Rumors: Hayes, Barrie, Gagne, Bylsma and Devils
  • NHL: Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman on not being able to sign Kevin Hayes.

    “We offered Kevin what we believed was a generous and fair contract. Unfortunately, he felt it was in his best interests to become a free agent. We are looking forward to the compensatory draft pick we are receiving and are focused on the excitement surrounding the start of training camp next month.”

    The Blackhawks will receive the 54th overall pick in the 2015 draft for not being able to come to terms with Hayes.

  • Adrian Dater: The Avalanche are in on the Kevin Hayes, who will be a UFA today.
  • Mike Chambers of the Denver Post: The Avs will be interested in Kevin Hayes. He’ll get a two-way, around $900,000 a year entry-level contract. The Avs also have RFA Tyson Barrie, who may be looking for a two-year bridge deal worth somewhere between $4.5 and $7 million. The Avs are about $2.8 million under the salary cap with 25 players listed. Can expect Barrie to sign a deal soon.
  • Kevin Paul Dupont: At the 2000 NHL trade deadline, the Bruins tried to trade the Flyers Ray Bourque for Simon Gagne. The Flyers said no, and Bourque was traded to the Avalanche. Gagne will be trying out for the Bruins this year.
  • Tony Marinaro: Red Wings GM Ken Holland said that Anthony Mantha will be given every chance to make the team. Ideally he could crack the top-six, but maybe the top-nine.
  • Ron Wilson: Dejan Jovacevic noted that Dan Bylsma was offered the Panthers and Hurricanes head coaching positions.
  • Tom Gulitti of the Record: The Devils lost money last year, and owner David Blitzer doesn’t expect to make any money this year regardless as to how the team does.

    “We’re not going to make money this year. Let’s be clear,” he said. “I don’t know the exact numbers, but our view is to get it to the right place and we know over a longer period of time we do believe we can get it to be a profitable team on the business side or the equation. It is not today. I don’t expect it to be next year, but over time you can’t have a business that over 30 years it doesn’t become a profitable team because that just doesn’t work.”