On the Philadelphia Flyers …
Dave Isaac: Flyers GM Ron Hextall said yesterday that he’s talking to some free agents about PTOs, but they are waiting to see if they can get contracts.
On Patrik Elias …
Andrew Gross of NJ.com: Free agent forward Patrick Elias is still recovering from knee surgery from May 11th. Recovery time was expected to be four to six months. He could begin skating on his own at the Prudential Center around the start of Devils training camp, but he won’t be reporting with the other players.
“There’s no decision on our end or his end,” Devils general manager Ray Shero told The Record in a telephone interview Tuesday. “There’s certainly none to make at this point.
“There’s no deadline whatsoever,” Shero added of offering Elias a new contract. “We’ll just keep in communication with him and see how he’s feeling.”
Shero met with Elias last week and they are keeping dialog open.
The Devils have nothing imminent with regards to bringing someone in on a tryout.
On Kris Russell …
Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Bob McKenzie on TSN 1050 on free agent defenseman Kris Russell.
“The long and short of it for Kris Russell is that I think he’ll sign here in the next number of days,” said McKenzie. “Maybe next week, but maybe before the end of this week. Multiple teams talking to him still. I don’t believe the Leafs are one of them. I think he’s more likely to take a one-year deal – or to get a one-year deal – than anything else, and go back to the free agent trough next summer and try to experience better luck than he did this year.”
McKenzie added that there was an initial sense at the start of free agency that Russell was looking for five years at over $5 million. This may have initially scared teams off, and when they sorted their own stuff out, Russell remained watching from the side.
