Morning Hits: Melnyk Blames Barry And Is Losing $10 Million A Year, No Reason To Think Phaneuf Is Leaving
TSN: Senators owner Eugene Melnyk blames Daniel Alfredsson's agent, J.P. Barry, for him leaving the Sens. "For anyone to even suggest the remote possibility that Bryan Murray is not fully honest in his clear recollection of events should be ashamed of…
Free Agent Hits: Selanne, Kadri, Franson, Pominville and Cowen
Joe Yerdon of Pro Hockey Talk: A Finnish site is reporting that Teemu Selanne recently met with Ducks GM Bob Murray. Decision on if he'll play this season hasn't been decided yet. Sean Leahy of Yahoo! Sports: From a Eric…
Free Agent Hits: Nyquist, Franson, Kadri, Lundqvist, Petrell and Wellwood
Ansar Khan of MLive: After they re-sign Gustav Nyquist, the Red Wings will be over the salary cap and have 25 players under contract. Holland on Nyquist talks, “We've done a lot of talking in the last couple of weeks. I anticipate…
Free Agent Hits: Selanne, Kadri, Fransen, Tanev and Maxwell
Helene Elliott: Teemu Selanne is still deciding on whether to play next season or not. He is expected back in SoCal within the next 10 days to get his kids ready for school. Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun: There…
Morning Hits: Mitchell, Martinez, Lindholm, All-Star Game, Oldest and Youngest Teams and Avs Q&A
Brian Compton: Opening night was eight weeks away from last night. Dennis Bernstein: Bernstein thinks that if Willie Mitchell can remain healthy, the Kings could look to deal Alec Martinez to a team that incurs an injury to their blueline.…
Morning Hits: Pietrangelo, Maple Leafs, Omark, Nugent-Hopkins, LaRose, European development and drafting Russians
Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: The Blues and Alex Pietrangelo continue to negotiate and it's possible it could lead to a holdout. “There’s really nothing to report,” Armstrong said. “My belief is that it’s better to stay quiet until…
Morning Hits: Selanne, Lydman, Suri, Miller, Luongo and Liles
Adam Kimelman: Ducks GM Bob Murray on Teemu Selanne: "I want Teemu to play if he's 100-percent sure he wants to play. If he's sure he wants it bad, then we'll make it work, whatever I have to do.The only answer I…
Morning Hits: Maple Leafs, Sharks, Callahan, Seattle Expansion and Palffy
David Alter: Two days until the start of the non-compliance buyout period, August 2nd to 4th. There will be a 48 hour span where the Maple Leafs could buyout John-Michael Liles if they wish. If the Leafs bought out Liles,…
Free Agent Hits: Fraser, Zuccarello, Cuma, Kenins and Jorris
Greg Brady: The Maple Leafs signed defenseman Mark Fraser to a one-year deal worth $1.275 million avoiding arbitration. The Leafs now have eight NHL defenseman on their NHL roster at $18.75 million, with Cody Franson not included. Morgan Rielly and Jesse Blacker…
Morning Hits: Fraser, Sullivan, Cowen, Campoli, Hagman, Brent, Foster and Some Season Ticket Renewals
Lance Hornby: It is unlikely that Mark Fraser and the Maple Leafs will reach a deal before their arbitration today's hearing. There had been no contract in the past week as of yesterday morning. Chris Ribau of the Daily Press…
Quick Hits: Wild, Fraser, Hemsky, Franson, Kearns and Grebeshkov
Charly Walters of the Pioneer Press: (s/t Adrian Dater) Walters notes that a "little birdie" says that the Wild lost $30 million last season. Zach Parise and Ryan Suter had bonuses totaling $20 million. Darren Dreger: For Mark Fraser's arbitration…
Morning Hits: Franson, Gunnarsson, Tootoo, Hemsky and Armstrong
Steve Simmons: Cody Franson trade rumors don't make sense to Simmons unless the Maple Leafs started them in hopes of driving down his price. Paul Ranger was on an AHL deal last season and free to sign with anyone, at…