David Perron and the Montreal Canadiens reportedly have mutual interest.
The Canadiens have had contact with the pending unrestricted free agent, who would be very interested in playing for them, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.
Montreal only has about $8.7 million in cap space, but they also only have four pending free agents. Perron will become a UFA if the Ducks don't re-sign him before July 1.
In a trade that looks lopsided in hindsight, he was dealt along with defenseman Adam Clendening to the Anaheim Ducks for Carl Hagelin in January.
Hagelin helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup earlier this month, forming the productive "HBK" line with Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel, while Perron managed only 16 points in 43 games with Pittsburgh before collecting 20 points in 28 regular-season contests with the Ducks.
Perron scored a goal and added two assists in seven playoff games.
The 28-year-old is coming off the final season of a four-year, $15.25-million deal he signed with the St. Louis Blues in 2012.
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Milan Lucic says there's nothing to a report claiming he has already reached an agreement with the Edmonton Oilers.
The pending unrestricted free agent told WEEI's DJ Bean that Tuesday's report from Curtis Stock - a freelancer formerly of the Edmonton Journal - is "bullshit," and while he isn't ruling the Oilers out, he hasn't agreed to anything with any team yet.
"I understand Lucic signed with (the) Oilers. He's another piece the Oilers need," Stock tweeted Tuesday, before adding, "Got it from a good source. Announcement on July 1."
Edmonton hosted Lucic and defenseman Jason Demers on Tuesday, and Lucic was a guest of the Vancouver Canucks on Monday.
The negotiating window for teams to discuss new deals with pending free agents opened Saturday at midnight.
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Pat Brisson says Andrew Shaw wasn't seeking a $2.5-million raise from the Chicago Blackhawks before he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens.
"The Blackhawks did everything they could to sign (him)," Shaw's agent told The Athletic's Scott Powers on Tuesday. "They just don't have the cap space. Contrary to reports, we didn't ask for $4.5 million."
A source told Powers that Shaw was looking for seven or eight years on a new deal at a cap hit of $3.2 million, but Chicago couldn't go higher than $3 million because of the team's proximity to the cap ceiling.
Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times reported last week that Shaw was seeking at least $4.5 million per season on his next deal with the Blackhawks.
The 24-year-old finished a two-year deal this season that carried a cap hit of $2 million.
He was dealt to the Canadiens on draft night Friday for a pair of draft picks, and Montreal signed Shaw to a six-year contract worth a reported $23.4-million - or an average annual value of $3.9 million - on Monday.
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Pat Brisson says Andrew Shaw wasn't seeking a $2.5-million raise from the Chicago Blackhawks before he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens.
"The Blackhawks did everything they could to sign (him)," Shaw's agent told The Athletic's Scott Powers on Tuesday. "They just don't have the cap space. Contrary to reports, we didn't ask for $4.5 million."
A source told Powers that Shaw was looking for seven or eight years on a new deal at a cap hit of $3.2 million, but Chicago couldn't go higher than $3 million because of the team's proximity to the cap ceiling.
Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times reported last week that Shaw was seeking at least $4.5 million per season on his next deal with the Blackhawks.
The 24-year-old finished a two-year deal this season that carried a cap hit of $2 million.
He was dealt to the Canadiens on draft night Friday for a pair of draft picks, and Montreal signed Shaw to a six-year contract worth a reported $23.4-million - or an average annual value of $3.9 million - on Monday.
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Patrik Laine's first taste of NHL competition will have to wait.
The second overall pick in Friday's draft won't take part in on-ice activities at the Winnipeg Jets' development camp, the club announced Tuesday.
Laine hasn't been given clearance to play after having surgery on his knee following an injury at the NHL Combine in early June. The minor procedure was performed after the event concluded, according to the club.
The 18-year-old was named best forward and the media's MVP at the World Championship last month after helping Finland claim the silver medal, and he led Finland to the gold medal at the World Junior Championship in January.
The Jets' development camp runs July 3-7 in Winnipeg.
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Patrik Laine's first taste of NHL competition will have to wait.
The second overall pick in Friday's draft won't take part in on-ice activities at the Winnipeg Jets' development camp, the club announced Tuesday.
Laine hasn't been given clearance to play after having surgery on his knee following an injury at the NHL Combine in early June. The minor procedure was performed after the event concluded, according to the club.
The 18-year-old was named best forward and the media's MVP at the World Championship last month after helping Finland claim the silver medal, and he led Finland to the gold medal at the World Junior Championship in January.
The Jets' development camp runs July 3-7 in Winnipeg.
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One thing is for certain: On July 1, there will be no frenzy with respect to free-agent goalies. The crop is thin - and that's putting it lightly.
Here are the top five goaltenders free to sign with any team Friday:
James Reimer is the only true No. 1 option on the market, but even he comes with question marks. The 28-year-old, a veteran of six seasons in the NHL, has actually never started more than 35 games in a season - and that was in his rookie year.
After subpar play in 2013-14 and 2014-15, Reimer put together some of his best work last season. He had a .918 save percentage in 29 starts with the last-place Toronto Maple Leafs before being traded to the San Jose Sharks. He finished at .922, the second-highest mark of his career.
A Maple Leafs draft pick in 2006, Reimer looked great behind a prolific Sharks team. He went 6-2 in the Bay Area, with a sparkling .938 save percentage and three shutouts.
Reimer's earned a long-term deal and a shot at full-time work, but his timing isn't great - there simply aren't any teams out there looking for a starter. Calgary was the most obvious destination until a few days ago, when the Flames acquired Brian Elliott from the St. Louis Blues at the draft.
Reimer made $2 million in salary last season with a $2.3-million cap hit. He's probably looking for something in the $4-million range.
We're into the backups already, and Chad Johnson is one who shouldn't have much trouble finding a job this summer.
Johnson, who turned 30 on June 10, is coming off the busiest - and arguably best - season of his career. He started 40 games for the rebuilding Buffalo Sabres, winning 22 of them and posting a .920 save percentage.
A serviceable backup since 2013, Johnson carried a $1.3-million cap hit in 2015-16, taking home $1.6 million. He has a lifetime .917 save percentage in 101 games (88 starts).
The Anaheim Ducks are in search of a veteran backup after trading Frederik Andersen, so there could be a fit out west. The Sharks will need a backup, since it appears Reimer's done out there, though they did sign European prospect Mantas Armalis. The Flames have to figure out who'll back up Elliott, too.
Another career backup looking for a contract is Jhonas Enroth, who had a strong 2015-16 season in very limited duty behind the formidable Los Angeles Kings.
Enroth started only 13 games in place of Jonathan Quick, but he acquitted himself well when he had the crease, setting career highs in save percentage (.922) and shutouts (two). He was relatively busy, too, facing 28 or more shots in eight of his 13 starts.
The 28-year-old hits the market having spent the majority of his career with the Buffalo Sabres, and with a .911 save percentage in 147 games (128 starts). He made $1.25 million in salary and against the cap last season, and won't cost much.
Like Johnson, Enroth is a veteran option for the clubs out there looking for a No. 2 - the Blues, Ducks, Flames, and Edmonton Oilers.
Al Montoya's time with the Florida Panthers is over. Reto Berra, acquired in a trade last week, will back up Roberto Luongo.
A former sixth overall pick, Montoya did his job and more last season, posting a .919 save percentage in 22 starts for the Atlantic Division winners. His 2.18 goals-against average was the lowest of his career.
The 31-year-old has career numbers similar to Enroth: a .909 save percentage in 137 games (110 starts). Our money's on the Oilers signing him to be Cam Talbot's insurance policy.
Montoya cost $1.05 million against the cap ($1.1 million salary) in 2015-16, and can likely be had at a similar number.
After three years backing up Pekka Rinne in Nashville, Carter Hutton appears set to move on from Music City.
Hutton, who will be 31 in December, had a .918 save percentage and two shutouts in 17 games (15 starts) for the Predators last season. He made only $750,000 in salary, and heads into free agency with a lifetime .910 save percentage and four shutouts in 76 games (67 starts).
Having played in the tough Western Conference, he's definitely an option for the Ducks, Flames, Blues, and Oilers.
"I feel in a way sometimes that I'm just kind of scratching the surface a bit. In years past when I get to play, I've been successful," Hutton told The Tennessean's Adam Vingan at the end of the season. "Obviously, playing with (Rinne) is amazing. He's helped me get better and better. ... We're like best buddies. But at the same time, there's a reason he's the best in the world, and playing with him sometimes is tough to get more minutes."
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