- Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo! Sports: Antti Raanta lost his backup job to Scott Darling during last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, and he wasn’t happy with it according to a readers translation from a Finnish paper.
“I was really hoping Nashville would beat us in four games and I could get back to Finland. I was about how Chicago was treating me.”
According to Raanta, Blackhawks were suffering of weak team spirit and head coach Joel Quenneville didn’t seem to like him.
“I noticed that coach didn’t like me, in that position it is pretty difficult to fight the windmills,” Raanta said.
The Blackhawks traded Raanta to the Rangers for Ryan Haggerty back in June.
- Joedy McCreary AP in USA Today: Carolina Hurricanes coach Bill Peter’s said that contract status of Eric Staal and Cam Ward is a “nonissue.” Ward on entering the last year of his contract which will see him make $6.8 million.
“I’m just going to try to take care of what I can control, and that’s just preparing the best that I can to be great this year, and I feel when the time is right that will all take care of itself,” Ward said. “My focus is on the team and trying to get off to a good start, and I’ll keep it that way.”
- Ansar Khan of MLive: Detroit Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey is in a contract year and is slotted on their 3rd pairing. With the Wings potentially looking to clear some room for their youngsters, the 30-year old could end up being traded. He brings experience and some offensive upside, so if they do decide to move him, he should bring back some value.