Tim Campbell of the Winnipeg Free Press: Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd said their hasn’t been any progress to report on a contract extension, but he’s optimistic from his side of things.
“No update,” Ladd said on the contract question. “I had that question before I got off the plane. I’m sure I’ll be hearing a lot more in the weeks to come.”
Ladd is scheduled to be a UFA after this season.
“I just like the direction we’re headed, the group that we have first and foremost,” Ladd said. “I thought we dealt with a lot last year and played a lot of our best hockey with some key guys out of the lineup, which is a good sign of strong team that has great structure and a good coach.
“I think all the things add up. I love our ownership. Chevy (GM Kevin Cheveldayoff) has done a great job of setting us up and I think everyone’s made their point of how much they enjoy Paul (Maurice, coach) here so a lot of things are adding up and I think we’re heading in the right direction and I want to be part of it.”
Ladd would like to get a new deal done before the start of the season.
“I think it would probably be nicer to get it done before the year. I think at that point, especially in a market like this, there are questions every day. So it would be nice to move past it at some point.”
Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News & Observer: Both Eric Staal and Cam Ward will head into the final season of their contracts, and talks between their agent, Rich Curran, and GM Ron Francis have been amicable but with no resolution.
“We’re comfortable letting this go down the road a little bit,” Francis said Tuesday.
Francis said the franchise’s uncertainty isn’t hampering negotiations. The Hurricanes have done little this offseason. Owner Peter Karmanos is still looking for a buyer.
Karmanos said last fall that he’d like to sell some or all of the team, but wants to continue to run Hurricanes. One group considered making a bid, but backed out as Karmanos didn’t want to give up control of the team.
“We’ve entertained some people here, but as we sit here right now, there’s nobody I can identify and say it’s a strong group to buy the team or a piece of it from Mr. Karmanos,” Waddell said Tuesday.
There have been rumors linking the Hurricanes to Quebec City. The NHL has been against relocation. Expansion would make the owners $1 billion. The Hurricanes aren’t the only candidate that could be relocated, but they are the only one that is for-sale at the moment.
“It’s a process,” Waddell said. “Ideally, as (Karmanos) has said, he’d like to start an exit strategy but it’s not a desperation sale. He doesn’t need to sell it. He’s 72 years old and he wants to have a succession plan.”
