Courtesy of: http://www.spectorshockey.net
The latest from ESPN.com, the Edmonton Journal and the Ottawa Sun.
ESPN.COM: Pierre LeBrun and Scott Burnside reports sources claim the LA Kings will make a pitch for forward Ilya Kovalchuk when the UFA market starts on July 1st. They attempted unsuccessfully to acquire his rights from the New Jersey Devils. The Kings might also take a run at signing Dan Hamhuis if the Penguins fail to re-sign him. They like Toronto's Tomas Kaberle but the Maple Leafs want a top-six forward in return...Kaberle and Sergei Gonchar could be attractive options for the Devils if they lose Paul Martin to free agency...The Leafs could find more interest in Kaberle once the best free agent defensemen are signed...The Phoenix Coyotes are running out of time to re-sign defensemen Zbynyk Michalek and Derek Morris plus forwards Matthew Lombardi and Lee Stempniak. GM Dan Maloney said he was more optimistic a month ago about retaining them...The Buffalo Sabres are also running out of time in their attempts to retain Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder.
SPECTOR'S NOTE: Kovalchuk's been long linked to the Kings and it wouldn't be shocking if he signs with them on Thursday. If that happens however I don't expect they'll still go after an expensive UFA blueliner...I expect Kaberle to be dealt but probably not until the first full week in July at the earliest...Still enough time left for the Coyotes and Sabres to re-sign those players but most if not all will probably hit the open market, where given the lack of quality depth they could possibly attract more attention and thus bigger contracts than they might've had in previous UFA markets.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson reports Kings GM Dean Lombardi is lukewarm about pursuing Ilya Kovalchuk but team president Tim Lieweke believes he'd be good for marketing...The Blues are working on a new contract for Jaroslav Halak, probably in the $4 million range...With the Oilers acquisition of Colin Fraser last week Ryan Potulny's days with the club could be numbered. He's yet to receive a qualifying offer from the club...Agent Don Baizley said client Teemu Selanne is working out as though he intends to return next season but hasn't heard from him yet about his plans...Marty Turco would likely go to the San Jose Sharks for a one-year, $3 million contract...The Washington Capitals can't afford Anton Volchenkov but they might have interest in Vancouver's Willie Mitchell if he's healthy.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Sharks have had discussions with the Bruins regarding Tim Thomas but are likely to pursue Marty Turco once he becomes a UFA...Don't be surprised if Ray Whitney lands in Tampa Bay as he'd be a good veteran presence on the Lightning, possibly on a two-year deal worth $3.5 million per...Minnesota Wild tried unsuccessfully to land Patrice Bergeron or David Krejci from Boston, while the Panthers aren't willing to part with Stephen Weiss...The Blackhawks aren't done dealing and are believed shopping winger Kris Versteeg...The Lightning might also be in the mix for Evgeni Nabokov's negotiating rights...the Ducks aren't sure what to do about Bobby Ryan...
SPECTOR'S NOTE: The Sharks are familiar with Turco having played against him quite a lot in the Western Conference so it wouldn't surprise me if he signed with them... The Lightning need a starting goalie and more defensive depth, not another scoring forward, so I'll be surprised if Whitney lands there. They've already got enough "veteran presence" with St. Louis, Lecavalier, Malone and Ohlund...Bergeron, Krejci and Weiss aren't available...While Chicago GM Stan Bowman claims that currently there's no need to make another salary dumping trade that'll probably change once he starts re-signing players like Niemi and Hjalmarsson...If the Bolts took a pass on Thomas because he's too expensive for their tastes I daresay they'll do the same with Nabokov. I still have a feeling either Mason or Ellis joins the Lightning this summer...Ducks management are apparently confident they'll get Ryan re-signed.
The latest from ESPN.com, the Edmonton Journal and the Ottawa Sun.
ESPN.COM: Pierre LeBrun and Scott Burnside reports sources claim the LA Kings will make a pitch for forward Ilya Kovalchuk when the UFA market starts on July 1st. They attempted unsuccessfully to acquire his rights from the New Jersey Devils. The Kings might also take a run at signing Dan Hamhuis if the Penguins fail to re-sign him. They like Toronto's Tomas Kaberle but the Maple Leafs want a top-six forward in return...Kaberle and Sergei Gonchar could be attractive options for the Devils if they lose Paul Martin to free agency...The Leafs could find more interest in Kaberle once the best free agent defensemen are signed...The Phoenix Coyotes are running out of time to re-sign defensemen Zbynyk Michalek and Derek Morris plus forwards Matthew Lombardi and Lee Stempniak. GM Dan Maloney said he was more optimistic a month ago about retaining them...The Buffalo Sabres are also running out of time in their attempts to retain Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder.
SPECTOR'S NOTE: Kovalchuk's been long linked to the Kings and it wouldn't be shocking if he signs with them on Thursday. If that happens however I don't expect they'll still go after an expensive UFA blueliner...I expect Kaberle to be dealt but probably not until the first full week in July at the earliest...Still enough time left for the Coyotes and Sabres to re-sign those players but most if not all will probably hit the open market, where given the lack of quality depth they could possibly attract more attention and thus bigger contracts than they might've had in previous UFA markets.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson reports Kings GM Dean Lombardi is lukewarm about pursuing Ilya Kovalchuk but team president Tim Lieweke believes he'd be good for marketing...The Blues are working on a new contract for Jaroslav Halak, probably in the $4 million range...With the Oilers acquisition of Colin Fraser last week Ryan Potulny's days with the club could be numbered. He's yet to receive a qualifying offer from the club...Agent Don Baizley said client Teemu Selanne is working out as though he intends to return next season but hasn't heard from him yet about his plans...Marty Turco would likely go to the San Jose Sharks for a one-year, $3 million contract...The Washington Capitals can't afford Anton Volchenkov but they might have interest in Vancouver's Willie Mitchell if he's healthy.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Sharks have had discussions with the Bruins regarding Tim Thomas but are likely to pursue Marty Turco once he becomes a UFA...Don't be surprised if Ray Whitney lands in Tampa Bay as he'd be a good veteran presence on the Lightning, possibly on a two-year deal worth $3.5 million per...Minnesota Wild tried unsuccessfully to land Patrice Bergeron or David Krejci from Boston, while the Panthers aren't willing to part with Stephen Weiss...The Blackhawks aren't done dealing and are believed shopping winger Kris Versteeg...The Lightning might also be in the mix for Evgeni Nabokov's negotiating rights...the Ducks aren't sure what to do about Bobby Ryan...
SPECTOR'S NOTE: The Sharks are familiar with Turco having played against him quite a lot in the Western Conference so it wouldn't surprise me if he signed with them... The Lightning need a starting goalie and more defensive depth, not another scoring forward, so I'll be surprised if Whitney lands there. They've already got enough "veteran presence" with St. Louis, Lecavalier, Malone and Ohlund...Bergeron, Krejci and Weiss aren't available...While Chicago GM Stan Bowman claims that currently there's no need to make another salary dumping trade that'll probably change once he starts re-signing players like Niemi and Hjalmarsson...If the Bolts took a pass on Thomas because he's too expensive for their tastes I daresay they'll do the same with Nabokov. I still have a feeling either Mason or Ellis joins the Lightning this summer...Ducks management are apparently confident they'll get Ryan re-signed.
