Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun: Likely 1st overall draft pick Nail Yakupov said:
“I definitely want to go to Edmonton and play for the Oilers, for sure,”
“I’ve played in Canada, in Sarnia, for the last two years. I love the people. I very much want to play for a Canadian team like Edmonton. I want to play for those guys!
“If they draft me, I will work very hard to make the team, give it everything I’ve got to work hard and play for the Oilers.”
“I want to be No. 1. No. 1 is No. 1. I don’t want to be second or third.”
Damien Cox of the Toronto Star: According to Elliotte Friedman, Maple Leafs goalie coach Francois Allaire may resign and retire as an active goalie coach. Burke told the Star that he had not heard directly from Allaire regarding his retirement.
Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: There are indications that the Blue Jackets won’t go into a 3-4 year rebuilding mode and will make moves to be competitive next season.
“It’s the biggest summer since I’ve been here,” general manager Scott Howson said. “I see us being competitive next season, for sure. We have to be more competitive.“There are a lot of moving parts. It depends on where they fall, in terms of the impact we can make on the franchise.”
The Blue Jackets are almost certain to deal Rick Nash, and it could awkward/ugly if he remains with the club. They’ll likely have a choice of drafting Ryan Murray, Mikhail Grigorenko, Alex Galchenyuk or Filip Forsberg. They own the Kings pick this year if they chose, or they can defer it to next year. The pick currently stands as the 17th pick, but could go to 26-30 depending on how far the Kings go in the playoffs. They may look to move this pick. They’ll be looking to add a starting goalie, with the only way Steve Mason comes back is if he’s the backup. Goalie options for the Blue Jackets will be Cory Schneider, Anders Lindback, Jonathan Bernier and Tuukka Rask. If a trade can’t be worked out they could look at UFAs Josh Harding, Scott Clemmensen Martin Biron, Dan Ellis and Jonas Gustavsson. Trading Nash would likely bring them a combination of draft picks, prospects and established players. 2 of those players would likely be ready for the NHL. Not including Nash, their top 6 would include R.j. Umberger, Derick Brassard, Vinny Prospal and possibly Cam Atkinson, Ryan Johansen and their 2nd overall pick.
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Matheson wonders if the Oilers should consider moving Taylor Hall to center if/when they draft winger Nail Yakupov. Matheson added:
“Realistically, the Oilers won’t trade the No. 1 pick unless they get a top 2 defenceman from another team or one that will grow it into a high-end NHLer.”
The Oilers have to try to sign either Jason Schultz (if he becomes a UFA) or Jason Garrison if he doesn’t re-sign with the Panthers. Some people in Montreal are promoting a Yannick Weber for Linus Omark trade. Matheson doesn’t think the Oilers could get more than a 4th round pick for him.
Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun: Francis wonders what the Flames could get for Jarome Iginla. Factors that will complicate things are the what the new CBA will be like, one year left at $7 million and the assets the trading team gives the Flames with the potential of getting nothing back if the season is cancelled.
“I wouldn’t take him unless I could get him to extend his contract first,” said one GM, who insisted on remaining anonymous as such talk would clearly be tampering.
“If that would be possible, then he’s worth a top-six forward and a first-round pick.”
“Only a contender would want him, and they are all near the (salary) cap,” said another GM. “Jay would need to take back dough. He could get a good, established player and a first-round pick.”
Michael Traikos of the National Post: Oilers GM Steve Tambellini said that the 1st overall pick could be available, and you’d have to think Brian Burke has called. The Islanders, drafting 4th, could also be interested in moving up. The Leafs have the 5th overall pick, which the Oilers could use to draft one of the highly rated defenseman. Traikos notes the Leafs could offer Cody Franson or Luke Schenn, a 2nd round pick, a prospect (Nazem Kadri, Joe Colbourne, Carter Ashton) or both.