swedish newspaper. Rutherford did say that Sundqvist has been rehabbing a hamstring injury. He should be ready for the start of training camp.