Roman Polak's return did well to quiet the whispers, but Kris Russell's camp is setting the record straight anyway.
Russell's agent, Allain Roy, tweeted Sunday that they have not turned down a contract offer from the Toronto Maple Leafs, calling the suggestion merely a rumor.
Various reports over the weekend linked the Leafs to Russell, including one that indicated Lou Lamoriello and co. had tabled a fairly substantial multi-year offer.
Toronto announced it had signed Polak, the eighth NHL-ready defender under team control, Saturday afternoon.
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Georges Laraque's still instigating.
The longtime enforcer welcomed, honored, and also denounced Edmonton Oilers chuckers of past and present with 140 characters Sunday morning.
Hey @EdmontonOilers fans, I'm so glad @MilanLucicCFC17 picked #27, he will represent it better than Dustin Penner did! Lol! #legendsemenko
— Georges Laraque (@GeorgesLaraque) July 3, 2016
Dave Semenko racked up 981 penalty minutes in eight seasons policing for Edmonton, and Laraque tallied 826 over the same time period. In parts of four seasons, meanwhile, Penner accumulated 189 minutes. But he also scored 93 goals and collected 186 points in an Oilers uniform - far more than both Semenko and Laraque, and in far fewer games.
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The Winnipeg Jets have agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with second overall draft pick Patrik Laine, the team announced Sunday.
Laine will net the maximum entry-level base salary under the league's CBA, and can earn up to $3.575 million on an annual basis with $2.65 million in bonuses tied to the agreement.
His earning potential is just $200,000 short of the maximum allowable on an entry-level deal.
The reigning MVP of the World Championship will be unable to participate in on-ice activities at the club's development camp this month, after undergoing a knee procedure after the NHL Combine.
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The Florida Panthers can't stop making deals.
The same day they officially locked down forward Vincent Trocheck to a six-year extension, the Panthers finalized a five-year extension for Reilly Smith on Sunday, the team announced.
The team didn't disclose terms, but TSN's Gary Lawless reports the deal is worth $25 million.
Related: Panthers riding impressive offseason after front-office shake-up
Along with Trocheck and now Smith, the Panthers signed defensemen Jason Demers and Keith Yandle, as well as inking Aaron Ekblad to an eight-year extension in what's been a busy offseason for newly appointed general manager Tom Rowe.
"Reilly was a key player for our team last season," Rowe said. "He is a valuable contributor to our offense and special teams and is an important part of our talented group of forwards."
Smith, a 25-year-old winger, scored a career-high 25 goals last season, adding 25 assists and suiting up in all 82 games for Florida. He also notched eight points in six playoff contests.
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Dallas Stars fans would like the club to acquire Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop.
The Stars announced the one-year signing of forward Adam Cracknell on Sunday, but rather than welcoming the news with open arms, the team's faithful wondered why Cracknell wasn't Bishop instead.
It's ruff being the Stars twitter person. pic.twitter.com/T0gzVanvwY
— m g (@kikkerlaika) July 3, 2016
While Bishop has one year remaining on his deal with the Lightning, his name has come up in trade talks. During the draft weekend it was reported that the Lightning had given the Calgary Flames permission to talk the Vezina Trophy nominee.
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Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen isn't concerned with his team's depth down the middle.
Kekalainen dealt 23-year-old pivot Ryan Johansen last season to the Nashville Predators for Seth Jones, and disputes the notion the team still lacks a No. 1 center.
"People might say that we don't have a first-line center," Kekalainen said, according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch. "But I think we have real solid, 200-foot centers."
Columbus is likely to roll out Boone Jenner, Brandon Dubinsky, and Alexander Wennberg down the middle, with Gregory Campbell and William Karlsson also available.
Kekalainen went so far as to challenge Karlsson's game to motivate him.
"I think William Karlsson is going to get a lot better," Kekalainen said. "I challenged him at the year-end meeting, just asked him: 'Do you want to be a fourth-line center for the rest of your life?'"
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