Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

On Letang, Ryan trade rumors and Lecavalier's status

06/27/2013 at 9:58pm EDT

Updated 4x at 10:38 PM: Amongst some Thursday evening signing and/or trade rumors...

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Rob Rossi went on both Toronto sports radio stations yesterday evening to posit the suggestion that Kris Letang's agent might attempt to engineer a trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs if the Penguins don't extend his contract, and this evening, Rossi suggests that the Penguins have made the Letang camp a substantial offer, but expect an answer from Letang post-haste:

Letang was offered an eight-year contract at around $54 million (total), sources told the Tribune-Review. The Penguins' proposal contained little wiggle room, and the club would like to get a response — even in the form of a counter offer — by the weekend, the sources said.

Free agency begins July 5, and the Penguins do not want to arrive at that date without resolution on Letang's future, the sources said.

The Penguins are agreeable to paying Letang slightly over $7 million annually, sources said.

Rossi also sets out some possible trade destinations for Letang not involving Toronto...

The Penguins would want at least one NHL player under contract for several seasons, a top prospect and a first-round pick in exchange for Letang, the sources said.

If a trade were necessary, the Penguins would prefer to move Letang to the Western Conference, and they are intrigued by prospects with Anaheim and Vancouver, the sources said.

In other news, it seems like the Anaheim Ducks have been trying to trade Bobby Ryan forever, and the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch says that the Senators are among many teams on the hunt for Ryan's services heading into the draft on Sunday:

Three league executives said Thursday the No. 1 target for many teams is Anaheim Ducks winger Bobby Ryan. Signed for $5.1 million through 2014-15, Ryan, 26, fits the bill for what Murray wants to add to his team.

Instead of bringing in an aging veteran just to provide leadership, Murray wants a player that will grow with the young core. Ryan's best years are ahead of him and this isn't the first time the Senators have coveted the young scorer.

The issue is simple: The Senators aren't alone in their pursuit, but they may be one of the few teams with the assets to make a deal happen. The talk is the Ducks would like to get a defencemen in return if they are going to move Ryan.

"He's the guy everybody wants," said a league executive Thursday.

Sources say the Ducks' asking price is high. They'll want a No. 1 pick, a defenceman or a top-end prospect in return for Ryan. The Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks are among those teams that have also had talks with Anaheim.

He continues and states other possible Senators targets...

And finally, ESPN and TSN's Pierre LeBrun clarified Vincent Lecavalier's status in terms of his ability to find a landing spot after the Lightning have bought him out, and he added a note about the Chicago Blackhawks' desire to retain Bryan Bickell as well:

Also:

Update: things got interesting in a hurry:

Update #2: Oy.

Update #3:

Update #4: Oy. Part 2.

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About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

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