Free Agent Hits: Rask, Smith, Letang, Clarkson, Bickell, Mikkelson, Red Wings and Pietrangelo
  • Bob McKenzie: McKenzie figures Tuukka Rask’s new deal will be in the $7 million range.
  • Pierre LeBrun: Positive talks between the Coyotes and Mike Smith. Could be a 6-year deal. The franchises future is still a factor.
  • Pierre LeBrun: Kris Letang’s agent, Kent Hughes and Penguins GM Ray Shero are expected to meet this afternoon.
  • Bob McKenzie: Unless the Devils make a substantial offer to David Clarkson, looking like he could hit the open market. They haven’t given him any numbers yet.
  • Howard Berger: With each passing hour Berger thinks more and more that Clarkson will be a Maple Leaf.
  • Dave Molinari: Penguins GM Ray Shero is still negotiating with Kris Letang. No deadline for getting it resolved.
  • Pierre LeBrun: The Blackhawks and Bryan Bickell’s camp had a conversation today.
  • Paul Hendrick: Leafs have sent qualifying offs to all of their RFAs.
  • Bob McKenzie: The Lightning have told Brendan Mikkelson that they won’t be qualifying him and he’ll be a UFA.
  • Ansar Khan of MLive: The Red Wings are interested in Jarome Iginla. If Valtteri Filppula leaves, Stephen Weiss, Matt Cullen and Patrik Elias could be options. They don’t appear to be interested in David Clarkson and Nathan Horton.
  • Andy Strickland of True Hockey: Blues Alex Pietrangelo is looking for at $7 million a year and word is that he won’t entertain anything with a $6 in front of it. GM Doug Armstrong has already said they would match any offer sheet.