Nichols' Notes
/Related: Nichols' Notes (Weekend) Related: Trade Watch: Jason Spezza Edition
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On the trade front, Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher tells Chad Graff of The Pioneer Press that "I would say I'm receiving more calls than dialing right now.”
Fletcher isn’t likely to make big changes.
"That's not to say we won't make a trade," Fletcher said. "We're looking at options in free agency. Certainly, there's a lot of (unrestricted free agents) that may be attractive to us as we get into the shopping period. ... So, I don't know that we're a team that's going to make a lot of moves. But we'll see; you never know."
The article notes Cody McCormick and Clayton Stoner are the most likely of the team's seven UFAs to re-sign.
An update on the contract thoughts of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews comes from the Chicago Blackhawks' captain himself, via Chris Kuc of The Tribune. Kane and Toews are hoping to sign their extensions together and are eligible to do so as early as July 1.
"We've been kind of going hand-in-hand almost our entire careers," Toews said. "When we came in as rookies we've just been included in the same discussion for a lot of things — namely our second contract and probably this time again. The chances of that are good. But at the end of the day he has got his own needs and his own family, and you have to respect that as well."
Michigan Live's Ansar Khan has thoughts from Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland on Daniel Alfredsson, but also notes Holland plans to speak with the agents for RFAs Tomas Tatar, Danny DeKeyser and Riley Sheahan at the draft.
The Washington Post's Alex Prewitt details Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin's thoughts on his initial interactions with new bench boss Barry Trotz.
No. 8 knows his relationship with the coach is important.
“Of course," said Ovechkin. "It’s a situation where he’s going to tell me what he wants me to do and I’m going to listen to him. That’s it.”
Aaron Portzline has the rundown of the R.J. Umberger and Jarmo Kekalainen reactions to today's trade between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers with Scott Hartnell going the other way.
"I'm excited, yes," Kekalainen said. "We had a player who didn't want to play here and had asked to be moved, so that was money on the sidelines for us. Now we've got a real good player and we have clarity to the situation. We know what we look like heading into these next two weeks, which makes it easier to proceed."
CSN's Tim Panaccio has the Hartnell side of the equation.
Colorado Avalanche coach Patrick Roy and RFA Ryan O'Reilly are quoted in the latest offering from The Denver Post's Adrian Dater. Roy remains confident things will go well with O'Reilly and UFA Paul Stastny. O'Reilly said he still loves it in Colorado.
Sources tell Chicago Sun-Times writer Mark Lazerus that Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman is at least pondering a major move at the draft this weekend. Nothing specific mentioned aside from the second line center issue, which leads to speculation in the article about Ryan Kesler, Jason Spezza, Joe Thornton and Paul Stastny. Patrick Sharp's name is mentioned on the Hawks' side of things in the piece.
Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland tells Helene St. James of The Detroit Free Press that he and Daniel Alfredsson spoke Monday, where the veteran revealed "he wants to play again." The two sides will speak again this week with Alfredsson's back health being a central issue for the winger.
Tribune-Review's Josh Yohe relays the news from Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford that UFAs Matt Niskanen and Jussi Jokinen will likely play elsewhere next season.
“I've talked with them,” Rutherford said. “I think both players would like to return. But they're also coming off good years. It's time for them to hit free agency and get their big contracts. With that being said, we'll see what happens leading up to free agency.”
Yohe indicates Rutherford declined comment on UFA Brooks Orpik. A coaching update is also included in the article, as well as Rutherford's thoughts on potentially trading the team's first round pick (22nd overall).
Edmonton Oilers defensive prospect Darnell Nurse joined Bob Stauffer on CHED Monday afternoon.
What’s been the biggest area of improvement over the course of the past calendar year for Darnell Nurse?
“I think for me it’s definitely been, you know, the little plays. Reading rushes, and my play on the rush playing defensively. I think, you know, obviously coming out of camp last year is something where I was trying to – instead of letting the game come to me, I was trying to go outside the dots on the rush or make bad reads. But I think the biggest thing was just buckling down and watching a lot of video and just knowing when to go and when to stay. We always had the green light in Sault Ste. Marie to, you know, whenever you get the puck you can go and try to make a play. You know, just finding the right time to jump into the play and when to stay back and become the fourth guy.”
On if he has to pick his spots to get physically involved and have scraps:
“Yeah, that was a big thing for me. I could get emotional at times and when you get ran a few times in a game sometimes you just want to take out your frustrations and grab a guy, but it’s something I had to learn really early on – when to go and when to stay and really just calm yourself down and lead on the ice.”
Tampa Bay Times writer Joe Smith updates the Ryan Callahan contract situation with quotes from agent Steve Bartlett regarding the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"It's at a critical stage where we have to find a way to close the gap," Bartlett said, indicating the progress has been made in the past few weeks, but that an agreement didn't appear close. Bartlett spoke well of Yzerman and the Lightning, noting "We're never going to close the door on Tampa."
The Star-Ledger’s Rich Chere observes it hasn’t been without its hiccups, but the torch has been passed in the nets of the New Jersey Devils from Martin Brodeur to Cory Schneider.
“We’re going forward. Cory is the goalie of the future for this team,” general manager Lou Lamoriello said Monday.
Does Lamoriello feel as good about his goaltending acquisition as when he landed Schneider at last year’s draft?
“Yes, without question,” the GM said. “We feel even more strongly about that after having him here firsthand.
“We’ve been so lucky to have Marty Brodeur for so long. With Marty’s personality and ability, players wanted to play in front of him. Same with Cory. We had enough information on Cory from his past, but when you live it and see it firsthand, it endorses your feeling.”
Via Elliotte Friedman's 30 Thoughts: The Vancouver Canucks have definitely made an offer for the Florida Panthers' first overall pick and it does not include Ryan Kesler. Friedman also indicates that Kesler's accepted trade list includes the Anaheim Ducks.
Same article, Carolina Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters said he sees Eric Staal as a center to start.
Friedman also says he's hearing Kris Letang will not be traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins, barring a ridiculous offer.
Sources tell Jeremy Rutherford of The Post-Dispatch that the St. Louis Blues have checked on the availability of Ottawa Senators centre Jason Spezza and Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks, among others. The Blues are believed to have made their interest in the former well-known, according to the article, while they've also held discussions with the Canucks regarding Kesler.
“I think now we’ve elevated ourselves onto the majority of the players’ lists,” GM Doug Armstrong said. “I’m sure we’re not on some players’ lists, but that’s OK. We only want players that want to be here, anyway.”
Free agency is also a possibility.
“There will be players available, but where do they want to play? What’s important to them?” Armstrong asked. “Is it just the economics, or is it the economics combined with winning?”
Plenty of quotes from Armstrong in that article on both trades and free agency. Good stuff.
With the Sabres holding the No. 2 overall pick at the draft, John Vogl of The Buffalo News profiles prospect Sam Bennett, including his inability to do an overhand pull-up at the combine.
“It was just the wrong time to get zero,” Bennett said. “I guess that’s how people are labeling me right now. There’s nothing I can really do about it, except for work hard in the gym and get better.
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger in the end. To experience this at a young age maybe helps me get through something when I’m older.”
Trade rumours concerning Winnipeg Jets winger Evander Kane are always in season, but Free Press writer Ed Tait makes the case that Kane is well worth keeping - whether you like him or not.
New Jersey Devils GM Lou Lamoriello told Rich Chere of The Star-Ledger this on the subject of Martin Brodeur, who had already said he'd test free agency but hadn't ruled out coming back to the Devils in a back-up role to Cory Schneider.
"Marty has made his decision," Lamoriello said. "Quite frankly, I'm not going to make it a difficult topic."
Does he have any intention of re-signing Brodeur?
"No one rules anything out."
Lamoriello also told The Star-Ledger it was unlikely he'd use the team's remaining compliance buyout.
Star Tribune writer Michael Russo's latest notebook indicates sources say Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher has been shopping Kyle Brodziak. He has one year remaining on his current contract. Niklas Backstrom is also reportedly being made available, with the Wild potentially willing to retain salary and cap space in that deal. Backstrom has two seasons remaining on his contract.
Fletcher was working the phones last week.
“Everyone calls everybody,” the Wild GM said. “You don’t see a whole bunch of trades the week prior to the draft. It’s all about trying to figure out who your likely dance partners can be the week at the draft. It’ll take a move or two to get the ball rolling, and then there’s usually a domino-type effect. We’re not there yet.”