from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet,

- There’s more than one NHL exec who thinks Lou Lamoriello would love to get his hands on Travis Zajac.

- Not surprised Colorado got Erik Johnson signed before the final year of his contract. Last year, when the NHL asked who should be the Avalanche’s All-Star Game representative, they felt Johnson was most deserving. (He did not play due to injury.) Talks heated up when Johnson attended Andy O’Brien’s annual fitness camp earlier this month in Vail, as agent Pat Brisson took a side trip to see Joe Sakic. It settled in the last week when Johnson, who did not want this going into the season, met with Sakic and Patrick Roy. “They wanted to keep the average salary at $6 million because there are players they have to sign, and I was willing to do that if they agreed to a longer term.” Presto, seven years and $42 million.

- Opponents are watching the Rangers’ Oscar Lindberg, who must clear waivers to be sent down to AHL Hartford. He played centre in game one, and scored. He played wing in game two, and scored. He’s regularly in the middle, but New York is loaded there. The expectation (from outside) is he makes it, but if he doesn’t, extremely unlikely he clears. And the Rangers are well aware of that.

more