Notebook Buzz
Av’s don’t plan to enter Goaltending Market
The Colorado Avalanche are a dreadful hockey team that has received bad goaltending the last couple years.
Yet, folks shouldn’t waste much time firing up any Marc Andre Fleury to Colorado rumors this summer.
The Avalanche plan to stick with high priced goaltender Semyon Varlamov and Calvin Pickard.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported on the NHL Network Tuesday that all signs point to the Avalanche staying committed to Varlamov.
COL taking a long look at Jussi Parkilla as goalie coach. Would come over from KHL, long history with Varlamov. First such Finn in NHL?
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 24, 2017
NHL Source: Coaching hire in Buffalo will have impact on Kane’s future
Sabres General Manager Jason Botterill was a big fan of winger Evander Kane from a far but the new Sabres GM is in a tricky position as Kane’s entering the final year of his contract.
Despite the impressive even strength goal production in a stagnant Dan Bylsma system, Kane’s a risk to sign long-term for a club looking to change the culture inside the room, needs to upgrade their D and Botterill might be met with resistance from those above him.
Kane is also repped by Newport Sports who love to go to free agency.
Nonetheless, there’s going to be a ton of Kane chatter leading into the draft.
League sources, though, believe a hiring of Rick Tocchet could increase the chances that the Sabres take a chance and gamble on trying to sign Kane long-term in that Tocchet would likely embrace the opportunity to coach and get the most out of a player like Kane.
Whoever is hired as the Sabres head coach is going to have some key input on what to do with Kane.
Penguins primed to get calls on Conor Sheary?
The looming expansion draft has trade talks being much more frequent at this time of the year.
Teams still playing are also getting their share of trade calls from clubs putting out feelers.
That includes the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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