NHL Rumors: Flames, Canadiens, Predators, Maple Leafs, and Top 25 Trade Bait
The Nashville Predators met with Ryan Ellis's agent in Dallas at the draft and they are hopeful on a contract extension.
On the Calgary Flames …

Eric Francis: After yesterday’s trade, the Flames are still not finished. Can expect them to be active in the free agent market. adds: “Hamilton’s apathy was a big issue in the room, Fox was never coming to Cgy. Ferland a loss but gone next year as UFA.”

On the Montreal Canadiens …

Renaud Lavoie: Max Pacioretty was close to being an LA King this week, but now the feeling is that Pacioretty will enter next season as a Montreal Canadien. There is still plenty of time between now and then, so things can change.

On the Nashville Predators …

Brooks Bratten: Predators GM David Poile met with Ryan Ellis‘ camp while at the draft in Dallas. Poile said again that Ellis wants to remain in Nashville, and they hope to get him signed to a contract extension soon.

Brooks Bratten: Poile on Ellis negotiations: “I don’t really see us doing anything with our club or making any big changes or trades until we know the status of Ryan, so we’re going to continue to push forward on that.”

On the Toronto Maple Leafs …

Kristen Shilton: Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas doesn’t expect them to have any salary cap issues going forward this offseason: “We’ve got the best cap people in the league I hope, so we’ll try to figure that out if the opportunity presents itself. We’re confident with our cap situation we can do whatever we want at this point”

Updated Top 25 NHL trade bait list …

TSN: Top 25 NHL trade bait after the draft.

1. Erik Karlsson – Ottawa Senators
2. Ryan O’Reilly – Buffalo Sabres
3. Jeff Skinner – Carolina Hurricanes
4. Max Pacioretty – Montreal Canadiens
5. Justin Faulk – Carolina Hurricanes
6. Zack Smith – Ottawa Senators
7. Jason Zucker – Minnesota Wild
8. Craig Anderson – Ottawa Senators
9. Artemi Panarin – Columbus Blue Jackets
10. Phil Kessel – Pittsburgh Penguins
11. Kevin Hayes – New York Rangers
12. Matt Dumba – Minnesota Wild
13. Brandon Montour – Anaheim Ducks
14. Colton Parayko – St. Louis Blues
15. Milan Lucic – Edmonton Oilers
16. Alex Petrovic – Florida Panthers
17. Ryan Spooner – New York Rangers
18. Bobby Ryan – Ottawa Senators
19. Conor Sheary – Pittsburgh Penguins
20. P.K. Subban – Nashville Predators
21. Jacob Trouba – Winnipeg Jets
22. Rasmus Ristolainen – Buffalo Sabres
23. Chris Tanev – Vancouver Canucks
24. Alex Edler – Vancouver Canucks
25. Corey Perry – Anaheim Ducks