- Allan Muir of SI.com: Muir lists some players who could be traded this year: Bobby Ryan, Marc Methot, Adam McQuaid, Ryan Ellis, Mike Green, Joel Ward, Antoine Vermette, Dustin Byfuglien, Nick Leddy, Lubomir Visnovsky, Casey Cizikas and David Desharnais.
- Steve Zipay of Newsday: The Rangers and Marc Staal continue to talk contract extension.
“You want to avoid that type of situation,” Staal, 27, a first-round draft choice of the Rangers in 2005, said Friday. “I don’t think it’s helpful to anyone. Hopefully we can find some common ground and move on. Right now, it’s open dialogue.”
Staal could be looking for Dan Girardi type money (six-years and $33 million).
- Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago: Blackhawks defenseman Johnny Oduya knows the rumors are there.
“I know it’s there. Everybody does. But I try not to worry about it too much,” he said Friday following the Blackhawks’ first day of training camp. “For me, I want to focus on being here and performing and working hard. That’s why I’m here.”
“It’s something we know that’s there. On the other hand, everyone’s focused on getting in good shape and competing here in training camp. That’s what I try to focus on,” he said. “Whatever goes on outside of that, I can’t control. For me, (it’s) getting in as good a shape as possible, hockey-wise. After that, I really can’t control it.”
- Hope Smoke: Bob McKenzie: “I know Bowman was trying all summer to trade Leddy.” … “Leddy is a guy teams are interested in. Versteeg was a name going around, but the market doesn’t really exist for him.” … “Maybe they need to package Versteeg and throw in a good prospect to incentivize it so a team will take on his deal.”
- Hope Smoke: Ray Ferraro: “Name that was bandied about earlier in the summer was Oduya. Quenneville’s a big fan of Oduya & doesn’t want him going anywhere” … “He’s part of that top 4 for them & they’re more likely to move Leddy.” … “I think it’s more likely a D will move.”
- Hope Smoke: Bob McKenzie: “The Bruins are going to move a D whether it’s one or two. Boychuk, Barkowski and McQuiad are possibilities.”
- Aaron Portzline: There was no communication between the Blue Jackets and Ryan Johansen’s agent yesterday.
- Brad Ziemer: Canucks GM Jim Benning and head coach Willie Desjardins said that they could start the season with three goaltenders.
- David Pollak: Sharks Patrick Marleau suggested that maybe Brent Burns should remain at forward and not move back to the blueline.