Pierre LeBrun via twitter: An NHL GM told LeBrun that he heard that in the next CBA they’ll look to have the average of the five highest salaried years count against the cap. That’s one of several ideas that’s being tossed around.
Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: If Anton Stralman gets a ‘hefty’ salary from arbitration next Monday, the Blue Jackets may walk away from it. GM Scott Howson may start investigating other options, possibly Kevin Bieksa and Tomas Kaberle. There is a chance that the Blue Jackets could dangle Nikita Filatov as bait. For Bieksa they probably wouldn’t have to offer Filatov, a lesser prospect could work, unless the Canucks added more than Bieksa for Filatov. It’s not known if Filatov is the kind of player Burke is interested in. The Blue Jackets are reluctant to break up their top-6 forwards, which is what Burke covets for Kaberle.
NHLSourcesSay via twitter: Ryan Johnson and the Columbus Blue Jackets are closing in on a deal, 1 year between $850,000 and $900,000.
NHLSourcesSay via twitter: Sources saying that Los Angeles Kings are shopping Justin Williams and Jarret Stoll.
Michael Russo via twitter: Rumors that Nick Leddy could be heading back to the Blackhawks are untrue. Wild and Leddy are talking. In 2-3 weeks, it could be different though.