- Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: The Blue Jackets are thought to be the team that made an offer to the Coyotes for the 3rd overall pick. The Blue Jackets currently hold the 8th overall pick. GM Jarmo Kekalainen said last week that he was exploring the idea of moving up in the draft.It’s presumed that they are interested in defenseman Noah Hanifin.
Speculating on what the Blue Jackets were offering up. Would be the 8th overall and some combination of picks, prospects and roster players. The Blue Jackets have three second round picks – 34th, 38th and 58th – and have lots of forward prospects. Kerby Rychel has been in the rumor mill already this offseason.
- Eric Stephens of the OC Register: The Ducks and UFA winger Matt Beleskey will be going their separate ways as they couldn’t agree on a contract extension. GM Bob Murray said they made one last attempt with a “really good offer,” but it was rejected.
“We made an offer and they rejected it immediately,” Murray said, according to Sportsnet.ca. “So I don’t think there’s anything else happening there. I said that when we kept him at the trade deadline — that I doubted it was going to work — and they obviously feel they’re going to do a lot better.
“I’m very comfortable with the offer we made, we made a really good offer, and it’s just a part of hockey now.”
Talks had been progressing and the gap was shrinking, but a source said there hasn’t been any official communication since last Thursday. The Ducks weren’t prepared to go $5 million a season, something he might get on the open market.
Murray added that the window is still open to re-sign defenseman Francois Beauchemin before July 1st.
- Josh Yohe: Even with the Penguins potentially signing winger Sergei Plotnikov, they still aren’t done looking for top-six wingers. GM Rutherford is looking for four lines that can score. You need eight good wingers for that and there is much work to be done.
- Habs Links: Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin: “If you’re drafting @ bottom of the 1st rd + have a chance to move down & get 2 2nd rd picks, your chances of success increase”
- Craig Custance: Bruins GM Don Sweeney hasn’t ruled out trading the rights to Carl Soderberg. It’s believed that two teams are considering it.
- Scott Cullen: “An NHL GM is expressing concern about a system that encourages too much (!!) player turnover.”