Hoss

Vancouver confirmed that Radim Vrbata, Yannick Weber and Matt Bartkowski will all be let go in free agency.

To be fair, this was actually first reported by our own John Vogl but Friedge put him on the track. Friedman reported that the Blades announcement today was that Bob Woods would be leaving and said Buffalo was interested. Vogl was then the first to report it definitively.

It doesn't just seem unlikely, it's against the rules. But that's not the full roster, anyways.

Panthers have confirmed. NMC in first six years, limited NTC in the seventh.

Maybe Jarmo is worried about Puljujarvi's knee surgery

LeBrun: Keith Yandle has agreed to terms with the Florida Panthers: seven years and $6.35 million average per season

Many convinced #CBJ trading the No. 3 overall pick. It's all over the place across the league. Could Jarmo know something about the Finns? From Aaron Portzline of Columbus Dispatch

I'm going to assume that what most Sabres fans would be willing to give for Subban would be about half of what it would actually take. I don't mean that in a bad way. Just because a great player is available doesn't mean your favorite team has to sell the house to acquire them. That said, I would go hard after Subban. If the price is as outrageous as I expect I probably would back off.

I agree on "anybody but Eichel." Would you do Reinhart and Risto for Subban? I imagine we'd still need to add to that.

McKenzie and Lavoie both reported today that the phone calls to Montreal on Subban have picked up a lot in the last two days. This is probably because Subban's NTC kicks in on the 1st. McKenzie said he knows of ten teams with serious interested. General feeling is that a trade is still very unlikely. What would you give for Subban?

I think there will be several two-year deals that would normally be one year. There is a surprising number of teams who are currently non-compliant with the expansion rules. That and certain vets know this could be their only chance of guaranteeing an NHL paycheck for more than one additional season. Now teams also understand these players they give two-year deals are highly unlikely to get taken in the expansion draft because Vegas isn't going to be poaching David Legwand-types for every spot in their lineup. Non-compliance penalties sound like they will be severe.

I want this to get to August 15th just so all the Leafs and Bruins fans can start talking just to watch Jimmy still sign with us.

The draft isn't until next year. Again, it doesn't matter what you call him right now. He will be first-year pro when the draft takes place. He will play in Rochester this season.

Yea, a signed prospect would be a "first-year pro..."

Selke to Anze Kopitar

Vlad Tarasenko wins the NHL Cover Vote. Here's the first trailer (featuring a closeup of Jack and, still, incorrect numbers on the Sabres sweaters): https://youtu.be/9wQHZVUKWGQ

Drew Doughty finally wins a Norris Trophy

That was my wording, not the league. Their official ruling clarifies first or second year pros. I think we all know it would obviously include first-year pros, too...

Mark Messier Award (leadership): Shea Weber

Yes, but he said they have other options and isn't sure if that's the right name for the hockey club. He also said during a live interview on NHL Network that they need league approval for names (which might mean the league is hesitant to approve Black Knights). He backed off the name today during the initial presser so it seems only somewhat likely at best. They also backed off the initial announcement that black, gold and silver will be their colors. Some have indicated that the success of vibrant-colored teams like the Ducks and Sharks having early success and being well received may be the reason they're reconsidering colors.

Just going to throw this up in case anybody is interested in hearing who wins what awards... Calder: Artemi Panarin, Chicago Eichel finished 4th behind Panarin, Gostisbehere and McDavid in that order. Eichel received two first-place votes. Sam Reinhart finished ninth with just two fifth-place votes. Eichel had 449 "points" in the voting system while third-place McDavid had 858 and fifth-place Dylan Larkin had 170. Ted Lindsay (player-voted MVP): Patrick Kane GM of the Year: Jim Rutherford, Pittsburgh I may be wrong, but I believe this is the only award that is voted on after the postseason. Bill Masterson (perserverence and dedication): Jaromir Jagr This is one everybody assumed would go to Pascal Dupuis

It's whatever you are at the time of the expansion draft, but it's not relevant for Cornel since he would still be in the two (or less) year pros. Our only "prospect" that could be exposed is William Carrier.

You're still a second year pro if you completed your second season and the date is June 20th or 21st in 2017. That's not ambiguity, that's failure to understand. The league year doesn't end until July 1st. And NMCs expiring on July 1, 2017 don't have to be protected per reports but the league's official release actually doesn't clarify. I'm still operating under the assumption that they do not. That one is on the league for not clarifying.

Expansion rules released. Teams must submit their lists by June 17, 2017 at 5 pm. Expansion draft will take place over two days - June 20th and 21st, 2017. Team, as reported, will have the third odds in the draft lottery. They will pick third in every round outside of the first regardless of lottery results. Players with injuries that may be deemed career threatening are exempt, including those with MMC (David Clarkson, for one). To qualify the player has to have missed at least the 60 previous games. The Vegas franchise will get to pick one player per team, but they MAY be allowed to select more than one player if a team violates the expansion draft rules. 14 forwards, 9 dmen and 3 goalies are the positional requirements for the team. They need to take 20 players under contract through 2017-18. They need to fill at least 60% of the previous season's (meaning this coming season) salary (which is only $43.8 million). No players taken in the expansion draft can be bought out until the following offsesson. Teams can protect seven forwards, three dmen and one goalie OR eight skaters and one goalie. NMC MUST be protected and will count against the protection number UNLESS a player waives it. First and second year pros exempt (and unsigned draftees) and will NOT count against protected number. All clubs MUST expose one dman who is under contract through 2017-18 and has played 40 or more games in the previous season or 70 in the previous two. All clubs MUST expose two forwards who are under contract through 2017-18 and has played 40 or more games in the previous season or 70 in the previous two. All clubs MUST expose one goalie who is under contract for 2017-18 OR is a restricted free agent. I know most of this was known but this is from the NHL's OFFICIAL release. The Las Vegas team, per owner Bill Foley, is planning to have an official name, logo and jerseys by the beginning of this coming season so they can start selling jerseys. Vegas NOT guaranteed lottery pick beyond next offsesson. It will be determined based on standings.

69