[sureLoss]

Might as well start a new thread with a blast from McKenzie on the eve of the draft

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
Cup champs TB have let it be known to other teams they aim to be aggressive in offloading ��. How aggressive? Hearing teams have been told only four Bolts are unavailable/untouchable: Vasilevskiy; Hedman; Point; Kucherov. Presumably, RFAs Cirelli, Sergachev and Cernak, too.

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
A big reason for moving �� is to be able to sign those young RFAs. Notably absent from untouchable list is captain Steven Stamkos. That doesn’t guarantee Stamkos will be dealt but it’s within realm of possibility though his health could obviously be a factor.

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
The point is multiple bodies may need to go. Stamkos may or may not end up being one of them, but he doesn’t appear to be exempt from that consideration, as Vasilevskiy, Hedman, Kucherov and Point are. Complicating things is so many teams trying to shed ��. Interesting week.




Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
As @DarrenDreger reported Monday, ARI is shopping Taylor Hall’s UFA rights. We’re also waiting to see if STL makes one final effort to re-sign captain Alex Pietrangelo before he is scheduled to go to the open market at noon ET on Friday.




Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
Although bought-out ex-NYR goalie Henrik Lundqvist is currently UFA, he cannot formalize an agreement until Friday. That said, the word on the street is that WSH is the clear frontrunner for the King’s services on what would presumably be a short-term, bargain contract.

Bob McKenzie
@TSNBobMcKenzie
That would make sense both ways. WSH would get capable vet on affordable deal to platoon/push burgeoning No. 1 Ilya Samsonov, who’s only 23. Lundqvist would get good chance to play decent number of games on a team with a chance to contend. And in the Metro Division, no less. ��