- Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago: Marcus Kruger signed a cap friendly one-year, $1.5 million contract, and agent J.P. Barry is hopeful that the Blackhawks will reward Kruger for that in the future.
“The reality is you do the deal now,” Barry said by phone on Monday. “Everybody knows, Chicago knows, he wants to be there. He wants to continue the discussion of a long-term deal. There’s a lot of good faith. From our standpoint, the strategy now is for Chicago to work hard to open up cap room and do an extension later this year.”
Kruger had been wanting a long-term deal.
“Right now he can’t do a long-term deal with them,” Barry said. “If we did, he could become of the tradeable ones.”
- Tom Gulitti of The Record: The Devils were one of the five teams that talked Jiri Tlusty about a PTO according to a source. Tlusty is stlil holding out for NHL contract. Tlusty’s agent said it’s possible that one of the teams that offered a PTO …
“is possibly going to make an offer (of a contract), but that team has cap problems.” Curran added that two other teams were considering making contract offers, as well.
- Matthew Sekeres: Canucks GM Jim Benning said he’s prepared to cut bait with a veteran player if a younger player earns a spot on the team.
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: The Board of Governors will meet on Sept. 29th, but the league may not be ready for any expansion recommendations just yet. It’s likely that Las Vegas and Quebec City will present something to the board. The board will meet again in December, so a recommendation could come then.
- Terry Frei of the Denver Post: The Avalanche have yet to offer 2014 first round pick Connor Bleackley an entry-level contract.
“They told me to come ready to work,” Bleackley, 19, said after a 90-minute on-ice work. “Hopefully I can earn it here in camp. I’m looking forward to it.”
Even if he does get a contract, it seems likely that the Avs will return him to Red Deer of the WHL.