BUSY DRAFT COULD LEAD TO BUSY WEEK

LOS ANGELES, CA — You wanted trades? You got ‘em. Friday and Saturday were busy, very busy. Not only did we see multiple blockbusters, but there was also more activity around the NHL as teams had convo after convo trying to complete other deals.

No, we didn’t see Jack Eichel move. Not yet. Those talks will continue, but Buffalo is holding firm on their asking price. The Sabres want at least four pieces for Eichel. That hasn’t changed. And a 2022 first-round pick is something they covet in a package that includes at least one top prospect and two young, NHL-proven players.

I think Calgary, Los Angeles, Anaheim and Vegas have continued to go back and forth. I’m not convinced the New York Rangers are paying the price, and I don’t think Minnesota wants to, either. Florida and Boston poked around, along with other teams.

Eichel Watch 2021 will carry out into the week. There’s chatter teams want to know if they have a shot at acquiring him by the start of free agency. But there aren’t any big-name free agent centres this summer – David Krejci and Phil Danault are the top two – and the Sabres could care less. Pay up or shut up, basically.

The Sabres did well in their returns for Rasmus Ristolainen and Sam Reinhart. They have to find a goalie and fill some holes via free agency. So, there’s more to come in Buffalo outside of whatever happens with Eichel.

Outside of Upstate New York, we’ll start to hear more about another big-name player a few states away in Buckeye territory.

The Columbus Blue Jackets, also very active, will start contract talks with pending restricted free agent Patrik Laine.

As I reported last week, Columbus started doing its due diligence over what the market could look like if Laine were up for grabs, again, in case contract negotiations go sideways. There will be a lot of interest in him if he’s available. It all comes down to the type of contract he wants and if Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen is willing to accept a big number.

The Blue Jackets surprised a lot of people, including the player himself, by moving Cam Atkinson, but it’s clear what direction the team is going in. If Laine’s contract demands are too much for Jarmo’s liking, he’ll take offers.

SHARKS LISTENING ON MEIER

The San Jose Sharks have taken calls on winger Timo Meier. Whispers of his availability got louder over the NHL Draft and there was some belief they were willing to move him for a high first-round pick. Clearly, that didn’t happen, but he’s still believed to be available.

Meier, 24, has two-years left on his contract and comes with a $6 million salary cap hit. He’s controllable, too, as he’ll be a restricted free agent after his deal expires.

The Sharks are also in the market for a third-line centre and have been combing through the trade market for one. They’ll expand their search once free agency begins if they haven’t filled the void by Wednesday.

ACTIVE HABS LOOKING FOR DEFENCEMAN

The Montreal Canadiens are trying to find someone to step into Shea Weber’s spot in the lineup. You won’t be able to replace him, but the Habs are going to be fishing for a right-shot defenceman.

Two pending free agents they will be in on are Dougie Hamilton and David Savard. I reported earlier in the week that Montreal has already kicked the tires on Hamilton, who was given permission to speak with other teams ahead of July 28, but I’m not sure if they give him between $7 million and $8 million per season on a long-term contract, even if that would be a swap of Weber’s deal.

The Habs had interest in Savard before the Lightning acquired him mid-season and I expect them to circle back this week once the free agent doors swing open.

Both players are the radars of a lot of teams, including New Jersey and Colorado.

Meanwhile, the Canadiens haven’t closed the door on Phillip Danault, but they’re going to explore all of their options. In addition to bolster the blueline, the Habs want to add a top-six forward and not necessarily a centre.

As I reported this week, they’ve gone back and forth with Buffalo about Eichel, but I’m not convinced they have ‘la voglia’ (the want or desire) to get it done by giving up the package the Sabres want. Jesperi Kotkaniemi would be part of the mix, but neither Cole Caufield nor Nick Suzuki are up for grabs. If the Habs want an upgrade at centre, do they focus on Evgeny Kuznetsov instead?

DEVILS EXPLORING GOALIE MARKET

The New Jersey Devils have been active around the NHL looking for a veteran goaltender to add to their roster to push, or split the duties with, Mackenzie Blackwood.

There have been some rumblings the Devils spoke with the Vegas Golden Knights about Marc-Andre Fleury and Robin Lehner, and the Vancouver Canucks about Braden Holtby.

My understanding is Fleury isn’t going anywhere. Lehner? I’m not entirely sure, but I would be a little surprised. Teams, including the Devils, would like Vancouver to retain a bit on the final year of Holtby’s contract. We’ll see if New Jersey or another team can pull it off.

If the trade route doesn’t work out, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald will try to find a vet in the free agent market.

BUYOUTS CLOSING IN ON DEALS

Buyout veterans Keith Yandle, Zach Parise and Ryan Suter have gotten a head start on contract discussions with teams and are narrowing down their options. They can talk to teams, but can’t sign until Wednesday.

Boston is one of the teams that have chatted with Yandle and Suter. I can see Yandle locking in on a one-year deal, but Suter seems to be looking for two-to-three years. The Islanders are in on Suter, but so are a few other clubs and I suspect St. Louis, Colorado, Florida and Dallas will be in the mix.

It seems pretty obvious Parise and the Islanders are a match, but as of Sunday morning, I’m told nothing is done and other teams are sniffing around. I think there’s a strong fit, though.

All three players want to make their decisions by Monday or Tuesday.

Tony DeAngelo and Jake Virtanen will also receive interest, but both players will likely lock into ‘show me’ deals and prove themselves all over again.

QUICK HITS

• Nothing new on the Gabriel Landeskog front. There haven’t been any meaningful conversations with the Colorado Avalanche in recent days. The two sides will surely reconnect prior to the start of free agency, but at the team this piece gets published, it’s all quiet.

• Since I’m in Los Angeles, I might as well quickly touch on the Kings, who had a very good draft weekend. General Manager Rob Blake is still on the lookout for a top-six forward and a left-shot defenceman. He’ll continue to fish around the trade market and I expect him to dip his toe in the free agency pool this week.

• Conor Garland and Sam Reinhart will begin contract talks with their new clubs in the next day or two. No concern from either side (team or agent – for clarity, they have different agents) that deals will be worked out. Both are absolutely pumped to be on their new teams.

• Alec Martinez is mulling over a short-term offer from the Golden Knights. I believe the AAV is less than the $4 million he had on his previous contract. He likes it in Vegas, but can he get a bigger deal elsewhere? A decision is near.

• Alex Ovechkin is expected to sign a four-year deal worth around $10 million with Washington once all is said and done. They’re trying to shed salary (Kuznetsov) and will continue their trade talks.

• I believe Seattle’s received interest in Vince Dunn. With their stacked backend, could the Kraken package him for an upgrade up front?