Free Agency Buzz: Updates on Tallinder, Gonchar, Kovalchuk, others

DePaoli’s NHL Free Agency Twitter Updates Ilya Kovalchuk enters the free agent market as this years top prize but coming up with more than two definite suitors has been difficult. Although there are some rumblings that LA Kings GM Dean Lombardi wants to stay away from Kovalchuk, Kings ownership fully intends to make a run at the 27 year old winger. The other known suitor includes the New Jersey Devils who continue to have daily contact with Kovalchuk’s agent Jay Grossman. Now onto some potential wild cards/sleepers New York Rangers — Just about anyone connected with the Rangers say they won’t be in the mix. The Rangers currently have about $47 million committed to 15 players and have to pay

The Latest NHL Free Agency Buzz

Free Agency Buzz *The Atlanta Thrashers will be shopping for wingers this off-season. Contract talks with winger Maxim Afinogenov have gone nowhere and Colby Armstrong has already made his intentions known that he intends to test free agency. Afinogenov, 30, is coming off a breakout season scoring 24 goals and 61 points. Afinogenov is looking for a significant raise over his $800,000 salary from 2009-2010 but a stumbling block in talks with the Thrashers has been the term of the contract. Afinogenov is seeking a mult-year deal and Thrashers management doesn’t appear ready to commit beyond two years. Look for Alexei Ponikarovsky to be a target of the Thrashers. *Hurricanes winger Ray Whitney and Sabres winger Raffi Torres will test

NHL: Canucks, Penguins to battle for Paul Kariya once again?

Tuesday, January 26, 2010 Bruins in on Whitney, Tkachuk The Boston Bruins are free falling in the standings and the Bruins are making a hard attempt to land Ray Whitney before the Olympic break. The Bruins have also be engaged in trade talks with the St. Louis Blues regarding forward Keith Tkachuk but the Blues aren’t ready to move the veteran forward. The asking price for Ray Whitney is a first round pick and a mid-tier prospect. A steep price for teams like Pittsburgh that won’t go that high. Vancouver, Calgary, Los Angeles, are among a number of teams interested. Maple Leafs mulling trade options The Globe and Mail reports, Toronto Maple Leafs have to make a decision at goaltender. The

Ice Report: Pressure building on Kings GM Dean Lombardi

Inside the NHL Lombardi looking to make major splash Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi is not in any danger of losing his job but pressure is building on Lombardi to get the Kings in the playoffs. The Kings are the 8th seed at this moment in the Western Conference and missing the playoffs for the fourth straight season under Lombardi is what will put his job in jeopardy beyond next season. Kings management saw this season as the year that the Kings take the next step and while there have been signs of that, it still might not be enough to get into the playoffs. With the trade deadline less than 8 weeks away, Lombardi is believed to be