- Jonathan Willis of the Edmonton Journal: The Kings already have $60 million committed to 16 players for next season and they may have trouble signing five of their significant free agents. Willis wonders if the Oilers would be interested in any of them.Jarret Stoll – The ex-Oiler will be 33-years old in June. He plays tough minutes, but his offensive game has dried up. Stoll and Boyd Gordon as their bottom two centers could play tough defensive minutes, but could they get enough offense from their top-six?
Justin Williams – Another older free agent who plays a good two-way game. He comes with good analytic numbers and is known from being a clutch scorer. Wing is not a position of need though.
Andrej Sekera – He’s mobile and intelligent. He’ll be 29 in June and one of the only quality defenseman available in free agency this offseason.
Robyn Regehr – Will be turning 35 soon, but is still playing 20 minutes a game.
Jamie McBain – Hasn’t played much for the Kings, but could be a good cheap, veteran option for the Oilers.
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Asked Alex Ovechkin, hypothetically, if he could play for another team, would it be the Canadiens?
“Yeah, probably, if I would have a choice,” Ovechkin said. “The culture, the atmosphere, the city . . . If I wasn’t in Washington? Yes, here.”
Ovechkin stressed that he doesn’t plan on playing for a team other than the Capitals.
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Blue Jackets president John Davidson said they don’t plan tearing down the team to improve it.
“We’re not going to go out and get silly just because we missed the playoffs; we’re not going to start changing the texture of our hockey club,” John Davidson, president of hockey operations for the Jackets, told ESPN.com Monday. “We feel pretty strongly about this group. Going forward, we’re going to try to improve it, for sure, but we’re not going to tear it down to improve it.”
The Blue Jackets have 482 man games lost so far this season.
“We had up to 11 players missing at one time,” said Davidson. “It’s kind of like going to a gun fight with a knife.”
- Bob McKenzie: With the Kingston being swept in the first round, Sam Bennett will now go pro. The Flames will recall him, but it’s not known where they will assign him. Assigning him to Adirondack (AHL) is the most likely, but keeping him in Calgary is an option.
- Sports Illustrated: Nine college free agents who could be looking to sign NHL contracts: Matt O’Connor (G), Evan Rodrigues (W), Nick Saracino (F), Troy Stecher (D), Daniel Doremus (C), Drew Brevig (D),
Austin Czarnik (C), Hampus Gustafsson (C) andTanner Kero (C).