On the Columbus Blue Jackets …
Darren Dreger: The Blue Jackets will continue to listen to offers on the No. 3 pick at the draft. Sources saying the Blue Jackets would like to include a contract in any deal, like Scott Hartnell‘s, to create some more cap space. The Blue Jackets still have to sign Seth Jones to a contract extension, and it won’t be cheap. Jones could also be a target for an offer sheet.
Darren Dreger: The Blue Jackets are like the Oilers and Canucks, that if they don’t get full value for their draft pick, they don’t make the deal.
On the Tampa Bay Lightning and Steven Stamkos …
Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman still hopes to re-sign Steven Stamkos, and he hopes to have some answers on that front by the weekend. Teams can start talking to free agents on Saturday.
Yzerman has spoken with Stamkos’ agent since the end of the season, but nothing has changed. Yzerman said that he’s doing all he can to re-sign Stamkos. Yzerman has to sign Nikita Kucherov this offseason, and he has to think ahead to next offseason as well.
“What we look like if Stammer re-signs with us, it effects what we can do with our team,” Yzerman said. “For us, we’d like to know sooner than later.”
“At some point on other players, I have to make a decisions, whether it’d be restricted free agents, or potential trades or qualifying offers and things like that. I’ve got to make decisions and they can’t be put off forever.”
The Lightning may not be able to go much higher than $8.5 million with all the free agents they have to take care of in the next two years. If the Lightning feel they can’t re-sign Stamkos, they could trade his rights. Stamkos does have a no-movement clause though.
“To be honest with you, it’s out of my control,” Yzerman said. “He’s an unrestricted free agent on July 1. I can’t force him to sign a contract with us if he doesn’t want to. If he wants to go to July 1, he has that right.”
Yzerman said he’s spoken with all off their UFAs and RFAs. Buying out a player is “always and option.” Matt Carle could be a buyout candidate.
