Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: Sources are saying as many as 7 teams have had “significant” trade conversations with the Blue Jackets in the past 10 days, and 3 or 4 (maybe more) have “kicked the tires.” Most teams that had shown interest at the trade deadline are showing interest now. The Rangers appear to be the most likely fit for Nash. Teams showing considerable interest are the Sharks, Flyers, Maple Leafs and Hurricanes. GM Scott Howson said he’s had “significantly more discussions this week.” Nash will most likely be dealt next Thursday or on Friday, day 1 of the NHL draft.
Chip Alexander via twitter: Rutherford expects trades to go down next week, “Whether we’ll get in on those early trades or not, we’re trying to.”
Darren Dreger via twitter: James van Riemsdyk doesn’t require hip surgery and is expected to be fully recovered by training camp.
Michael Russo via twitter: Ryan Suter’s agent Neil Sheehy said that reports of Suter supplying a list of teams that he would allow his rights to be traded to is “100% untrue.”
Ian Mendes via twitter: No update on Daniel Alfredsson. GM Murray hasn’t heard from Alfredsson, and there is no deadline from the team on when they’d like an answer.
Andy Strickland via twitter: Chris Stewart signed a 1 year, $3 million deal with the Blues.
Mike Johnston of Sportsnet: Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson on their 2nd overall draft pick: (Audio link for interview)
“We’ve certainly listened to people. We’ve had a couple of expressions of interest on the pick in terms of moving down,” Howson told The Morning Show on Sportsnet 960 The Fan on Thursday. “We wouldn’t want to move too far down so we’ll just see how it plays out next week. Traditionally, and if history repeats itself, teams get a little more serious about exchanging picks as we get closer to the draft on the draft floor.”
“We’d be open to any suggestions,” Howson said. “It’s not an easy trade to trade out of the two slot, or one slot or three slot for that matter.”
“When we put our final list together, which we’ll do next week, we’ll know we’re getting one of our first two players … It was a little frustrating when we did lose the lottery to Edmonton but in the grand scheme of things we know we’re going to get a really good player and we have to make sure we do our job and select the right player.”
Allen Panzeri of the Ottawa Citizen: 6 players that will be on the Senators draft radar if they are still around when the Sens draft at #15 are: Sebastien Collberg (RW), Hampus Lindholm (D), Pontus Aberg (LW), Olli Maatta (D), Cody Ceci (D) and Radek Faksa (C).
Stephen Whyno via twitter: Capitals GM George McPhee said he’s thinking about keeping the 11th and 16th overall picks in next weeks draft, believes they can get some difference makers there. Brian McNally via twitter: The Capitals are still deciding on whether they will take the Bruins 2nd round pick (54th overall) or the Avalanche’s 2013 pick. Today is the deadline.
Chip Alexanders via twitter: Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford: “I’d prefer not to (trade the pick). But if the right player was available and the right deal, we would do it.”
Chuck Gormley of CSN Washington: Capitals GM George McPhee confirmed that Mike Knuble and Jeff Halpern won’t be back next season, but wouldn’t say the same for pending UFAs Alexander Semin and Dennis Wideman. If all 4 are not back, that would have made up over $10.6 million in salary last year. The Capitals sent out qualifying offers for Mike Green, John Carlson, Jay Beagle and Mathieu Perreault.
Ian Mendes via twitter: Senators GM Bryan Murray on Erik Karlsson negotiations: “We have time. We will get it done – it’s just a matter of getting the right number.” Murray added they don’t plan on buying any players out and that they don’t expect to be too active on July 1st.
Andy Strickland via twitter: Strickland thinks other candidates for “cutdown” arbitration are Nikolai Kulemin, Wojtek Wolski, Peter Mueller and Guilluame Latendresse.
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Tim Panaccio of CSN Philly: A source is saying that the Flyers are not on a potential list of teams that Ryan Suter is willing to talk to if he rights are traded by the Nashville Predators. The source added that Suter may prefer to stay in the Western Conference rather than coming to the East. Predators GM David Poile is said to be refusing to talk with teams about Suter and RFA Shea Weber at this moment. It’s likely that the Preds would move Suter’s rights by the draft if they feel he won’t re-sign.
Michael Russo of the Star-Tribune: The Wild have more than $20 million in salary cap space and will be targeting “NHL talent.” The Wild are desperate for scoring and are expected to offer Zach Parise as much as $8-9 million a year.
Josh Cooper of the Tennessean: The Predators and Paul Gaustad are talking, and according to his agent, Michael Gorman,
“We have spoken with the team. Both parties are interested and looking at options for the future,” Gorman said. “I know that Nashville is interested in keeping Paul and Paul definitely enjoyed his time in Nashville, so it’s our intention to see if we can get something done, and there’s still plenty of time for that.”
Ryan Kennedy of the Hockey News: If Penguins Jordan Staal hits the trade market, Kennedy thinks the Maple Leafs should “throw the kitchen sink” at GM Ray Shero in attempt to land him. He would be the big #1 center that Brian Burke has been looking for, and he’d really help their bad penalty kill.
Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: Chris Kelly’s 4 year, $12 million contract extension with the Bruins isn’t official yet, they have “agreed in principle.” They will have to wait until July 1st due to the “tagging” rules.
“We’ve got a commitment from [Kelly] for four years, but we’re not able the register that contract yet. We have to wait because of payroll tagging issues,” admitted Chiarelli during a conference call with reporters on Wednesday afternoon. “That will be something we do on July 1. He has my commitment, he’s given me his commitment, and we’re ecstatic to have him for four years.”
Allen Panzeri of the Ottawa Citizen: Senators GM Bryan Murray thinks they will get a good player at the #15 draft slot, but hasn’t ruled out either moving up or down in the draft. Murray has also held preliminary talks with defenseman Erik Karlsson’s agents and is expected to talk with them next week in Las Vegas.