- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Senators GM Bryan Murray confirmed that he sent Chris Phillips a contract extension offer as the 2 sides hope to get a deal done by Monday.
“Both sides are trying to get something done,” said Barry (agent JP Barry) Thursday night. “Talks are going well, we’re just going to keep talking.”
“We’ve made a proposal that we feel is more than fair,” said Murray. “They came back and talked to me a little differently. We haven’t talked (Thursday). I guess we’re waiting to get their reaction to what we want to have happen.
“He’s totally in control. Chris has been here a long time, he’s been involved in the community. He’s a good man and he’s a good player. He’s not had the year you would expect he would have, but we’ll have more discussions.”
If they can’t get a deal done, they’ll likely look for a 2nd round pick in a trade. Teams said to be in the market for a defenseman are Coyotes, Rangers, Sharks, Canadiens, Penguins, Canucks, Flames and Blackhawks.
- Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: The Penguins have lost defenseman Brooks Orpik for about 4 weeks with a broken finger in his right hand. Orpik blocked a Patrick Marleau shot on Wednesday.
- Terry Frei of the Denver Post: Avlanche defenseman Adam Foote is close to returning from his torn leg muscle that has kept him out the lineup for the last 8 games. He plans on going with the team on their 3 game road trip.
- John Vogl of the Buffalo News: Craig Rivet will be on re-entry waivfers in hope that someone will pick him up at 1/2 the salary, and there may be a few teams interested. There is about $828,000 remaining on Rivet’s salary, so a team that claimed him only have to pay about $414,000.