- Rich Chere via twitter: The Devils have 8 NHL caliber defenseman in training camp: Bryce Salvador, Andy Greene, Marek Zidlicky, Mark Fayne, Anton Volchenkov, Peter Harrold, Adam Larsson and Henrik Tallinder. They’ll be keeping 7 for sure, but GM Lou Lamoriello won’t say his plans beyond that, and won’t rush into anything.
“You have to go into training camp feeling good about your team, liking your team. If an opportunity comes, you take it. But you don’t force it,” he said.
- Brad Ziemer of the Vancouver Sun: The Canucks could start the season missing 2/3rd of their second line. Ryan Kesler is out, and David Booth has a groin issue.
“He tweaked his groin a little bit and we’re not quite sure how severe it is,” coach Alain Vigneault said.
Andrew Ebbett and Jordan Schroeder have been battling for the 2nd line center roll while Kesler is out. Ziemer notes “If Booth’s injury is serious, it’s a safe bet that general manager Mike Gillis — if he wasn’t already — will be seeking a player who could step in and play second-line minutes in any trade for Luongo.”
- Damien Cox via twitter: Cox questions Bozak, Kadri and a 2nd rounder for Luongo, “Wayyy to much.” No other teams would be willing to pay that price either.
- Pierre LeBrun via twitter: The Senators have some depth at forward, and possibly a shortage on the blueline. If GM Murray is to make a move for blueline help, it would likely come from their forward depth.
- Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: The Avalanche are still talking with Ryan O’Reilly, and sources say they are not attempting to trade him. The Avs have offered a 2 year deal worth $7 million, the same deal as Matt Duchene signed in the summer. O’Reilly turned down a 5 year, $17 million contract in the summer. O’Reilly is looking for something in the $5 million range. He’s using comparables like David Krejci ($5.25 million) and Evander Kane ($5.25 million). The toughest comparable for O’Reilly is teammate Duchene. O’Reilly led the Avs in scoring last year with 55 points, and is one of the better defensive centers.
- Todd Cordell via twitter: From Elliotte Friedman: “Now that Volchenkov is healthy, opponents believe the Devils are searching for a partner with a forward to trade.”
- Todd Cordell via twitter: Pierre LeBrun said on TSN, that in the end he thinks Devils GM Lou Lamoriello will use some of their depth on the blueline to trade for a forward or possibly grabbing someone off waivers.
- Todd Cordell via twitter: LeBrun on TSN said that the Blackhawks kicked tires on Kings Jonathan Bernier in the summer.
- Elliotte Friendman of CBC: Would pending UFA Corey Perry want to play closer to parents who live in Ontario? Someone outside the Maple Leafs organization wondered if Bruke was reluctant to include Nazem Kadri in a Luongo trade in case Perry or Getzlaf become available. With the salary cap at $70.2 million this year, and $64.3 million, there is less pressure on the Canucks to move Luongo for cap reasons. Oilers GM Steve Tambellini said there is “nothing there” to rumors they are shopping Ales Hemsky for a defenseman. The Rangers were asking the Blackhawks about Niklas Hjalmarsson.
