Rumors and Notes: Canucks, Red Wings and Expansion
  • Jim Jamieson of the Vancouver Province: The Canucks won’t be looking to the extend the contracts of Dan Hamhuis (32) and Radim Vrbata (34) this offseason. Both players are entering the final year of their deals.

    “We’re going to go into the season and see how it goes,”said Benning of the two pending UFAs, following a three-on-three tournament at the Canucks’ prospects development camp at Shawnigan Lake School on Tuesday afternoon.

    “We’ve touched base with their agents a little, but we’ll see how it plays out.”

    GM Jim Benning continues to work on new deals for RFAs Sven Baertschi, Adam Clendening and Frank Corrado.

    “We’re talking to (the RFAs), it’s going good. Hopefully, we’ll get these guys done pretty quick.”

  • Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: The Red Wings are in the process of of re-signing Gustav Nyquist, and it’s expected to be done before their July 27th arbitration hearing. He’s recorded 59 goals and 115 points in 179 games, and could command a salary of upto $5 million, but the Wings will likely get him for less.A two- or three-year deal makes the most sense for both side. A two year deal would take him untrestricted free agency.

    The Wings are also working contracts for RFAs Teemu Pulkkinen and Tomas Jurco.

  • John Shannon: The NHL will be accepting submissions for expansion until July 20th. There is still on real timeline for adding new teams.
  • David Pagnotta: An NHL executive has said that the NHL has received “a number of requests” for the expansion application materials. He wouldn’t comment on who was asking for them. The process has three phases, with the first submission phase due by July 20th. Phase two happens shortly after, and the final submission phase is due on September 4th.