On the Arizona Coyotes …
Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic: Coyotes center Martin Hanzal is entering the final year of his five-year, $15.5 million deal. He would like to stay in Arizona and get a new deal done before the start of the season. It’s not clear if that will have happen.
Chris Johnston: Coyotes GM John Chayka confirmed that they are prepared to use LTIR this season.
On Kris Russell …
Mark Spector of Sportsnet: Kris Russell and his camp may have missed the boat by not signing earlier this offseason and overestimated the market for the shot blocking defenseman.
Teams are wanting to see what they already have before looking to bring in someone like Russell. A lot of teams don’t have a lot of salary cap space. Only 13 teams have over $4 million in salary cap space, with teams like the Flames, Sabres and Ducks still having to re-sign an RFA. Russell won’t be getting as much as he would have on July 1st.
On Ryan Vesce …
Aivis Kalnins: Ryan Vesce was released from his Oilers tryout and am hearing that he could return to the KHL. Source saying he could be close to a deal with Traktor.
On the Calgary Flames and Johnny Gaudreau …
Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Darren Dreger on TSN 1050 saying the Calgary Flames and Johnny Gaudreau are close to a new deal for the RFA winger.
“Inching closer to a deal,” Dreger said. “I’m not going to say that it’s imminent. The timing of this is predictable, of course. It’s less about the preseason, and more about being in the lineup for the regular season.
“This is a delicate one. It has been throughout this negotiation. I’m sure Calgary would have preferred to get him under $7 million per year on an extension – a lengthy extension. I think it’s going to be 7-plus.
“But it sounds like it’s going to happen within days.”
