Insider Trading

Darren Dreger, Pierre LeBrun and Bob McKenzie with TSN's Insider Trading:

LeBrun on contract talks between Columbus Blue Jackets, Ryan Johansen's camp: "They are nowhere close." 

McKenzie on health of Nathan Horton: Expectation is he'll miss all of training camp and into the regular season.

Dreger on Bruins' RFAs: "There's no interest in trading either Krug or Reilly Smith from the Bruins' perspective. There might be some interest. But Boston is in the market and ready to do some wheeling and dealing. Nothing imminent, but most teams are calling about Johnny Boychuk, so it makes sense that Pete Chiarelli, the GM for the Boston Bruins, would consider moving out a defenseman. But it doesn't have to be Johnny Boychuk. Maybe it ends up being Bartkowski. Maybe it's Seidenberg. Maybe it's McQuaid. But it all depends on the evaluation of the Boston Bruins in this preseason. Chiarelli first wants to make sure that he has someone ready to step into the NHL game and maybe it's not a defenseman at all. It might be a center. It could be a winger as well."

McKenzie on Ryan Ellis and the Nashville Predators: They've been working on a short-term deal.

LeBrun on Jaden Schwartz and the St. Louis Blues: "About a half a million a year is what remains" between the two sides. Blues have gone to north of $2 million with the last offer. Newport would like $2.6 million.

Dreger on Daniel Alfredsson's health: "The sense is he's not really willing to drag it much beyond late October or into November." Told he's willing to try it at least one more time.

McKenzie: Quiet on the trade front right now. Chicago Blackhawks have cap issues and Nick Leddy's name has been around all summer long. May have to take Kris Versteeg to get him. St. Louis Blues would like to move Jordan Leopold. If Pittsburgh Penguins need cap room, maybe Rob Scuderi's name is going to get out there. Ottawa Senators have excess defencemen, over and above Marc Methot. 

LeBrun: Jonathan Drouin's injury doesn't change anything. Tampa Bay Lightning will still give him the full nine-game look once he's healthy. "My betting is that he will make the Lightning."

Source: TSN/Transcript, Notes: Nichols on Hockey

(More coming)