- Bob McKenzie via twitter: An announcement will be made at 11 am Central time regarding the Thrashers move to Winnipeg, pending Board of Governor’s approval. Sean Fitz-Gerald via twitter: NHL network is carrying the press conference at 11 am Central, 12 pm Eastern. Bob McKenzie via twitter: Winnipeg will play out of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference next season, and realignment will happen the year after. No decision on team name yet, ownership may be moving away from the “Jets” name, but public support for “Jets” is only reason they may be still undecided.
- Jim Jamieson of the Vancouver Province: Christian Ehrhoff and Aaron Rome will be in the lineup for Game 1. Ehrhoff suffered what looked to be a shoulder injury in Game 3 against the Sharks. Rome was dazed in Game 3 after a hit from behind.
- The Fourth Period: Steven Stamkos’s agent told The Fourth Period that he’ll be discussing a multi-year deal with the Lightning “in the near future.” They could work on a 5 year deal.
- Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune answered numerous questions on twitter yesterday about the Tampa Bay Lightning. Chances are slim that the Lightning re-sign Simon Gagne, Eric Brewer a notch above that. It’s believed that it’s taking so long to get Steven Stamkos re-signed because of the lack of CBA beyond next year is a factor in term/salary structure. Erlendsson thinks a Stamkos’ deal will be longer than 5 years, and less than $8 million. Lightning off-season needs are to find a mobile defenseman, goaltending, and a power play quarterback. He thinks that Dwayne Roloson will return next season as their starter. “It’s always possible” that Brad Richards returns to Tampa. Erlendsson thinks that both Teddy Purcell and Sean Bergenheim will re-sign with the team.
- Genadi Boguslavski via twitter: Two Canadiens players have signed with Barys Astana of the KHL, Nigel Dawes and Justin Boyd.
- Slava Malamud (of Sport Express) via twitter: SKA of the KHL offered Jaromir Jagr a 1 year deal woth $4.5 million according to a Czech Republic report. SKA is officially denying the offer.
- Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The Penguins won’t be signing 2009 draft picks, center Andy Bathgate and Dman Viktor Ekbom. Bathgate was a 5th round pick and recorded 60 point in 64 games with Belleville of the OHL. He’s missed a lot of time with a shoulder injury the last 2 1/2 years. Ekbom was a 6th round pick, recording 8 assists in 96 games the last 2 seasons with Linkoping in Sweden’s Eletserien. Both will re-enter the draft.
- Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen: The Senators signed prospects Jakub Silfverberg and Louie Caporusso to entry level deals yesterday. Silfverberg was a 2nd round pick in 2009, and Caporusso was playing at the University of Michigan.
- Bob McKenzie via twitter: The Panthers have re-signed Jack Skille to a 2 year deal with a $825,000 cap hit.
