(UPDATE 5:43 PM)- Couple others bits of news to pass along. The Senators have also signed RFA forward Cole Schneider. And in St. Louis, the Blues have signed forward Patrick Berglund to a 3 year contract worth $3,7 mil a season. His name has come often in Jason Spezza rumours.
(UPDATE 4:14 PM)- Tis the season for RFA contracts. The Senators have also come to terms with RFA defencemen Michael Sdao and Chris Wideman. Sdao got a two year deal while Wideman’s is for one.
(UPDATE 4:08 PM)- Start with a signing as according to Bob McKenzie, the Senators have agreed to a contract with defenceman Eric Gryba. It is a two year deal that will see Gryba earn $1.2 mil in the first year and $1.3 mil in year two.
With the NHL Entry Draft now just a little over 24 hours away, trade talks are predictably starting to ramp up. And while we don’t yet have a winner in the Jason Spezza Sweepstakes, it’s clear things are getting closer to some sort of resolution.
Bryan Murray met with the media this afternoon and offered up a couple interesting bits of information that may provide some insight into what we can expect leading up to tomorrow’s Draft. Murray mentioned that he is receiving more calls than usual and that there have been a few more teams calling than usual. In a comment that will certainly have people guessing, he says that one name came up that has not been mentioned before.
As you would expect, Murray emphasized that there is no timeline to get a Spezza trade completed, saying that it could go all summer or even into next season. That is the kind of thing Murray has to say at this point to ensure he is getting each team’s best offer. We know Ottawa would like to have a pick in the first round tomorrow so their preference is certainly to get a deal done before tomorrow night.
The offers aren’t “good enough” right now but it doesn’t seem like teams have really put their best trade proposals on the table just yet.
-AJ Jakubec from the TSN1200 suggested that the Senators and Panthers could make good trade partners this weekend. The Panthers do have some interest in Spezza but the two teams have also talked about another deal that does not involve Spezza. The Sens have shown interest in Erik Gudbranson in the past but Florida was quite reluctant to move him.
-Bruce Garrioch also provided an update from Philadelphia this afternoon, suggesting that the Blues, Ducks and Hawks were the most interested teams when it came to Spezza. Garrioch also suggested that if the Senators don’t get what they are asking for, they are willing to let this drag on beyond this weekend. Based on everything I’ve heard about their desire to grab a first round pick, I really can’t see that happening.
-Darren Dreger confirmed that St. Louis remains interested. Patrick Berglund was the name he mentioned but from what I’ve been told, that just won’t get it done for Ottawa. The Senators really don’t seem interested in a deal centred around Berglund. The Blues are going to have to put their best foot forward soon here or risk losing Spezza to a conference rival.
