- Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: There are still some useful free agents available – Brad Boyes, Christian Ehrhoff, Eric Fehr, Tomas Fleischmann, Cody Franson, Curtis Glencross, Jim Slater, Lee Stempniak and Scottie Upshall.
“I think you’re going to see some good players having to accept training camp tryouts,” one GM said Wednesday. Yikes.
Current 2016 UFA class could include: Dustin Byfuglien, Mark Giordano, Ryan Kesler, Anze Kopitar, Milan Lucic, Kyle Okposo, Brent Seabrook, Steven Stamkos, and Jakub Voracek.
The Blackhawks and Johnny Oduya want to get something worked out. Oduya’s contract request is not unreasonable. The Bruins are interested in Oduya. There Sabres were interested and the Stars are lurking around.
Teams could have been asking the Blackhawks for a draft pick or prospect in any Bryan Bickell and/or Patrick Sharp trade. The Capitals looked at Sharp, but decided to make the T.J. Oshie trade and to sign Justin Williams. One GM heard that a team brought up Teuvo Teravainen’s name.
No confirmation, but believe the Blackhawks final offer for Brandon Saad was five years and $25 million.
The Capitals could look to add another forward after they re-sign Braden Holtby and Marcus Johansson.
Surprised that Kevin Shattenkirk’s name appeared in the rumor mill. GM Doug Armstrong on how those rumors started: “The media. Every one of our players’ names was out there.”
There was talk that the Blues tried to acquire the Sharks 9th pick at the draft.
Contract talks between the Kings and Anze Kopitar have started, and the same can be said with the Flyers and Jakub Voracek. Voracek could be looking at $7 million or more.
Sources saying the Penguins-Maple Leafs Phil Kessel trade was dead 72 hours before it was made. The Penguins weren’t going to include Derrick Pouliot and the Leafs weren’t going to retain $2.5 million, then no to $2 million. At one point the agree to take on Rob Scuderi’s contract. There were denials that Chris Kunitz and his contract were talked about.
Penguins GM Jim Rutherford on Brandon Sutter.
“I’m not planning to move him. I like him. We have 10 guys who can play in our top nine — including Beau Bennett. But, we are up against the cap pretty good, so we’ll have to do something.”
One executive on Jared Cowen and his name in the rumor mill: “(Bryan Murray) doesn’t want to give up on him. Feels it’s too soon.”
One team asked the Oilers about Leon Draisaitl and were rebuffed.
The Oilers could look to buy out Nikita Nikitin when the next window opens up.
The Avalanche, Red Wings and Sharks all went hard after Andrej Sekera before the Oilers locked him up for six years.
Some think the Jets offered Michael Frolik a four-year, $16 million before he moved on. One team offered more than the Flames, with Friedman thinking it might have been the Devils.
Teams may be calling the Rangers about Kevin Klein, but they don’t want to go down that route. They may not want to move Keith Yandle either, but they may be stuck.
