On the Kings and Maple Leafs …
- David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period: The Kings and Anze Kopitar are not close on a contract extension. Both sides have agreed on eight-years, but are apart on money.
Pagnotta doesn’t see Kopitar signing for under $10 million a season.
The Kings appear to be moving higher and are getting closer to $9.5 million a season. It’s not known if Kopitar has come down at all.Kopitar’s agent, Pat Brisson, continues talks with the Kings, and they are not bitter that a deal hasn’t been done yet. Talks will continue and they aren’t shutting them down just yet.
The poor play of Marian Gaborik has some within the Kings organization concerned.
- The Maple Leafs have plenty of players who are in contract years and are tradeable: Michael Grabner, James Reimer, Shawn Matthias, P-A Parenteau, Brad Boyes and Roman Polak.
Pending RFA Peter Holland’s name has already made the trade rounds.Anyone other than Morgan Rielly can be talked about.
Tyler Bozak, Joffrey Lupul and Nazem Kadri will generate the most interest, but James van Riemsdyk is their most valuable tradeable asset. JVR was almost dealt to the Penguins before the Kessel trade.
JVR could bring the Leafs the biggest return.
On the Jets …
- Platinum Seat Ghosts: Pierre LeBrun last night on Dustin Byfuglien: “The tough thing is the Jets are a contender.”
On the Lightning …
- Platinum Seat Ghosts: LeBrun on the Lightning and Steven Stamkos: “Even if they can’t end up signing him, they’re trying to win a cup.” LeBrun said that he doesn’t think the Lightning would trade Stamkos before the trade deadline.
On the Avalanche …
- Adrian Dater: No matter what, the Avalanche won’t fire Patrick Roy – “that will never happen.”
On the Ducks …
- Jeff Miller of OC Register: The early season struggles by the Ducks put Cam Fowler’s name in the rumor mill. He had heard similar things last season and had trouble ignoring the outside noise.
“I tried to get some of that clutter out of my head,” Fowler explained. “It seemed to help me quite a bit, actually. I watch the NHL Network and stuff like that. But I’m not in a trenches seeing what people are talking about.”