Life after the Kovalchuk signing … Other pieces will begin to fall

Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star: Don’t expect a Tomas Kaberle trade this week as GM Brian Burke has gone fishing for the week. He did have this to say before he left, “The number of offers are up to six but we’re not in a position where we think any of them are good enough,” said Burke. “We’re still in a holding pattern.” The Lightning at one point were dangling Ryan Malone. Burke would not comment on Marc Savard. If he is interested, he’ll most likely wait until after Kaberle is traded as he may not need a center of Savard’s caliber.

Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun: The LA Kings may come calling the Maple Leafs for puck moving Dman Tomas Kaberle, to play along side Drew Doughty. Longley throws out the idea of Brayden Schenn coming back to Toronto.

Randy Youngman of the OC Register: The Ducks and Bobby Ryan are fine with $5 million a year, but Ryan wants less term than the 5 years the Ducks are proposing. Ryan would like 3 years, but that would mean his contract would expire at the same time as Perry’s and Getzlaf’s. 3 years would also leave Ryan as an RFA, 4 years he would be a UFA.

NHLSourcesSay via twitter: Leafs were interested in Bobby Ryan, but Ducks have told all teams they want to sign him.

Dave Gross of the Vancouver Province: Gross mentions players who the Devils could possibly trade to get under the cap: Brian Rolston, 2 years at $5 million. Travis Zajac is at $3.89 million season (I doubt they’d move him, would be a last resort). Dainius Zubrus makes $3.4 million the next 3 seasons. Colin White will make $3 million the next 2 years. Bryce Salvador will make $2.9 million the next 2 years.

EJ Hradek via Twitter: Jamie Langenbrunner could be trade bait for the Devils. He’s at $2.8 million and a no-trade clause, but he should get some interest.

Jeff Marek via twitter: There could be a new style of play in New Jersey next season, more ‘up-tempo’, less trap.

Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times: Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman has told Patrick Sharp that “he’s not going anywhere.” They are still working on Antti Niemi, no solution, but have ideas.

Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Mike Modano will start skating on August 5th, and won’t make a decision to return or not before that.

Dmitry Chesnokov via twitter: Alexander Frolov has begun contract talks with KHL’s Salavat Yulaef.

Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: After the seeing what the Flyers got for Simon Gagne (Matt Walker and a 4th), the Oilers may not expect to get much back for Sheldon Souray. There’s not a big market for Souray, with his $5.4 million cap hit for the next 2 years, and his health concerns. The Oilers may look to teams who are sitting around the salary cap floor: Atlanta, NY Islanders, Colorado, and St. Louis. They may ask the Oilers to throw in a young player or pick to take back the salary.

John Boruk via Twitter: Aaron Asham could be signed by the end of the week, Philly a possibility.