from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet,

- Seeing Paul Byron (two more years, $6.8 million in cash) and Adam Henrique (three more years, $17.5 million) clear waivers sends two very clear messages. First, there aren’t many teams interested in taking on money. Second, this summer will not be a bonanza — don’t bet on a free-agent windfall.

- In 2019–20, there were 175 Professional Hockey Writers Association voters for the Hart, Norris, Calder, Selke and Byng: 88 from the United States; 82 from Canada; four from Sweden; and one from Finland. The issue this season is everyone’s primarily watching their own division. The voter list will change here and there, but using last season’s numbers: 82 Canada (I threw all of the Canadian-based national reporters and broadcasters in here), 36 East, 20 Central, 18 West, five Europe. There are also 15 U.S.-based broadcasters/reporters who don’t fit neatly into a divisional box.

In short, there’s a Canadian numerical advantage....

- I believe this about Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: He wants to be an Oiler. Edmonton wants to keep him. When you have that foundation, you’re in a good place. The biggest challenge: The economic landscape is recovering slower than everyone hoped.

- According to multiple sources, a lot of the dispute between the Coyotes and former associate GM Steve Sullivan was about specific duties outlined in his contract. They were asking him to do things he felt were not in his responsibilities. They fired him for cause and he’s going to fight it.

- There were reports out of Russia last week about Chicago and Detroit chasing soon-to-be 27-year-old right winger Damir Zhafyarov from KHL Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. They might be the most aggressive, but aren’t the only ones. He’s third in league scoring, with 59 points in 56 games.

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