The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forward Kerby Rychel from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday in exchange for defenseman Scott Harrington and a conditional draft pick, the club announced.
The pick in TOR-CBJ is a conditional 5th. If Harrington is put on waivers by CBJ and gets claimed, CBJ gets a 5th. If he clears, no pick.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 25, 2016
Rychel was a first-round pick, 19th overall, of Columbus back in 2013, but wasn't able to catch full-time duty with the Blue Jackets. He played 32 games in the NHL last season, scoring two goals and adding seven assists.
The left-winger will turn 22 in October, and it was well known that he wanted out of the Columbus organization.
Harrington was a second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011. He came over to Toronto in the Phil Kessel trade. The 23-year-old played 15 games with the Maple Leafs last season, recording one assist.
The condition was put in simply because Rychel doesn't need waivers for a couple of seasons, Harrington requires them now.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 25, 2016
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The Boston Bruins appear to be in on the Steven Stamkos sweepstakes.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said Saturday his club will inquire about the Tampa Bay Lightning forward, according to ESPN's Joe McDonald.
Stamkos is set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, but the negotiating period for teams to talk with pending UFAs began Saturday.
Meanwhile, Sweeney also noted the team could revisit the idea of bringing back forward Milan Lucic.
The 28-year-old spent the first eight years of his career with the Bruins, but was traded to the Los Angeles Kings for goaltender Martin Jones.
The Kings gave permission to the rest of the NHL's 29 teams to negotiate a contract with Lucic earlier in the week.
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The Buffalo Sabres are going fishing in free agency.
Following the NHL draft on Saturday, general manager Tim Murray said he'll reach out to Steven Stamkos and his representatives to see if the star forward has any interest in signing with the club.
"We're going to chase the big fish (in free agency)," Murray added.
GMTM on top $$ FAs like Stamkos: "It's going to be stiff competition for sure. You've got to show him your blueprint." #Sabres
— Mike Harrington (@BNHarrington) June 25, 2016
The Sabres have close to $20 million in available cap space and an owner with deep pockets, making Buffalo a viable option for Stamkos on the open market.
In an attempt to further entice Stamkos, Murray also said the Sabres can offer him the benefit of geography - being close to his hometown of Toronto - and sees him as only a center.
The GM also believes teams can win with a player earning $10 million to $11 million per season.
The Tampa Bay Lightning, of course, hold Stamkos' rights until July 1, at which point he can become an unrestricted free agent.
The period during which other teams can contact prospective UFAs began Saturday, meaning Murray is free to give Stamkos a call.
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The Los Angeles Kings locked up pending unrestricted free agent Trevor Lewis on a four-year contract extension, general manager Dean Lombardi announced Saturday.
The 29-year-old has spent his entire eight-year NHL career with the Kings, winning two Stanley Cups. He recorded eight goals and eight assists last season in 75 games.
Lewis' contract is reportedly worth $2 million per season, according to TSN's Darren Dreger, a slight raise on his $1.55 million salary from last year.
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A versatile, impact winger with front-line potential, there's so much to like about Matthew Tkachuk, a prospect the Calgary Flames were delighted to have fall to No. 6 in the NHL draft.
But there's a specific trait, one not mentioned on the broadcast and apparently lacking in the Flames' system, that a stubborn mind high up on the chain of command, is still swooning over.
"He's kind of a pain in the ass," Brian Burke said of Tkachuk, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli. "We don't have enough pains in the asses. Way I like to play, we need pains in the asses."
There are some players that might fit that bill, though that's certainly open for interpretation. But none are on a direct line to skate opposite Johnny Gaudreau on a top line down the road.
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Marc Bergevin felt Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning "crossed the line" with his comments Thursday about defenseman P.K. Subban, and the NHL apparently agrees.
Benning will be fined for his comments about Subban and Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos - both under contract with other teams - TSN's Darren Dreger reports, though Benning's intent "wasn't malicious."
Benning violated a league by-law that strictly states team employees can't discuss players under contract with other franchises. The Canucks' GM may now speak to Stamkos, a pending unrestricted free agent, because the offseason's interview window opened Saturday.
The Canucks will be the first team charged with tampering since 2009, when the Toronto Maple Leafs were fined after expressing interest in the Sedin twins when they were under contract with the Canucks.
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Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill is content staying the course with the team's goaltending duo.
Despite the club's questionable goaltending performances from both Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi - especially during the postseason - Nill said he's comfortable starting the 2016-17 campaign with the two, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.
Despite the vote of confidence, rumors surfaced Saturday that the Stars could be kicking the tires on Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop.
Elliotte Freidman just said on NHL Network there is "some real smoke" to Ben Bishop and Dallas.
— Mike Corcoran (@MikeCorcoranNHL) June 25, 2016
Despite leading the league with 3.23 goals per game during the regular season, the Stars had the 19th-best goals-against average at 2.78. They also had the worst GAA of any playoff team to play more than six contests.
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