- Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Bay Tribune: Steven Stamkos’s agent Don Meehan said yesterday that contract talks haven’t started yet, but it shouldn’t be a concern.
“For the moment, simply an issue of timing,” Meehan told the Times.
Stamkos is entering the final year of his deal and will have a cap hit of $7.5 million. His next deal could be in the eight-year, $84 million range.
- David Staple of the Edmonton Journal: Oilers Now radio host Bob Stauffer on Blackhawks Brent Seabrook:
“But they didn’t sign (restricted free agent forward) Brandon Saad. They didn’t get him done. Now maybe they look at him and say Seabrook is a greater priority and they find a way to get it done.
“But if he doesn’t get done there, there will be a healthy bidding war for his services. … He is going to get paid. He’s probably going to get $7 (million) times seven (years). People say, ‘Well, he’s 31 next year, he’s played a ton of play hockey.’ The guy is big, he’s a leader, he can play top minutes, he’s tough, and defencemen don’t burn out the way power forwards do. Defenceman can play longer. And he’s a guy that could do that. There’s the type of guy that might become available.”
Staples asked Chicago Tribune writer Chris Kuc about a Seabrook trade: “Slim to none,” he said.
The 30-year old Seabrook has one-year left on his deal at $5.8 million. Stauffer things the cost to acquire him could be a young defenseman, an established defenseman and a prospect or a pick.
- Allan Muir of SI: They haven’t retired and may hoping to play next season, but there are some free agents whose NHL careers could be over – Ray Emery, Brenden Morrow, Sergei Gonchar, Lubomir Visnovski, Olli Jokinen, Daniel Brier, Bryce Salvador, and Matt Cullen.