On the Chicago Blackhawks …
Chris Hine of the Chicago Tribune: The Blackhawks have recently re-signed RFA defenseman Michal Kempny and signed defenseman Jan Rutta.
Everyone knows the Blackhawks have salary cap issues and are looking to move Marcus Kruger and his $3.1 million salary cap hit.
The Blackhawks might have to include defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk in a deal to move Kruger.
There is talk of the Vegas Golden Knights landing both players if they can work out a deal. If the Blackhawks and Golden Knights can’t work out a deal, they are likely to just select van Riemsdyk. GM Stan Bowman would then have to find another prospect/player/pick to package with Kruger.
On NHL expansion …
TSN Radio Vancouver: Bob McKenzie was on TSN 1040 yesterday and said that the NHL had a firm idea that the expansion order was Seattle, Vegas and then Quebec. Seattle didn’t have a suitable arena or owner, so they didn’t get far. If Seattle is going to get a arena and find a NHL-approved owner, they will eventually go to Seattle.
Cory Wilkins of theScore: KeyArena in Seattle could be getting renovated, but there is no guarantee that the NHL is heading to Seattle.
“We haven’t made any commitments to Seattle,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told NHL Network Radio on Wednesday. “We’re not making any commitments to expand. We’re not planning on moving anybody.”
Bettman didn’t rule out revisiting Seattle in the future.
“If (Seattle) sorts out the building arrangement and somebody actually puts a shovel in the ground, my guess is there will be people knocking on our door saying, ‘We’d like to have a team play in that building,'” Bettman said. “If and when all that happens, then we’ll focus on it, and decide if we have any interest in expanding and if we have any interest in expanding to Seattle.
“Beyond that, there is no reason for anyone to think a team is imminent right now in Seattle.”
