On the New York Rangers …
Aaron Ward: Chris Kreider is asking for $4.75 million in salary arbitration, with the Rangers offering $3.2 million.
Brian Compton: Not sure that the Rangers and Kreider can get a deal done before their arbitration hearing. The Rangers have history of getting deals done before hearings, but it is a tough one with Kreider.
Shawn Simpson: Jaden Schwartz’s five-year contract with a $5.3 million salary cap hit with the Blues could be a good comparable for Mika Zibanejad and the Rangers next offseason.
On the Colorado Avalanche …
Tim Wharnsby: Mikhail Grigorenko is asking for $1.65 million in salary arbitration, with the Avs offering $950,000.
On the Minnesota Wild …
Michael Russo: Jordan Schroeder cleared waivers today. He is still a group II restricted free agent. Schroeder and the Wild have an arbitration hearing scheduled for July 27th.
On Las Vegas …
Steve Carp: Las Vegas GM George McPhee said they haven’t hired anyone for their hockey operations staff yet. He is talking to a lot of people though.
On the Washington Capitals and Marcus Johansson …
Isabelle Khurshudyan: The Washington Capitals and Marcus Johansson agreed to a three year contract worth $13.75 million three minutes before their arbitration hearing.
Johansson will be make $4.25 million this year, and $4.75 million in the final two years of his deal.
The Capitals have about $3.45 million in salary cap space and they still need to re-sign Dmitry Orlov.
“I don’t think anyone wants to go to arbitration; that’s kind of a last resort,” Johansson said on a teleconference. “I love it in Washington, and my whole family does. We’re really happy to stay there. I don’t have any complaints about being in Washington. I love the guys and the fans and the whole organization. I’m really happy that we could work something out to be able to stay for three more years.”