- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: The Senators put all contract talks with their free agents for the past two months to focus on their playoff run. The Sens have about $57 million committed to 18 players for next season. RFAs that need new contracts include: Alex Chiasson, Mika Zibanejad, Mark Stone, Mike Hoffman and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. They may not have room to re-sign UFA Erik Condra. They have goalies Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner under contract for next year, with Andrew Hammond likely to test the open market to see what he could get. With Lehner concussion concerns, it make sense that they resist calls on Anderson. The Senators are also looking to sign college free agent goalie Matt O’Connor. They will look to make some offseason trades, with Jared Cowen and his $3.1 million cap hit (two-years left) likely the odd man out. Several teams called for Cowen at the trade deadline, but they didn’t want to move him at the time. The Sens will either trade Colin Greening, buy him out or send him to the AHL. They also have to decide on David Legwand who has one-year left at $3 million. Daniel Alfredsson could join the team in some front office capacity.
- Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen: Senators Mark Stone and Mika Zibanejad will be looking for significant raises. Jean-Gabriel Pageau will be looking for a one-way contract. Colin Greening is buyout candidate. Have to decide on what to do with Chris Neil and David Legwand. They’d like to re-sign Erik Condra, but may not have the room. Matt Puempel is expected to push for a roster spot. The Sens already have eight defensemen under contract for next season, including Chris Phillips who hopes to be ready for training camp. A trade involving a goaltender is a possibility this offseason.
- David Staples of the Edmonton Journal: Going off of Damien Cox’s comments that GM Peter Chiarelli and the Oilers might be interested in Dion Phaneuf. Bob Stauffer last spring and summer when the Phaneuf and Oilers rumors came up.
“I think the Leafs would move Phaneuf; I’m not sure the Oilers want to add on that extra money right now.”
Same holds now with the big contracts of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall, and the long-term deals of Mark Fayne and Benoit Pouliot. Add that Justin Schultz, Nail Yakupov, Darnell Nurse and Leon Draisaitl would be looking for big, long-term deals during the time in which Phaneuf is under contract for. The 29-year old Phaneuf has six-years left on his deal with a cap hit of $7 million. The Leafs would have to retain a nice portion of the contract to make it fit for the Oilers. Doubtful the Leafs would retain 50 percent of the contract. The Leafs will likely be looking for a team to take on the entire contract. He would help the Oilers blueline, the salary cap number is the issue.
- Alan Strachan: Phaneuf can pick his spot and only wanted the Red Wings at the deadline, but Wings GM Ken Holland doesn’t want him.
- TSN Drive: Darren Dreger: “I think Sheldon Keefe will be part of the Maple Leafs organization in some capacity next year.”
