Rumors I: RFAs Eakin, Dillon, Ellis and Johansen
  • Chris Johnston: Remaining RFAs include: Ryan Johansen, Jaden Schwartz, Torey Krug, Reilly Smith, Tyson Barrie, Danny DeKeyser, Nino Neiderreiter, Ryan Ellis, Devante Smith-Pelly, Cody Eakin and Brenden Dillon.
  • Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: The Stars and RFAs Cody Eakin and Brenden Dillon continue to have talks and are exchanging ideas. The Stars have around $5 million in cap space and need to bring in both under that amount. If they are trying to do a bridge contract with both, they should be able to get in at under $5 million combined. If they are looking at a longer term deal, the salary cap number will go up and getting them both signed at under $5 million will become a little trickier. Eakin and Dillon share the same agent, Jarrett Bousquet. Heika thinks talks will intensify towards September 19th when camp opens.
  • Josh Cooper: A deal between the Predators and Ryan Ellis is still not close, but that can all change with one phone call.
  • Aaron Portzline: Think a Blue Jackets – Ryan Johansen contract gets done during training camp, two years for $9 or $10 million.