One the New Jersey Devils …
Andrew Gross: Devils GM Ray Shero said that he told his staff that he wouldn’t be leaving the draft without Nico Hischier.
Andrew Gross: Clarifying … Shero said that if they traded down and he knew he could still get Hischier, he would have considered it.
On the Buffalo Sabres …
John Vogl: Sabres captain and pending UFA Brian Gionta is hopeful to be back in Buffalo next year.
On the Dallas Stars …
Mark Stepneski: Stars GM Jim Nill said there was no trade market for goaltender Antti Niemi as the goalie market is saturated. (He was put on waivers today for the purpose of being bought out.)
On Dan Girardi …
David Pagnotta: Defenseman Dan Girardi is generating lots of interest. His post-buyout deal will be interesting.
On the Montreal Canadiens …
Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette: The Canadiens were able to acquire defenseman David Schlemko over the weekend but they have some other holes they need to fix now.
Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin has two big pending UFAs to deal with in Alexander Radulov and Andrei Markov.
Term is the main sticking point with Radulov as he looks for a seven-year deal.
Term could also be a sticking point for Markov as well. If he wants a two-year deal, he should get it.
If Markov doesn’t sign, Bergevin will have his work cut out for him as the organization has already moved on from Alexei Emelin, Nathan Beaulieu and Mikhail Sergachev. The Canadiens have already been looking for a top-four defenseman.
Alex Galchenyuk is a RFA and has been in the trade rumors. If they move him for a defenseman they will just be creating another hole.
The Canadiens have about $21 million in cap space and should have enough room to re-sign Markov, Radulov and Galchenyuk, as well as having room for a top-four defenseman.
