- Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Blues GM Doug Armstrong will have to make a decision with regards to his coaching staff. Ken Hitchchock’s contract expires. He’ll have to re-sign Vladimir Tarasenko to an expensive deal. Roster changes are coming for the Blues, with Petteri Lindbohm, Robby Fabbri and Ty Rattie pushing for NHL jobs. They will have to clear some cap space to fit in Tarasenko’s new contract. Patrik Berglund has two years left on his deal at $3.7 million. T.J. Oshie has two years left at $4.175 million. Oshie had a good year and should have decent trade value. Defenseman Barrett Jackman is a UFA and could be looking for work elsewhere, with Robert Bortuzzo being able to fill in on the third pair.
- Damien Cox of Sportsnet: The budget Ducks had a choice between adding a forward or defenseman at the deadline. GM Bob Murray wanted both, but they couldn’t free up the money. They traded for Blue Jackets James Wisniewski, but were unable trade for Stars Shawn Horcoff.
Penguins CEO/president David Morehouse said on Saturday that GM Jim Rutherford, head coach Mike Johnston, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will all be back next season.
The Bruins and Oilers are still “talking” about whether the Oilers will give the Bruins draft pick compensation for hiring recently fired Peter Chiarelli. It would be a second round pick or the Bruins can waive it. There is not the option to negotiate something else.The Bruins were one of the teams interested in Maple Leafs Dion Phaneuf, and they restated it after the trade deadline. With Chiarelli moving on to Edmonton, and with the Oilers need for defensemen, would they be interested?
- From the video below:Friedman: Peter Chiarelli spoke with the Maple Leafs before joining the Oilers. Brendan Shanahan will be at the World Championships and potential GM candidates Sean Burke and George McPhee will be there with Team Canada. Don Sweeney is the internal favorite for the Bruins vacancy, and they are expected to speak with Ray Shero and Paul Fenton.
