- Damien Cox of the Toronto Star: Brian Burke’s remodelling of the Toronto Maple Leafs will continue this off-season, and Cox expects them to keep spending this summer. The Leafs might have another college signing or 2, they’ve already signed 2 who are expected to play for the Marlies next year. There is interest in the Norwegian Hobbit, Mats Zuccarello-Aasen, as well as one or two other European free agents. The Leafs have around $6 million in cap space (though I think it will be less, depending on what their RFAs sign for), which could increase if Jeff Finger and his $3.5 million are shipped to the Marlies or elsewhere. The potential trading of Tomas Kaberle and his $4.25 could also create more space, or lessen it depending on what they get in return for him. UFAs they might look at are Raffi Torres, Eric Belanger, and Adam Burish.
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: The Stars Brad Richards contract expires after next season, and the Stars may be looking to lock him before the start of next season, to potentially avoid a Ilya Kovalchuk situtation. He currently has a cap hit $7.8 million, and would most likely sign for less. If some sort of agreement can’t be reached, they could look at dealing him. If they are able to re-sign Richards, they could use Mike Ribeiro and his $5 million salary as trade bait to bring in an offensive defenseman.
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Finnish free agent goalie Jussi Rynnas will be meeting with the Dallas Stars today. The 6-5 goalie posted a 14-13-1 record with a 2.50 GAA and .929 SV%.
- Chuck Gormley of the Courier Post: Braydon Coburn of the Philalphia Flyers is in the finals season of his 2 year, $2.6 million deal. The Flyers offered him an extension, but he turned it down and told them he’ll wait until the summer. Coburn is a RFA.
- Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: There is a good chance that both Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar will be back in the Penguins lineup Saturday afternoon versus the Thrashers.