Nichols' Notes

/

Martin Brodeur spoke with NorthJersey.com's Tom Gulitti concerning his future with the New Jersey Devils. The comments were largely much of the same that Brodeur has said for several months now, in that he'll fully test free agency to see what's out there. If he can play more, great. If not, he'll be with a team that has a "really good chance to win." Brodeur also reiterated his support for Cory Schneider being the starting goalie next season and wants the Devils to lock Schneider up for the long run. Plenty of pro-Jersey sentiments from Brodeur in the piece; past, present and future.

Brodeur did allude to his post-hockey thoughts.

“My plan in the future is to be part of this organization. By no means do I want to impair any kind of situation just because I want to play.”

He has a few places in mind in terms of free agency. He doesn't see backing up Carey Price with the Montreal Canadiens as one of them.

“It depends on the situation of the team,” he said. “Montreal would be tough. For me, I’m so used to being in the states and playing in the type of markets I’m used to playing in. But, again, I don’t know. That’s something that when we come to that bridge, we’ll go over it. But it’s something that, put it this way, they’re not too much on my radar.”

Edmonton Oilers GM Craig MacTavish chatted with Sportsnet.ca’s Mark Spector.

On the free agent market: We’re going to be active there.” 

Also: “We need a puck-moving defenceman.”

And: “We’d like to get a five-six defenceman who is a good penalty killer and good shut-down player.”

On the trade front: “We’re in the process now of making those phone calls. We’re a team that can take some salary, so we’re in that market too.”

MacTavish continues to show patience with the young core players. Good quotes in the article related to his mindset there.

Bob McKenzie joined Team 1040 Thursday afternoon. He said he if were the GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins, he'd hire either Marc Crawford or Mike Keenan. "This is what I call a closer situation."

Adam Larsson's agent, J.P. Barry, spoke with Tom Gulitti from NorthJersey.com. Contrary to rumor, the New Jersey Devils' defenseman has no intention of playing in Sweden next season. “We’re talking to Lou and just trying to figure out what his role would be for next year and what’s best for him developmentally,” Barry said. “I don’t know where that (the talk of him going to Sweden) came from.”

Also from that blog: Next season, Mattias Tedenby will play for Lev Praha (contract is “pretty much finalized”) in the KHL and Alexander Urbom (deal is done) will play for Severstal. Barry has quotes in the article on why this should be good for both players.

Following up on Chuck Gormley's report on Wednesday, which was included here, The Washington Post's Alex Prewitt relays that Washington Capitals GM Brian MacLellan maintains there have been "no discussions" about buying out Brooks Laich.

TVA's Renaud Lavoie was on Sportsnet 590 with Tim and Sid Thursday afternoon. He was asked to rank the following players in the order he thinks are most likely to get traded: Ryan Kesler, Dion Phaneuf and Jason Spezza. "Kesler is going to be traded for sure, that's No. 1. Phaneuf, not convinced at all. ...Spezza is going to be traded." Lavoie also brings up Vincent Lecavalier and Mike Richards as potential trade targets this summer. Lavoie had more on Spezza, which you can see here.

John Vogl with The Buffalo News points out that Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray has said it's a "very good possibility" the team and Ville Leino will be parting ways. With the NHL's buyout window set to open shortly, Leino's agent, Markus Lehto, had this to say: "I have had few very short discussions about Leino with Tim Murray."

A source with knowledge of the negotiations between the Boston Bruins and Jarome Iginla tells CSN's Joe Haggerty that the team has a focus on getting that particular contract done, so the other possible Bruins free agents are essentially on hold.

You might remember this article from the end of March though:

The Boston Herald reports the Bruins and Jarome Iginla have had preliminary talks on a contract extension, but the Bruins won't be in a position to make anything official until July 1.

“It’s a function of cap space and ongoing multiple-year contracts,” Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli said. “So it would have to wait ’til a minute after free agency begins. It’s an anti-inflationary thing. Basically it restricts you from going overboard on your future contracts. It prevents you from spending money you haven’t got.”

A hockey source also told Haggerty that the agent for UFA-to-be Shawn Thornton hadn't yet been approached by the Bruins.