- Brian Compton: Lubomir Visnovsky said that he’d like to remain with the Islanders if it’s possible.
- Aaron Portzline: Blue Jackets Jarmo Kekalainen said that contract talks won’t begin with their UFAs and RFAs until later on in May after the World Championships are over.
- Aaron Portzline: Nothing new to report regarding Blue Jackets prospect Mike Reilly. He’s currently playing with Team USA under coach Todd Richards at the World Championships.
- Thomas Willis of NashvillePredators.com: Predators pending UFAs Mike Ribeiro and Mike Fisher hope to return next season.
“I would love to be back here next season,” Ribeiro said. “I was actually happy to come to work and was not depressed . I think the boys in the room really helped a lot, they were really supportive. To get a chance like David gave me, I think I took it, I didn’t want to disappoint him…I just wanted to do the right thing, and I think having a good season was just a part of it.”
“I love the city and being here and being a part of this group,” Fisher said. “It’s something that will have to be worked out here in the next little bit, but I’m pretty confident that something will get done and that I will be back.
38-year old Matt Cullen will take some time deciding on playing future.
“I’ll take a little while, take a little time and sit back,” Cullen said of deciding on his future. “Everything happens fast at the end, and I’m disappointed with how it all ended, but I’ll sit back, take some time, be with the family and let the body settle down…I felt great down the stretch and in the playoffs. I’ve been lucky that way, and I was really able to enjoy it.”
- Thomas Willis and Brooks Bratten of NashvillePredators.com: The Predators have six pending UFAs – Mike Ribeiro, Mike Fisher, Matt Cullen, Mike Santorelli, Cody Franson and Anton Volchenkov. GM David Poile has expressed interested in bringing Ribeiro and Fisher back. The Preds don’t have a first round pick, but are confident they’ll get someone they rate highly with their second round pick.
“I think the way we do things, even without having that first-round pick, we’ll still probably get a guy highly rated , just by the way we’re going to do things,” Poile said. “ just be more specific to the type of player we want to get…I’m very confident in our scouting staff, and they’ve done a really good job in the last couple years.”
