Van Riemsdyk was expected to miss six-to-eight weeks of action, but is still in a walking boot after suffering a broken foot in January. He is expected to be ready to represent the United States at the World Cup of Hockey in September.
JVR will begin skating in 2-3 wks time but will not rejoin team. Lupul had surgery Monday to correct a sport hernia. His season is over too.
Lupul, hasn't played since Feb. 6 due to what was originally called a middle-body injury. He finishes a disappointing season with only 11 goals and three assists in 46 games. He's under contract through 2017-18 at a salary cap hit of $5.25 million.
Speaking on the "Felger and Mazz" show on 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston on Thursday, team president Cam Neely admitted a new offer had been made to Eriksson and his camp in recent days.
"There have been recent discussions," Neely said. "(GM Don Sweeney) had sent something (Eriksson's) way the other day. We have not got a response yet, but yes, there's ongoing discussions."
Neely couldn't say whether the two sides are close to an agreement pending Eriksson's response, and was then asked if he was surprised about not yet hearing back.
"Not really," he said. "It's kind of the way it's been going, so not really."
He was then asked if the team is simultaneously taking trade calls on Eriksson while sitting in an Eastern Conference playoff spot.
"I know Don’s talking to teams about a number of different things," he said. "Not specifically Loui, but just, 'How are we going to improve our club today and tomorrow?'"
Meanwhile, word out of Boston is the Bruins may be bending on term for Eriksson's next deal.
Per a source, Bruins are moving on term re Eriksson. Offered three years in December. Most recent offer was longer. Ongoing discussions.
It will be an all-NHL roster, at least on initial release, when Russia names its outfit for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Alexei Zhamnov, a member of the country's brain trust, told Sportsnet's Chris Johnston that the 16 players selected to Russia's initial roster will be NHLers, exclusively.
"(For the remaining) seven spots, we'll discuss," Zhamnov said. "Maybe some players from KHL, too. Right now it’s most important for us to make the list of 16 players."
Russia has 16 players in North America more than capable of making the roster. In fact, it may have the tournament's best collection of forwards. But this decision likely isn't without a nudge from the NHL, which designed the event in order to showcase and celebrate its brand specifically.
"If we want to bring KHL players they will be the right players for the national team - that's all," Zhamnov said. "We come for the World Cup and we don't want to lose like every game, right? We want to win.
"If we take the players from KHL it's going to be good players."
The Washington Capitals are far and away the best team in the NHL at this stage of the regular season, and general manager Brian MacLellan realizes the opportunity to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup will present itself in the immediate future.
But in today's salary cap world, things can change quickly, so he realizes the importance of striking while the iron is hot.
"I view it as a two-year window," MacLellan said Thursday, according to Chuck Gormley of CSN. "We’re going for it this year, we're going for it next year, and then after that we're evaluating where we're at. We're going to have some decisions to make as far as veteran players, and our young guys are going to be due for some pay raises."
T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams have played a huge part in the current roster's achievements this season, but both are set to become unrestricted free agents in 2017, along with defenseman Karl Alzner.
On top of that, key young players like Evgeny Kuznetsov and Andre Burakovsky will be in line for big raises as restricted free agents.
The Capitals have a 10-point advantage in the race for the Presidents' Trophy, and seem to have their best shot at winning in the Alex Ovechkin/Nicklas Backstrom era, especially with Vezina favorite Braden Holtby locking things down in net.
It's not quite now or never for Washington, but anything less than a trip to the Final would be a disappointment.
TORONTO - If anyone can understand the difficult spot Eric Staal is in, it's probably his Carolina Hurricanes teammate - and younger brother - Jordan.
In the summer of 2012, Jordan Staal signed a 10-year, $60-million contract with Carolina. He was reportedly offered a similar deal to stay with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but was traded after turning it down. The lure of playing alongside Eric was too good to pass up.
Now four seasons into playing together as teammates, Eric’s name is front and center as the Feb. 29 trade deadline approaches. Although it's entirely Eric’s choice if he wants to stay or go, the club's recent success complicates matters a little bit.
Playoffs, or the future?
Carolina is 4-2-2 in its last eight games heading into Thursday night’s matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Staal scored his first goal in 17 games in Tuesday’s 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. His production has dipped, his 32 points far below what's expected of a No. 1 center. But at times he shows flashes of the player he used to be.
The Hurricanes' recent run has the team in the thick of the wild-card race. Only two points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins in its push for the playoffs, trading Eric could send a message to the team that its goal is to win in the future, not today.
"It's obviously been a tough time for Eric and it is what it is," Jordan said. "It's a business and we want to make the playoffs. We're trying to push for that and that's been my goal."
Perception is key
Although trading Eric Staal could be a sign Carolina's looking to the future, an argument could be made that pulling the trigger on a deal won't do much damage to the team's playoff hopes. His 0.52 points per game this season is his lowest mark since his rookie year in 2003-04, when he had 31 points in 81 games. A change of scenery for No. 12 could be a win for both him and the team.
But Eric isn’t going it alone. His support system is better than most going through a similar situation. He has his brother by his side, who he can vent to and talk things out with, and that helps in keeping the speculation from becoming a distraction.
"It is a weird situation. Obviously we are close and we talk," Jordan said. "He’s been doing really well with it. He hasn't brought it into the room or anything like that. It's an awkward situation, but he's come to the rink, ready to work and ready to play everyday and that's all you can ask for."
Raleigh to Broadway?
It's up to Eric to decide if he wants to stay or go. Much like Jordan’s desire to leave Pittsburgh to play with his brother, Eric can decide he wants to play out the remainder of the season in Carolina - thanks to a no-movement clause in his contract, which expires this summer. There's also the substantial $8.25-million cap hit that any interested team would have to absorb - and many contending teams are tight up against the cap. Trading for Eric has to be worth it. And only one team comes to mind: The New York Rangers.
With family an X-factor in his decision-making process, there exists an opportunity for Eric to play with another Staal brother - Marc, who anchors the blue line in Manhattan. And the Rangers' chances at a Stanley Cup are far greater than the Hurricanes'. It’s arguably the situation that makes the most sense.
Other contending teams aren’t likely to trade for Eric Staal, due to the cost and the fact he'll be taken out of his comfort zone. He's only known the Hurricanes. So it becomes Carolina or New York.
“Brothers stealing brothers, that’s not what I want to see,” said Jordan, with a smile.
Jakub Voracek didn't leave room for interpretation when describing the importance of the six-game homestand the Flyers will navigate over the next 11 days.
"We've got to make at least 10 points out of these next six games," he said, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman.
"This is going to define if we're going to make the playoffs or not; this homestand."
Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray held court with the media Thursday, talking about his team's options ahead of Monday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.
After a horrific start to the season, the Ducks are flying. They've won six in a row and are only two points back of the Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division.
"I'm sure not selling now," Murray said, according to the Los Angeles Times' Helene Elliott. "I've saved enough in my budget to do something if I think it will help us."
The Ducks will have over $35 million in cap space on deadline day, according to generalfanager.com.
The executive also talked about Anaheim's early season struggles.
"The start of the year was a circus and I couldn't get control of it quick enough," he said. "I've got to be harder on certain situations in the years going forward."
Murray praised his coach and his players for digging themselves out of a deep hole. He also said he tried to negotiate new contracts with some of his restricted free agents - Sami Vatanen, Hampus Lindholm, and Rickard Rakell need new deals - in December, but "got nowhere."
"It's going to be an interesting summer around here, I'll tell you that," he said.
With his name flying around in trade rumors ahead of the NHL's Feb. 29 deadline, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis gave a candid interview on TSN 1040, reiterating that he hasn't been asked to waive his no-trade clause.
"Everything is in the realm of possibility because there's so many moving parts," the pending unrestricted free agent said. "It's not fun seeing all the speculation."
Hamhuis is in the final season of a contract paying him $4.25 million while carrying a cap hit of $4.5 million. The 33-year-old is from British Columbia, so potentially leaving the team he came home to play for presents an agonizing decision.
"This is not what you play for," he said. "You play to be in a playoff race."
The Canucks are 10 points back in the Western Conference wild-card race. It's all but officially over, and the team's reportedly "open for business" in the trade market.
Hamhuis could waive his no-trade clause, go to a contender to try and win a Stanley Cup, then return to Vancouver as a free agent in the offseason.
Hamhuis on leaving, then returning: That's one of the options. And a very interesting one. We've loved Vancouver and would welcome more
The injury came while McDonagh was playing in just his second game since being punched and concussed by Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds on Feb. 6.
Marc Staal will also return to the lineup Thursday night after missing Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils.
