- Larry Brooks of the NY Post: There has been no progress in contract extension talks between the Rangers and defenseman Marc Staal. There have been no meaningful talks in weeks. The Rangers are thought to have offered the same deal that they signed Dan Girardi too, six-years and $33 million, a $5.5 million salary cap hit. Staal is thought to be looking for at least $6 million on a six- or seven-year deal.
- Aaron Portzline: There has been no progress made between the Blue Jackets and Ryan Johansen’s agent, Kurt Overhardt. Would have to think Overhardt will now be using the Blue Jackets injury issues as leverage.
- Chris Johnston of SportsNet: Blue Jackets president John Davidson on recent Johansen talks.
“It had been the first time there’s been discussions in awhile,” Davidson said after a meeting of the NHL’s board of governors. “They were very polite, well-mannered.”
“A deal would interest us — it doesn’t matter if it’s short term or long term,” he said. “We just want something that’s fair to the organization and something that’s fair to the player. There’s got to be a framework there that makes sense where both sides will understand that it’s a good deal.
“That’s what we’re about, that’s what our ownership’s about, we don’t want to lowball anybody. We don’t believe in that. We just want to do the right thing.”
- Pierre LeBrun: There is still no progress between the Stars and Brenden Dillon, who spoke again yesterday.
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Dillon’s agent made a two-year contract offer with a cap hit of $1.9 million yesterday, but it was rejected by the Stars. Talks may have to “go back to the drawing board.” They had been discussing several options. Agent Jarrett Bousquet thinks his latest offer is below market value.
“It’s frustrating and disappointing, and I know Brenden feels that way,” Bousquet said. “There is a market out there for him to be paid even more than this, so this is an offer that we think should get things done.”
Bousquet has brought up Erik Gudbranson ($2.5 million) and Danny DeKeyser ($2.1875 million) as comparables. The Stars could use Torey Krug ($1.4 million) or Eric Gelinas ($900,000).
“He is clearly a top four defensemen, and there’s value in that,” Bousquet said. “That’s the toughest thing to handle is they don’t see the value in what he has brought to the team. He should be worth the same as a top eight forward, if not more.”
