Free Agent Hits: Johansson, Boedker, Kadri, Gilbert, Cammalleri, Cowen, Hodgson, Franson, Pietrangelo and Stepan
  • Mike Vogl: The Capitals have signed RFA Marcus Johansson to a two-year, $4 million deal. He’ll get $1.825 million this season and $2.175 million in 2014-15.
  • Bob McKenzie: Hearing that Coyotes RFA Mikkel Boedker is close to agreeing to a two-year deal. Not official but likely imminent. Sarah McLellan: McLellan thinks it would be interesting if Boedker signed for two-years. His camp wanted a long-term deal and that is why he didn’t go to an arbitrator. Two-year deal is what it may take to get him in camp.
  • Jim Matheson: Matheson thinks there is no way that Nazem Kadri can win this “catfight” with the Maple Leafs. One good season doesn’t mean $5 million in a long term deal.
  • Jim Matheson: Wild sources saying that Tom Gilbert could play in Switzerland this season.
  • Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Flames forward Mike Cammalleri is entering the last year of his deal and could be open to a contract extension.

    “Who knows? We’ll see,” he said of his future in Calgary. “We’ll see what they want to do. Truthfully, I got a lot of respect for (GM) Jay (Feaster) and (assistant GM) John (Weisbrod), I’ve had an open dialogue with them. Nothing to report, but we’ll see what they want to do. I like it there, it’s a good place. I’m open (to an extension).”

  • Allan Muir of SI: RFA’s like Nazem Kadri, Jared Cowen, Cody Hodgson, Marcus Johansson,  and Cody Franson are finding they don’t have a lot of leverage. Their hopes of cashing in are fading. The lower salary cap has hurt their chances of getting a bigger deal. The Senators have determined that Cowen is worth less than the $3 million they are paying Marc Methot on a short-term deal. Mikhail Grigorenko and Zemgus Girgensons can fill the empty role left if Hodgson isn’t signed right away. The Leafs feel they have options in Paul Ranger and Morgan Rielly if Franson isn’t signed by the start of the season. Alex Pietrangelo and Derek Stepan have a bit more leverage due to their abilities/value to the team. The Rangers have less than $3 million in cap space with 14 forwards on one-way contracts. Stepan could make a case for Ryan Callahan’s six-year, $28.2 million deal.