On the Jets …
- Tim Campbell of the Winnipeg Free Press: Campbell wonders if having so many players as pending free agents is playing a role in the Jets mediocre record, 10-11-2. Drew Stafford (who is not a pending UFA) said that is not the case.
“No, we haven’t brought that up at all,” Stafford said. “Nobody’s talking about that at all.
“It’s going to be out there in the media and we try our best to ignore the noise as much as possible and just focus on proving ourselves as a hockey club. We have more important things to worry about and that’s finding ways to get better and that starts with our defensive game.”
The Jets have held contract extension talks with Andrew Ladd, but a deal is not believed to be imminent.
Dustin Byfuglien’s camp said recently that contract negotiations haven’t even started.
Pending RFAs include Jacob Trouba, Mark Scheifele, Adam Lowry and Michael Hutchinson.
Some think that if they re-sign Ladd and Byfuglien, it won’t be possible to re-sign all of their young players. It appears that they want to get Ladd signed to an extension first.
GM Kevin Cheveldayoff hasn’t commented on the Travis Hamonic request to play closer to his home in Manitoba.
On the Oilers and Predators …
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: The Oilers shouldn’t think of trading Ryan Nugent-Nopkins for a top defenseman just yet. If teams call the Oilers this summer about him, they should listen, especially if it’s the Predators who are calling.The Predators are deep on the blueline and could use a top line center.
The Predators won’t trade Roman Josi, who might be as good as Shea Weber right now.
The Predators have said they won’t trade Shea Weber, but scouts think that may not be the case. Weber carries a $7.852 million cap hit for another 10 years. He will have a $12 million salary next year and the year after, but then drops to $6 million for the next four year. Weber doesn’t have a no-trade clause.