from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

- Are the Buffalo Sabres waiting to see what the Washington Capitals do with Barry Trotz before naming a head coach? That does make some sense if somehow the Caps let Trotz go.

- Buffalo will be better next season. Tampa Bay will be better. Florida will be better. Carolina will be better. Philadelphia should be better. The challenge next season in the Eastern Conference: Making the playoffs.

- Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the NHL “will get past” not participating in the 2018 Olympics. Sure, the league will. The fans won’t. And the players who don’t get to go, won’t. But why worry about them?

- If I’m GM Bob Murray in Anaheim, I’m having an uncomfortable conversation with Corey Perry at the end of the playoffs. Yes, Perry has scored a bunch of overtime goals this post-season. But I’m asking him to waive his no movement clause so he could be available to be claimed in the expansion draft. Odds are, because of his high salary the Vegas franchise would not touch him. But would you have that conversation? Same with Kevin Bieksa.

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