- Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: There has been no indication that a Steven Stamkos – Tampa Bay Lightning contract extension is close.
“It’s been kind of the same for the past couple weeks, it hasn’t effected me,” said Stamkos, entering the final season of his contract. “You get the questions, I give the answer and that’s all I think about it the rest of the day. I’m just as excited as anyone to get things going.”
Stamkos added that there is no deadline to cut off contract talks. Stamkos has a full no-movement clause.
“Everything is the same,” Stamkos said. “We’ll see what happens in the next couple days or next couple of weeks there, whatever it is. It’s not changing the way I come to the rink.”
- Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: Any team that called the Islanders about then unsigned Brock Nelson were told that he wasn’t available. The Islanders had offered Nelson a seven-year contract at some point. There were rumors that Islanders had been offering two years with a total round $2.5 to $2.7 million, which the Islanders denied. He signed for three-years and $7.5 million.The Kings told Drew Doughty at his exit meeting that they wanted to drop his minutes from 29 to 25.Sounding like the Kings and Anze Kopitar’s camp are serious about getting a deal done before the start of the season.The Islanders looked at adding Marek Zidlicky this summer. He’s not going there. A couple of teams are considering him.
Some executives think the Devils could be an ‘under-the-radar’ team to make an interesting move or two. The Devils have the cap room to go along with five to seven open contract slots.
Back in July, Canucks GM Jim Benning said that he could have traded goalie Ryan Miller, with the Sharks as the likeliest team.
- Andy Strickland: Have been told that the Avalanche and Erik Johnson have been talking contract extension.
- Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch: There have been some whispers among agents and some management who attended the prospect tournament in Traverse City that the Blue Jackets are in trade talks with teams that are looking for forwards. GM Jarmo Kekalainen has stated he believes in his defense, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t upgrade. A trade may become more likely if one or more of their young prospects like Josh Anderson, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Sonny Milano and Kerby Rychel show that they are NHL ready.
