EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jonathan Willis noted a recent Vancouver Province report claiming the Oilers had made an offer for Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo, suggesting Luongo could be a real difference maker for the Oilers. Willis believed the long-term risk of Luongo’s $5.33 million per season contract (which has ten more seasons remaining) could be allayed if the NHL’s proposal of counting long-term salaries of trade players back to their original team if they retire prematurely is implemented in the next CBA. Willis also believes Luongo would be an improvement over the Oilers current tandem of Devan Dubnyk and Nikolai Khabibulin, and doesn’t feel his game is in decline. Willis acknowledged Luongo’s “no-trade” clause, but it’s not certain he’d refuse to come to Edmonton.
Paul Hendrick via twitter: Maple Leafs Matt Frattin took part in his 1st full practice with the Marlies main group.
NBC SPORTS PRO HOCKEY TALK: Luongo’s agent, Gilles Lupien, recently expressed surprise over speculation his client was headed to the Toronto Maple Leafs following the lockout. Lupien said he hadn’t previously heard about the rumor, hadn’t spoken with Canucks GM Mike Gillis since June, and hadn’t been asked if his client would accept a trade to Toronto.
James Mirtle via twitter: Rogers said they have lost about $8 million on the Maple Leafs and MLSE after the first 3 months of ownership. The Maple Leafs could lose more than any other team because the lockout.
TSN Radio via twitter: Bob McKenzie said that the All-Star Game would be cancelled before the Winter Classic. The Classic could be cancelled in the first week of November.
Darren Dreger via twitter: A meeting between Gary Bettman and Don Fehr didn’t happen yesterday according to some overnight reports. Gary awless via twitter: There are no meetings schedualed so far for today according to the NHL.
Katie Strang via twitter: Gary Bettman’s response to what it would take for the sides to get back to the table, “A reason to.” Bettman added the NHL made the “very best offer” and one contingent on an 82 game season. Bettman said it only gets more difficult from here.
Sean Gentille via twitter: Bettman, “We suggested either talk to us about what we proposed or make an offer of your own, and they’ve declined to do either.”
Andy Strickland via twitter: Sources say Don Fehr has convinced the players that the longer they remain firm, the better the deal is down the road.
Tom Gulitti via twitter: Fehr, “The players made multiple core-economic proposals on Thursday that were a significant move in the owners direction. We are and continue to be ready to meet to discuss how to resolve our remaining differences, with no preconditions. For whatever reason, the owners are not.” … “At the same time they are refusing to meet, they are winding the clock down to yet another artificial deadline they created.”