from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet,

- Now that Seattle is done, Ottawa rockets towards the top of Bettman’s to-do list. He was tight-lipped, simply saying he is “disappointed” by what’s happened. He wouldn’t want anything to overshadow the expansion news, but I’d also bet two other things: there is delicate information he wants to keep private and he knows the situation is a tinderbox, easily turned into a five-alarm blaze. Keep the gasoline far, far away. There’s work to be done.

- Arizona owner Andrew Barroway put up some last-minute resistance to moving from the Pacific Division to the Central, but it was too late. There’s logic in thinking this eases a move to Houston, but Daly said “one has nothing to do with the other.” It’s been reported there is a sale brewing, and that’s believed to be true. It will be interesting to see if new owners have any objection to leaving the Pacific, and what that could mean. The NHLPA also has to approve the change, just like it did for the 2013–14 league-wide realignment.

- According to multiple sources, Pittsburgh “tested the market” on Phil Kessel. This one is tricky, because the Penguins appear to have decided to hold off on anything involving him for the time being, but that doesn’t mean it can’t or won’t be revisited. Three weeks ago, the Penguins were last in the Eastern Conference. Tuesday’s win over Colorado put them within two points of the playoffs, and who is betting against them?...

more on Kessel and Thoughts too...