- Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer: Hurricanes Jeff Skinner has heard his name in the rumor mill for awhile now.
“There’s not much I can do about it,” Skinner said. “You hear all the talk, all the rumors. It’s tough to build expectations because anything can happen. You look at all the deals leading up to the draft and at the draft, and lot of it you didn’t see coming.
“I’m here, I love it here. I think in the summer when you hear all that stuff, that’s all it is – just talk. You can’t really do anything about it. You just focus on getting better.”
Skinner has four years left on his contract at $6 million a season. Skinner noted that he had been in contact with his agent Rick Curran several times throughout the offseason to see what was going on. Skinner doesn’t have a no-trade clause.
- Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News: Harrington asked Gary Bettman on Wednesday if there was an update on Patrick Kane and what the league might do, with Bettman saying they will make their decisions at “the appropriate time.”On Thursday Elliotte Friedman reported that some of his sources suspected the Sabres talked to the Lightning about Steven Stamkos before the draft. Harrington asked Sabres GM Tim Murray about it, and of course he didn’t want to say much. He did say that the Lightning were one of the teams that asked about the No. 2 pick. All teams that inquired were told not to bother mentioning names as Murray wasn’t interested in trading the pick. Other sources insist the Sabres were possibly thinking about what else they might be able to do to get Stamkos, but also had issue with if they would be able to sign him.
- Damien Cox of Sportsnet: Cox on Steven Stamkos and the Maple Leafs.
The pull of Toronto for Stamkos has to be considerable, and it’s only going to increase the longer he goes without signing a contract.
The Bolts could trade him, sure, but with everyone in the hockey world knowing Toronto will do anything to sign him next summer, it would be most difficult to get maximum value for him.
Again, this could all end tomorrow with the stroke of a pen. But it hasn’t yet. He knows Toronto wants him, and seeing him embrace his hometown this summer had to be disconcerting for Lightning fans hoping he’ll stay with the team.
- Renaud Lavoie: Jiri Tlusty has rejected five PTOs as he wants a NHL contract. He has KHL options.