****Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the three women who lost their lives in the LA Fitness Health Club (Bridgeville, PA) shootings Tuesday night.***
The New Jersey Devils have been rather quiet this off-season, mostly impart due to financial troubles.
The Devils officially brought back Brendan Shanahan yesterday and the team has offers on the table to Petr Sykora and Mike Grier.
Both offers are believed to be under $1.5 million per season.
Sykora remains in talks with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers are his first choice but need to create some cap space.
Ryan Malone continues to push hard for the Lightning to sign Sykora. Sykora is seeking a two year deal to join the Lightning.
The Red Wings announced this morning that they have signed Jason Williams to a one year deal. That takes another team out of the mix for Sykora.
Shanahan will receive a salary of $1 million per season.
*Look for Pittsburgh native Dylan Reese (Upper St. Clair, PA) to sign in the next couple weeks. Reese is mulling two way offers from the Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Reese still has the option of returning to the Coyotes organization but he is leaning towards signing with Columbus.
*Dany Heatley remains with the Ottawa Senators and there is not a three way deal in the works between the Sharks – Canadiens – Senators.
The Rangers, Oilers are now out, along with the Blues who were never a serious suitor. Chuck Fletcher and the Minnesota Wild remain highly interested in Heatley but it’s believed Senators GM Bryan Murray told Fletcher that Dany likely won’t waive his NTC to Minnesota.
Where Heatley would love to play is for the LA Kings.
*The Islanders have not made an official offer to Miroslav Satan. There is more interest from Satan’s camp in returning to New York but Islanders GM Garth Snow has not ruled out a possible return of Satan.
*Vancouver has expressed early interest in Nikolai Zherdev, along with the Atlanta Thrashers and Toronto Maple Leafs.
The KHL remains a strong possibility if Zherdev doesn’t receive upwards of $3.5 million per season.
*The Vancouver Canucks are reportedly close to signing goaltender Roberto Luongo to a a long-term extension. The deal is expected to be worth $40-$45 million over 5-6 years.