On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
- Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune: Lightning owner Jeff Vinik isn’t nervous that Steven Stamkos remains unsigned.
“I love watching the game, I love watching him perform, he’s a great athlete and I’m sure that process will work itself out in a good manner,’’ Vinik said.
Vinik added that he’s confident the GM Steve Yzerman and Stamkos will work it out and an extension will get done. Vinik is staying out of the process.
“Steven Stamkos is a great player, a great person but one of the reasons we have been successful with our hockey program is I let (general manager) Steve Yzerman run it,’’ Vinik said. “I let him choose the players, I let him do the contracts, so I think as long as I’m the owner here Steve Yzerman will be making those decisions.’’
On the Washington Capitals ..
- Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post: 36-year old and pending UFA Jason Chimera plans on continuing playing, and hopes it’s with the Capitals.
“I’ve stressed that to them that I want to be here and I don’t want to go anywhere else for sure,” Chimera said. “I don’t think it’s going to be my last year here, but if it is, you want to go on a good note. But I don’t think this is my last year in Washington. I want to be here, and I couldn’t think of playing anywhere else.”
On the Columbus Blue Jackets …
- Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 on Blue Jackets.
“No GM has tried harder to make a deal this year than Jarmo Kekalainen. He has really tried since they started badly to get something done and it’s just not happening.
“So I think it’s another situation that shows you how hard it is to make a deal here this year. He’s been trying and he can’t get it done, so I think the answer to your question is yes, they’d love to do something – even more than Anaheim – but… they’ve got a lot of guys with term. A lot of tough contracts.”