- Tom Dougherty of CSN Philly: (mailbag) How will the Flyers address their scoring issues this offseason? With their current cap situation, it will be hard to Flyers GM Ron Hextall to bring in the scoring forward they need. Hextall wants to upgrade their blueline and add a skilled winger. There are not many options out there. Joel Ward could be an option, but he may cost too much. Drew Stafford and Chris Stewart could be other options.
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Matheson thinks the Wild have to trade defenseman Jared Spurgeon who has one-year left at $3.5 million. The Wild have 16 players under contract for next season with a cap hit around $61 million. Matheson thinks he’d be a very good No. 3 defenseman for the Oilers.The Canadiens were shopping Zach Fucale this past winter. The Oilers wanted to draft Fucale in 2013, but the Canadiens selected him one slot before the Oilers pick in the second round.
John Hynes looks like the front-runner for the Devils head coaching vacancy.
Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli may look to sign pending Bruins UFA defenseman Adam McQuaid. Cost could be around $2.5 million for a tough No. 5 defenseman.
The Red Wings don’t have salary cap issues, so they don’t really need to trade Jimmy Howard.
The Blackhawks should be able to trade Bryan Bickell for a second round pick. The Coyotes have lots of cap space to add Bickell’s contract. The Devils are looking for top-nine forwards.
Would Martin St. Louis sign a one-year, $1 million deal to remain with the Rangers? The Rangers only have about $10 million in cap space with about 15 players signed.
Can the Flyers find any takers for Vincent Lecavalier, R.J. Umberger or Andrew MacDonald?
Daniel Clearly is expected to retire and join the Red Wings front-office.
- Rich Chere of the Star Ledger: GM Ray Shero and doctors will decide on whether Ryane Clowe plays another game for the Devils.
“I don’t have that answer for you at this point,” Shero told NJ Advance Media. “That’s not negative or positive. I don’t know what the immediate future holds for Ryane. Certainly Lou has the background and file and knows everything about Ryane and where he is, so we’ll see where it goes. No decision as of today.”
Clowe has three years left on his deal at $4.85 million per year. With his concussion situation, doctors could say he’s unfit to play again.
“Sometimes it’s more of a personal decision,” Shero said. “I think it’s a combination of the player, the organization and doctors. All those things are taken into account for the best welfare of the player.
“Never put a player at risk. Both sides (have to) get all the information. That’s the right thing to do. No rush, so we make right decision. It’s a combination of all factors before the final decision can be made.”