Morning Hits: Wild, Jackets, Sharks, Leafs, Past RFAs to Miss Camp
  • Chad Graff: WIld’s Josh Harding fractured his right foot. Bob McKenzie: Harding’s off-ice injury will likely keep him out for months and not weeks.
  • Michael Russo: Ilya Bryzgalov will attend the Wild’s camp on a PTO.
  • Shawn Mitchell: Blue Jackets Nathan Horton’s lingering back issues will limit what he can do at the start of training camp. GM Jarmo Kekalainen said he was not sure if Horton would miss the season opener. They don’t expect it to be long-term.
  • Joe Smith: Sami Salo said recently that he’d like to play this season but is still recovering from a wrist injury.
  • Kevin Kurz: The Sharks signed Justin Braun to a five-year deal worth $19 million, a $3.8 million salary cap hit.
  • NHLFreeAgents.com: Maple Leafs training invites: Brady Vail, Francis Wathier, Matt Rupert, Carson McMillan, Spencer Machacek, Stefan Della Rovere & Cody Donaghey.
  • Rory Boylen of The Hockey News: 10 RFAs who have missed time training camp and how their situation played out.1. Derek Stepan: Rangers – two-years with a $3.075 million cap hit.
    2. Alex Pietrangelo – Blues – seven-years with a $6.5 million cap hit.
    3. Jamie Benn – Stars – five-years with a $5.25 million cap hit.
    4. Kyle Turris – Coyotes – two-years with a $1.4 million cap hit and traded to the Senators six games later.
    5. Drew Doughty – Kings – eight-years with a $7 million cap hit.
    6. Ryan O’Reilly – Avalanche –  Avs matched offer sheet from the Flames, two-years with a $5 million salary cap hit.
    7. P.K. Subban – Canadiens – two-years with a $2.875 million cap hit.
    8. Cody Hodgson – Sabres – six-years with a $4.25 million cap hit.
    9. Cody Franson – Leafs – one-year with a $2 million cap hit.
    10. Jared Cowen – Senators – four-years with a $3.1 million cap hit.
  • Harvey Fialkov of the Sun Sentinel: Part of the letter to Panthers fans from owners Vinnie Viola and Doug Cifu.

    As we close in on the one-year anniversary of our ownership of the Florida Panthers, we want to reiterate our commitment to Broward County, South Florida and our Panthers fans and business partners. As we said at the press conference when we bought the team, we view ourselves as stewards of the team for the community and our plan is to build an organization that makes South Florida proud and to win the Stanley Cup in South Florida. Despite media speculation to the contrary, we have no plans or intentions to move this franchise.