Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer: Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford is confident that Ray Whitney and Anton Babchuk will be back with the Canes next season. Rutherford has also met with Rod Brind’Amour once, and will meet again in June, to discuss if he’ll back for his final season on his contract, or retire. Either way, Brind’Amour salary will count against the cap.
David Neal of the Miami Herald: From Dale Tallon’s news conference after being named the new GM of the Florida Panthers, “We’re going to build from the drafts and hire a top-notch scouting and hockey staff. We’ve been given the budget to do so.” The Panther#3 overall pick, along with 3 2nd round picks. The Panthers haven’t had a lot of success with the draft, but hope to change that going forward.
Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail: Dale Tallon has had some success through trades and through the draft when he was the GM of the Blackhawks, so the Panthers could be in good hands. He basically acquired Patrick Sharp and Kris Versteeg for nothing, and got rid of players such as Tyler Arnason, Mark Bell, and Kyle Calder, who were once thought to be part of the rebuilding core for the Hawks. Who he’ll feel as ‘core’ players for the Panthers is not yet known.
