- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: From the Board of Governors realignment talk, they prefer the 6 divisions compared to the 4 divisions. 15 alternatives were proposed, and they will narrow it down to 2 or 3 by their December meetings. The Dallas Stars would like to move out of the Pacific division to the Central or Southeast. One of the alternatives presented was to have the Toronto and Winnipeg move to the Northwest with Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. Detroit would replace Toronto in the Northeast. LA Kings GM Dean Lombardi made a call to Boston Red Sox GM Theo Epstein to pick his brain on how they were able to re-sign Dustin Pedroia at good price when others were telling him he could make more. The Sharks have 10 players in camp battling for 3 spots on their bottom 6. “The Sharks like to give players within their organization a shot at jobs, but they’re also trying to win the Stanley Cup. If they don’t like the production from their bottom six early in the season, don’t be surprised if GM Doug Wilson works the phone to acquire more experience.” The Stars contacted Jamie Benn’s agent to gauge their interest in talking contract extension.
- Craig Custance of ESPN: During the next CBA talks “Escrow, capping the length of long-term contracts, Olympic participation for NHL players, revenue sharing and reworking the salary cap floor” will likely be debated. The league may add guaranteed contracts to the discussion as a negotiating ploy. Lowering the salary cap floor so that small market teams wouldn’t lose as much money could be an option. The Cap ceiling would be higher, but this scenario may create a loss of parity across the league.
- Bruce Garrioch via twitter: A league executive on Drew Doughty and the LA Kings: “I just don’t think this will get settled soon.”
- Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Chris Campoli could become an option for the NY Rangers depending on Marc Staal’s health status. The Rangers did inquire about Campoli shortly after the Blackhawks walked away from the arbitration ruling, but have haven’t talked to his agent since. Campoli has received calls from some teams.
“Chris is in a situation where he’s looking for a spot where he can grow with an organization, unlike a number of veterans who are on the market,” Evans said. “I don’t know if there’s a perception out there that he’s too expensive because of the $2.5 million, but that was just a salary arbitration number.
“We haven’t really gotten into a price point with anybody.”
- Roy MacGregor of the Globe and Mail: In May of 2010, the Coyotes came within “10 minutes” of becoming the Jets. Mark Chipman of True North was in the NHL New York offices awaiting for the 5 pm deadline, but the City of Glendale decided to give the team $25 million in funds to keep the team. Gary Bettman made it be known to Chipman that they would receive the next NHL team, but it may not be the Coyotes.
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: The Dallas Stars have cut their training camp roster down to 45. Jack Campbell and Jamie Oleksiak were sent back to junior.
- Tim Sassone via twitter: The Blackhawks sent 11 players to the AHL yesterday: David Toews, Lalonde, Bollig, DiDomenico, Froese, Gilbert, Shaw, Zanette, Danis-Pepin, Stanton, Youds. They are down to 41 in camp: 25 forwards, 12 defensemen and 4 goalies.
- Slava Malamud via twitter: Alexei Yashin passed his CSKA physical, now ownership has to decide if they want to sign him.
