Penguins/NHL
TIOPS Rumor Mill
The Matt Cullen situation is not expected to drag on much longer (decision could come Tuesday) and the holdup on where to sign hasn’t been about Cullen waiting for the Penguins to clear cap space, (something they’ve decided against) Inside Pittsburgh Sports has learned.
The Penguins on Friday believed Cullen was headed [hide] to Minnesota and so did Cullen, per a source close to the situation, but the Wild informed the Cullen camp late Friday they needed a few days to mull over their cap situation over before moving forward on a possible deal.
Cullen’s first choice is to return to Minnesota and end his career in his home state something that’s been made clear to the Wild.
Minnesota clearly drives the bus right now on whether Cullen returns to Pittsburgh or goes elsewhere for the money.
Pittsburgh has an offer that remains on the table to Cullen for around $1.2 million and the door has been pretty much closed to moving salary to accommodate a bigger offer to Cullen.
Cullen drew serious interest from four teams on July 1 and another attractive situation is also said to be in play if Minnesota decides to go in another direction.
The Cullen camp has been shooting for a significant raise, eyeing in the neighborhood of $3 million per season, though, if something gets done with Minnesota, I won’t be surprised if it’s around $2 million per season.
More Buzz
— Following some conversations with Nick Bonino’s agent Peter Fish at the draft, the Penguins are now of the mindset an extension for Bonino before next July is going to cost at least $5 million per season. No extension talks are now planned this month.
— Eric Fehr’s name was out there a lot last week and prior to July 1, league sources say the St. Louis targeted Fehr in a trade bolster their bottom-6 depth with Ty Rattie discussed as coming the other way. Sources say St. Louis was rebuffed by the Penguins and the deal is now dead. Some teams out West really like Fehr.
— Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray expressed his displeasure on Friday of a UFA goaltender reneging on a verbal agreement to sign with Buffalo. Who was it?
The Jeff Zatkoff camp denies it was Zatkoff but a Sabres source says Zatkoff informed head coach Dan Bylsma he would be signing with the Sabres. Zatkoff signed a 2 year, $1.8 million contract with the Kings.[/hide]
