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Will offer sheets start to come? Rumors surrounding Kovalchuk
Mark Easson
Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: With the lack of depth in the NHL Free Agent market, teams may send out an offer sheets to improve their club. Some possible restricted free agents are Bobby Ryan, Marc Staal, Steve Downie, Sam Gagne, and David Perron. The Boston Bruins are now able to negotiate contract extensions for Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron, both are entering the last year of their contract. Chara is making $7.5 million and would probably be looking for something similar. The Bruins could offer him a front loaded deal to bring down the cap number. Bergeron has a cap number of $4.7 million, and probably would get a deal with a similar number.
Helene Elliot of the LA Times: The LA Kings could still use a productive winger, and an experienced top 4 defenseman, but with not much remaining in the free agent group, the Kings could turn to trades or possibly an offer sheet.
Mark Everson of the NY Post: Devils GM Lou Lamoriello continues to pursue Ilya Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk would probably reject any offer below $8 million, and Kings may not have wanted to go over that number. The Devils may not want to go over $8 million as well. The Isles could be offering $10 million for 10 years.
Tom Gulitti of NorthJersey.com: A report out of Russia said that the Flyers offered Kovalchuk a deal, his Russian agent denied the report that he said that.
Elliotte Friedman via Twitter: The Kings made their biggest offer to Kovalchuk without jeopardizing Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson extensions.
Larry Brooks via Twitter: “Kings rule out Kovalchuk. In other news, Yanks refuse to sign A-Rod after he opts out. Oh. Wait.”
Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The Penguins are thinking about shifting Jordan Staal or Evgeni Malkin over to the wing. The Pens would then need to add a 3rd line center. Potential candidates could be: Rob Niedermayer, Dominic Moore, Jeff Halpern, John Madden, and Ryan Johnson.
Ryan Rishaug via Twitter: Oilers have inquired about Rob Niedermayer, he’d consider them if offered a contract.