On Jiri Hudler …
New 1130 Sports: Have been told that free agent forward Jiri Hudler could sign a contract this week. The Vancouver Canucks are still in the mix for Hudler.
On the Zach Werenski …
Craig Merz of NHL.com: 19-year old defenseman Zach Werenski has a good chance of making the Columbus Blue Jackets this season.
“There’s a very good chance he makes our team and makes our team better,” Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said.
On the 2018 Winter Olympics …
Chris Kuc: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that the NHL won’t have serious talks about the 2018 Winter Olympics with the IIHF, IOC and NHLPA until the winter.
On Alexander Ovechkin …
Igor Eronko: @Boogaard is reporting that Alex Ovechkin has a lower-body injury and could miss the World Cup of Hockey.
Jared Clinton of The Hockey News: Two Russian media outlets have said that Ovechkin’s status for the tournament could be in jeopardy. Ovechkin’s said that there is no reason to worry.
“At the moment I continue to prepare for the season, the more so that this year we have an early start — in the national team, we have to participate in the World Cup,” Ovechkin said, per a rough translation of his statement through the RHF. “I train in the usual pre-season mode in the room and on the ice. I do not even know where (they) could take for my injury information. It is not in sight.”
A source told the Russian media outlet TASS that the injury was “muscle damage.”
Sergey Kocharov: Spoke with Ovechkin today who said there is no truth to the rumor that he is injured. He’s in Moscow and continues to train.
Gabrielle T-F: The Russian Hockey Federation denies the report that Ovechkin has a lower-body injury and could miss the World Cup of Hockey.