With Monday night's Stanley Cup clinching win by the Los Angeles Kings, the National Hockey League off season is officially upon us.
And even though the thought of a hockeyless summer may seem daunting for fans, there is plenty to look forward to. The NHL hands out its yearly awards a week from now in Las Vegas and then just two days later the Entry Draft will be held in Pittsburgh.
A few bits and pieces of Senators related news to get you through this Wednesday afternoon.
- Malcolm Subban was in town yesterday and word is the club is expected to bring in more players today and later on this week. Other than Subban, no names have surfaced but I'll be sure to update here and on Twitter when the info becomes available.
- Still no update in the negotiations with Erik Karlsson as the Senators have yet to submit a formal offer to the restricted free agent defenceman. A week from now, Erik Karlsson should have his first Norris Trophy in tow which should give him a little additional leverage in negotiations.
- Karlsson’s defence partner, Filip Kuba, is still expected to hit the free agent market on July 1. The Sens have softened their stance a little bit and hinted that they would be interested in brining Kuba back but only on a short term deal at a lower cap hit. Can't imagine Kuba would be interested in that kind of deal after a solid bounce back season in 2011/2012.
- Meanwhile, reports suggest that Matt Gilroy, who is also scheduled to be a UFA on July 1, has already been told he won’t be coming back. Garrioch suggests the Senators would like to bring back Matt Carkner and Jesse Winchester but have yet to make up their mind on Zenon Konopka.
- Adding a top six forward remains one of the top priorities for the Senators this off season. Up front, they could go the trade route and try to hit a home run with a guy like Rick Nash or Bobby Ryan. Still think Rick Nash is a guy the Sens will seriously consider. Options are limited in free agency but you can bet that if Zach Parise hits the open market (which seems very unlikely) the Senators would show interest. Don't be surprised to hear PA Parenteau's name come up in connection with the Sens although I worry what he might bring in on the open market.
- It has been and will continue to be the elephant in the room this off season. With all the excitement over the Draft and free agency, there is a dark cloud that hangs over the 2012/2013 season. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire and the process of hammering out a new one will be anything but smooth. TSN’s Bob McKenzie was answering questions on Twitter last week and suggested that he would be surprised if the season actually started on time. Would be a damn shame to see the league fail to capitalize on the momentum of the Los Angeles Kings winning a cup and giving the game a huge boost in a significant North American market.
- Hope to make it down to Big Rig Brewery tonight for some birthday celebrations. For those that are interest, I’ll try to post some reviews and reactions on Twitter and in the comment section.
