Friday morning rumors involving free agents and trade candidates
  • Eric Stephens via twitter: The Anaheim Ducks and Bobby Ryan continue to talk, but rumor is they haven’t agreed on any specific part of the contract.
  • Jim Matheson via twitter: Most likely scenario for Sheldon Souray is to attend Oilers camp, play in the top 4, and show teams that need a pp quarterback that he’s healthy.
  • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Andrew Cogliano is still looking for a contract from the Oilers, and is finding out he might have to take less than he’d like. The 3rd line center may have to take less than Gilbert Brule’s $1.85 million, even though he has more career points than him. Teams are being tighter when giving young players their second contract. The Oilers see him as a top 9 forward, not a top 6, and want to pay him accordingly, possibly a 1 year deal for less than $1.5 million.
  • Tom Gulitti via twitter: Deputy Commish Bill Daly said in an email that the League is still unsure on if or how they will penalize the New Jersey Devils for Kovalchuk’s first contract.
  • Mark Everson of the NY Post: Lou needs to shed around $3.5 million in cap space, and doesn’t want to deal Bryce Salvador’s $2.9 million contract. Dainius Zubrus is a likely candidate. Matt Corrente’s name has also come up, and Travis Zajac name continues to float around. There was a rumor that Tomas Kaberle could end up with the Devils in a big exchange with the Leafs, players and picks heading to Toronto, but it is “most difficult to fathom”.  Lou hasn’t asked any of his players that have a no-trade clause to waive it. Back in 2006 the Devils sent Malakhov and a 1st round pick to San Jose for a couple minor leaguers, and were warned by the NHL not to do it again.
  • Chris Botta via twitter: At some point this season, Botta thinks that Bill Guerin will play for the Flyers or the Devils.
  • Genadi Boguslavski via twitter: The GM of the KHL’s Traktor Chelyabinsk confirmed that he had talks with Jose Theodore, but Theodore didn’t want to go to Russia.
  • Nick Kypreos via twitter: It looks like Brayden Schenn will be out 2-4 weeks, Kings hoping additional tests won’t reveal any major damage in his knee.
  • Larry Brooks via twitter: The NHLPA Executive Board is voting on Donald Fehr as Executive Director, player reps must vote by 5:00 pm Saturday. Sportsnet also confirming the vote.

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