Jared Bednar should be back no matter what the outcome is Adrian Dater: If the Colorado Avalanche were to lose in the first round for the second consecutive season, coach Jared Bednar would still be back with the team next season. There’s not a chance that they would fire him. Quick hits on the Blues, Red Wings, Penguins, Wild, Flyers, Kraken, Blue Jackets, Ducks, and Panthers Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: Drew Bannister will be a candidate for the full-time St. Louis Blues head coach. It’s believed GM Doug Armstrong wants to talk to David Carle of the University of Denver. The Blues are int ..read more

Shane Wright will get a good opportunity before the Seattle Kraken return him to the AHL TSN: Pierre LeBrun notes Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright is back with the team for the time being and skated with Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Eberle earlier this week. He’ll play some bigger minutes with the Kraken and then return for the AHL playoffs to gain more experience. He’s put up 20 goals in the 56 AHL games. Would the Chicago Blackhawks be interested in Trevor Zegras? Nate Brown of Chicago Hockey Now: Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras could be made available this offseason according to some re ..read more

Shane Wright will get a good opportunity before the Seattle Kraken return him to the AHL TSN: Pierre LeBrun notes Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright is back with the team for the time being and skated with Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Eberle earlier this week. He’ll play some bigger minutes with the Kraken and then return for the AHL playoffs to gain more experience. He’s put up 20 goals in the 56 AHL games. Would the Chicago Blackhawks be interested in Trevor Zegras? Nate Brown of Chicago Hockey Now: Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras could be made available this offseason according to some re ..read more

Will the Chicago Blackhawks go bridge or long-term with Alex Vlasic? Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago Blackhawks pending RFA defenseman Alex Vlasic said that extension talks haven’t gone “too deep.” The sides will have to decide if they want to go with a bridge deal or something long-term term. “But definitely thinking about it,” he said. “It’s in the back of my head right now. Hopefully at the end of the year, I’ll be able to work something out.” NHL Rumors: Vancouver Canucks – Hronek, Myers, Blueger, Joshua and Zadorov Was trading Elias Pettersson ever really an option? The Canucks ..read more

Will the Chicago Blackhawks go bridge or long-term with Alex Vlasic? Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago Blackhawks pending RFA defenseman Alex Vlasic said that extension talks haven’t gone “too deep.” The sides will have to decide if they want to go with a bridge deal or something long-term term. “But definitely thinking about it,” he said. “It’s in the back of my head right now. Hopefully at the end of the year, I’ll be able to work something out.” NHL Rumors: Vancouver Canucks – Hronek, Myers, Blueger, Joshua and Zadorov Was trading Elias Pettersson ever really an option? The Canucks ..read more

The Chicago Blackhawks wanted to keep their salary retention slots open Mario Tirabassi: Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson said teams did contact them about being a third-party broker but he wanted to keep their slots open. “Yeah, you get, you get feelers on that. I just, the ones that, that came to us just didn’t, I don’t think it made sense given we only have two retain salary spots left for a late round pick. Is just something I didn’t want to potentially limit ourselves, whether it be today or down the road or whatever, I just wanted to keep those spots open.” NHL Rumors: The Advantage o ..read more

On the Buffalo Sabres Lance Lysowski: Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams: “I’m not trading Alex Tuch. That was not something we have any interest in doing. … Not a guy in any way, shape or form that we’re looking to do anything with.” Lance Lysowski: The Sabres tired to find forward Victor Olofsson a new home for a free start but they weren’t able too. He’ll get more of an opportunity with the Sabres after Casey Mittelstadt and Kyle Okposo were traded. Mike Harrington: Sabres owner Terry Pegula loves Zemgus Girgensons and has for a long time and it’s clearly a factor on him not being traded. “And h ..read more

Little traction between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Ottawa Senators Anthony Di Marco: As of last night there wasn’t much traction in trade talks between the Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators. The sides may have been in contact yesterday. Will Jakob Chychrun become an option for the Lightning and Red Wings? David Pagnotta: Will the Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings turn their attention to Ottawa Senators Jakob Chychrun now that Noah Hanifin is heading to Vegas. The Lightning did check in on Chychrun. Could they look at Columbus Blue Jackets Ivan Provorov or Pittsburgh Penguins ..read more

The Colorado Avalanche may be short on assets but they still have some options  Corey Masisak of the Denver Post: The Colorado Avalanche have just over $2.2 million in available salary cap space. The Avs may not want to give up anyone else off their roster, but it’s a possibility. “You’d love to just be able to add and make your group better, but oftentimes someone goes the other way because of different pieces or to create flexibility and that sucks because we like all the guys that we have,” Bednar said. “They’ve been a big part of not just the success we’ve had this year but from years ..read more

The Colorado Avalanche may be short on assets but they still have some options  Corey Masisak of the Denver Post: The Colorado Avalanche have just over $2.2 million in available salary cap space. The Avs may not want to give up anyone else off their roster, but it’s a possibility. “You’d love to just be able to add and make your group better, but oftentimes someone goes the other way because of different pieces or to create flexibility and that sucks because we like all the guys that we have,” Bednar said. “They’ve been a big part of not just the success we’ve had this year but from years ..read more