from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal,

- The Carolina Hurricanes not in the mood to deal centre/captain Eric Staal, says general manager Ron Francis, but several National Hockey League people feel the Toronto Maple Leafs will eventually be making a big push for him. “They could trade Carolina (Nazem) Kadri and (Jake) Gardiner on defence,” said one longtime pro scout. Staal, who just turned 30, has this year and next at an $8.25 million salary cap hit. Gardiner is starting a five-year deal (cap hit $4.05 million) and Kadri’s contract is up after this year. The centre makes $2.9 million now. Toronto might have to throw in a draft pick and a prospect, too.

- What do the Hurricanes do with Alex Semin, their $7 million, I-only-play-hard-when-the-spirit-moves-me winger? Early betting is they buy him out after this season at two-thirds the $21 million still owed him and pay the $14 million over six years on their cap, and he goes back to Russia.

- So the NHL will be getting around to allowing advertising on jerseys like they do in Europe, according to chief operating officer John Collins. Makes sense in today’s times, a strip of advertising along the bottom of the jersey, although I recall the league recoiling in horror when Grant Fuhr tried to get Pepsi advertising on his goalie pads when he was an Oiler in the 1980s.

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