Latest Rumblings around the League on Miller, Iginla, Niskanen, Hemsky, Orpik & more

— Lots of talk that Ryan Miller will get around $6 million per season on a three to four year deal and the Vancouver Canucks have emerged as the front runners to sign him.

The Tampa Bay Lightning did some wheeling and dealing tonight. They sent Teddy Purcell to Edmonton in exchange for Sam Gagner than flipped Gagner to Arizona for a 6th round pick. They cleared over 3 million in cap space. The Lightning’s wishlist includes signing a top-4 right handed defenseman, Matt Niskanen and Dan Boyle are one of the targets, and they’re in on Jarome Iginla.

— Speaking of Iginla, an NHL source said late tonight the Red Wings, Lightning, Wild, and Ducks are among five teams on Iginla’s “expanded list” with things up in the air with Boston right now. He would like a two year deal. Wouldn’t be a surprise if Colorado emerges as a team he also considers.

— Florida and Colorado are among the teams courting Ales Hemsky. He’ll have options on July 1. Pittsburgh has talked with his camp and he’s seen as a possible target if the Penguins are unable to strike a deal with top target Nikolai Kulemin. The same Penguins pro scouts who liked Hemsky at the trade deadline are still here.

— Christian Ehrhoff being bought out has added a new dynamic to the Matt Niskanen front. The Red Wings who are very high on Niskanen’s list, are said to be a bit turned off by Niskanen’s asking price which is believed to be in the neighborhood of 7 years, $40 million.

While the Red Wings haven’t closed the door on Niskanen, Many believe the Red Wings will turn their attention to Ehrhoff. There’s no good sense yet where Niskanen will end up. Minnesota is not considered a slam dunk like some thought a few days ago. Washington is also high on his list.

— The Buffalo Sabres have made a strong push for Brooks Orpik and are said to be willing to throw big money at Orpik as they covet a leader around their young team. Orpik was raised in Buffalo but hard to see him going to a rebuilding team but we’ll see. The Capitals were among the first calls the Orpik camp received on Thursday.

— Look for the Columbus Blue Jackets to add a top-4 defenseman. Most scouts feel they are one impact defenseman away from being a real threat in the East.

— Rangers center Dominic Moore is looking for around a three year deal worth $2 million per season, and a limited no trade clause, per source.