Florida Panthers Florida Panthers address restricted free agents Panthers clear roster spot, buy out Kuba's contract

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1 SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 7/4/2013 Boston Bruins Bruins exploring free agency, trade possibilities at right wing Bergeron: No surgery needed for various injuries Patrice Bergeron recovering from Cup injuries GM: Bruins nearing a deal to re-sign G Tuukka Rask Patrice Bergeron eyes extended stay GM expects Tuukka Rask deal soon Rask, right wingers on Chiarelli's to-do list Buffalo Sabres Gerbe waived on apparent road to buyout Development camp schedule set Sacco on Sabres: 'It was the best situation for me moving forward' Preseason schedule includes 3 home games Agent says release caught Gerbe by surprise Sabres notebook: Sacco eager to be mentor to young players Sabres sign Ellis and other evening ice chips Chadd Cassidy in limbo with Rochester Amerks Buffalo Sabres sign Matt Ellis to two-way deal Calgary Flames New Flame Jones believes he can be a part of a quick rebuild High River s Knight counts flood losses as his family s rebuild begins Chirping O Brien just what the doctor ordered for Flames names in Calgary Flames free-agent hopper? Calgary Flames GM Jay Feaster foresees frenzied free-agency startup Newest Calgary Flames defenceman Shane O'Brien brings team-first attitude to club Calgary Flames pick up TJ Galiardi from San Jose Sharks for draft pick Chicago Blackhawks Source: Blackhawks sign defenseman Leddy No Hawks on NHL first team; Ovechkin honored twice Stanley Cup to visit Sox, Cubs Blackhawks give defenseman Nick Leddy two-year deal to stay Blackhawks, Nick Leddy agree to contract source Davis hits 32nd homer, but Cup the biggest hit at Sox game Nick Leddy back for more with Blackhawks Hawks sign Leddy for two years Meet the meat version of the Lord Stanley's Cup Colorado Avalanche Avs look to lighten roster as NHL's free-agency period approaches Silly spending in NHL free agency is the stuff of reality television Columbus Blue Jackets NHL: Jackets move on to free-agent options Blue Jackets notebook: Winger Comeau agrees to one-year deal Dallas Stars Free agency begins Friday, but there is another route the Stars can take to acquire a No. 1 center Stars sign defenseman Jordie Benn to three-year contract Should Stars concentrate on trade to solve center problem? Signings of MacDermid, Gazdic show that Stars new front office still believes in role of tough guy Dallas Stars sign older Benn to three-year deal Dickinson looking to make an impression at Stars development camp Detroit Red Wings Three draft picks will join Red Wings' camp in Traverse City Detroit Red Wings put Carlo Colaiacovo on waivers, first step to buyout Helene St. James: No great deals for Detroit Red Wings in this year's free agency market Decision time comes for Red Wings free agents Red Wings place defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo on waivers as prelude to a buyout Red Wings free agent focus: Stephen Weiss primary target to replace Valtteri Filppula on second line Red Wings begin exploratory talks with free agents, including Stephen Weiss, Mike Ribeiro, couple defensemen Red Wings waive goodbye to Carlo Colaiacovo Edmonton Oilers Did the Edmonton Oilers waste a pick when they drafted Evan Campbell on Sunday? Taylor Hall jobbed as Alex Ovechkin named to BOTH All-Star teams Former Edmonton Oilers anthem singer Paul Lorieau dies Door is open for Russian prospect Daniil Zharkov to return to Edmonton Oilers one day Oscar Klefbom very hungry to earn spot on Edmonton Oilers roster Tom Gilbert to be bought out by Minnesota Wild. Should Edmonton Oilers consider re-signing him? Development camp a chance for Edmonton Oilers first pick at 2013 draft Darnell Nurse to check out possible fut Edmonton Oilers prospect Oscar Klefbom says he feels NHL-ready after three seasons in Swedish Elite League Florida Panthers Florida Panthers address restricted free agents Panthers clear roster spot, buy out Kuba's contract Los Angeles Kings Kings' Jarret Stoll is OK after seizure Kings' Stoll hospitalized after seizure Player evaluation: Ellerby LAKings.com feature: Comfort Level Stoll suffers seizure; taken to hospital I Was There #9: Quick passes Hrudey Minnesota Wild Tom Gilbert buyout process will begin with Wild; Ryan Suter a First-Team All-Star A changing of the rearguard could be in the works for the Wild Matt Cullen fielding calls from teams, hasn't ruled out Minnesota Wild waive defenseman Tom Gilbert Minnesota Wild waive defenseman Tom Gilbert Minnesota Wild: One year later, signing Zach Parise, Ryan Suter still a big deal Minnesota Wild's Ryan Suter an NHL first-team all-star

2 Montreal Canadiens Habs Development camp kicks off in Brossard McCarron already living a Habs dream Nashville Predators Nashville Predators, Sergei Kostitsyn closer to parting Nashville Predators to search for scoring in free agency New Jersey Devils Devils' Johan Hedberg on Cory Schneider trade: I was caught off guard for sure Devils, Sabres, Canadiens pursuing Danny Briere NHL announces All-Star teams; Devils almost shut out in voting The Record's guide to NHL free agency Devils: Get ready for start of free agency New York Islanders Oft-injured goalie says he ll play again Rick DiPietro's contract bought out by Islanders New York Rangers NY Rangers stick with Brad Richards because GM Glen Sather believes veteran center just had a bad year New Rangers assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson discusses his 'ideal defensive environment' and his path back to Ne Ulf Samuelson ready for Rangers D Glen Sather: 'We think Brad Richards will have much better year' Rangers sketching new blue Rangers' Sather: 'Lots of factors' in decision not to buy out Brad Richards' contract Happy Independence Day!!!! NHL With Seattle standing by, desert dogs enter last-chance saloon Ottawa Senators s fill out blue-line corps in import draft Ottawa Senators should do whatever it takes to re-sign captain Daniel Alfredsson Ottawa Senators top pick Curtis Lazar livin' the dream at development camp Ottawa Senators prospect Vincent Dunn excited to be playing near home at development camp Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson being courted by several NHL teams Philadelphia Flyers Flyers development camp 2013 roster release; Camp to open July Vincent Lecavalier signing: How does he fit in to the lineup? Flyers issue four qualifying offers Vincent Lecavalier deal with Flyers isn't typical Paul Holmgren insanity Agent: Lecavalier chose Flyers over dozen suitors Flyers land center Lecavalier Flyers release developmental camp roster Sources: Tim Thomas' agent contacts Flyers Former Flyers weigh in on Lecavalier signing Bob on Bryz: Philly is a 'severe city' for goalies Flyers sign Lecavalier to 5-year deal Defending my NHL awards ballot Phoenix Coyotes Next goal for Phoenix Coyotes: Making sure relocation doesn t become reality in 2018 Pittsburgh Penguins No offer, but Pens still targeting Adams Penguins Crosby, Kunitz named postseason All-Stars Farewell, Tyler Kennedy Minor pieces will be added to complement Pens highsalaried core Should the Penguins worry about the 'Taylor Swift curse'? Crosby, Kunitz, Letang named NHL All-Stars Cooke's return to Penguins looking unlikely Penguins notebook: Three players earn All-Star honors San Jose Sharks Sharks deal T.J. Galiardi to Flames for draft pick St Louis Blues Updated: Leopold, Blues agree on 2-year extension Pietrangelo, Stewart still unsigned with free agency looming Blues and Leopold agree to a 2-year contract extension Blues hope free-agency shopping leads to a center addition Tampa Bay Lightning Lightning's St. Louis is second-team NHL all-star Lightning re-signs G Cedrick Desjardins, D Matt Taormina Toronto Maple Leafs Leafs name Steve Spott to coach Marlies Grabovski and his big contract don t fit into Leafs GM s plans Front office role for Gretzky with MLSE might come true Vancouver Canucks Gallagher: Luongo needs a short memory to resume role as one of NHL s best goalies Ballard buyout process begins Report: Tortorella brings in Sullivan, who may be tougher on players than him, and Gulutzan as assistants Hat Trick: Being a fly on the wall of Luongo s Nip/Tuck pad, and why Vinny Lecavalier is the happiest man in h Washington Capitals Capitals buy out Jeff Schultz Alex Ovechkin named NHL all-star at two different positions Alex Ovechkin voted NHL All-Star at two different positions Capitals development camp schedule Websites ESPN / Glendale reaffirms commitment to Coyotes ESPN / Alfredsson to the Bruins? Hear us out USA TODAY / No excuses left for Coyotes after Glendale vote YAHOO SPORTS / 'Arizona' Coyotes staying in Glendale, but has anything really changed in the desert?

3 Winnipeg Jets Jets ink Clitsome Signing with the Jets a priority for Clitsome Jets ink Clitsome Give the kid a chance, Jets fans Jets draft pick hopes to make name for himself in net Winnipeg Jets take defenceman Josh Morrissey with 13th overall pick of NHL entry draft Jets sign Clitsome to $6.2-million deal Jets GM Cheveldayoff 'active' in looking at free agents SPORT-SCAN, INC Boston Bruins Bruins exploring free agency, trade possibilities at right wing Posted by Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff July 3, :46 AM Nathan Horton will test free agency. The Bruins told Jaromir Jagr during last week s exit meetings that he will not be back, and Horton s decision will most likely not affect that situation. So with their top two right wings headed elsewhere, the Bruins are looking at free agents and trades to fill out the position. We re doing a thorough sweep of those guys, general manager Peter Chiarelli said during a conference call on Wednesday. With Nathan gone, we re going to look to the right side and assess how we can reconstruct the right side the players from within who may be able to fill it, and a sweep of players available in trades and free agency. I d like to think we re a destination for an older player, older, relatively speaking, who wants a chance to win. The free agency signing period in the NHL begins on Friday. The Bruins lost out on Vincent Lecavalier. The former Tampa Bay captain agreed to a five-year, $22.5 million contract with Philadelphia on Tuesday. Lecavalier would have had to change positions in Boston, and the Bruins were not prepared to give him the contract he landed with the Flyers. Pascal Dupuis is also off the market. Sidney Crosby s right wing signed a four-year, $15 million extension with the Penguins. Other possibilities include Jarome Iginla, Dan Cleary, and Michael Ryder. A darkhorse is Daniel Alfredsson if the Ottawa captain decides not to re-up with the Senators. The Bruins can speak to free agents on the phone during the current interview period. Internally, this may be Jordan Caron s best shot at regular playing time. The Bruins qualified Caron, who is now a restricted free agent. Re-signing Caron should not be a challenge. * Chiarelli said he s confident he can re-sign Rask prior to Friday. The Bruins have not ruled out re-signing Anton Khudobin, even if the backup reaches the open market. * The Bruins are not looking at defensemen, according to Chiarelli. Boston Globe LOADED: Boston Bruins Bergeron: No surgery needed for various injuries By HOWARD ULMAN / AP Sports Writer / July 2, 2013 Torn rib cartilage in Game 4. A broken rib in Game 5. A separated shoulder in Game 6. Patrice Bergeron played through it all in the Stanley Cup final. And that doesn t include the collapsed lung that the Boston Bruins star learned about after skating up and down the TD Garden ice in the last game, trying in vain to keep the season going. I don t know if there s pride, Bergeron said Tuesday. Some people would say it s stupid. He was in the hospital last Wednesday when his teammates met reporters for the final time, two days after the season ended with a 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in the sixth game. So on Tuesday, he stood at a podium in the Bruins locker room, hands in the pockets of his pink shorts, and matter-of-factly recited his medical record. At least his legs were spared. It s all good, Bergeron said. I'm 100 percent (in the) lower body. The stitches sewn at the end of his right eyebrow while he sat on the bench in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Rangers were gone. The red scar on his nose was still visible from the fight he had with Evgeni Malkin in Game 1 of Boston s four-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the conference finals. His spleen checked out OK after an ambulance took him from the United Center during Game 5 of the last round in Chicago. He hadn t been diagnosed with a concussion since the fourth of his career sidelined him for six games in April. But moving on, Patrice, how about next season? No problem. Bergeron said he doesn t need surgery and should be ready for the start of training camp. I just need, he said, I guess, a couple weeks. Any of those injuries would have sidelined players in other sports. But Bergeron, one of the NHL s best all-around players, insists he did nothing special to help the Bruins play for their second Stanley Cup title in three years. You put everything on the line to help your team. That s basically what I did. I'm 100 percent confident everyone else would have done the same thing, the Bruins alternate captain said. There s a lot of really tough guys on our team and I don t feel like I should take all the praise. Bergeron has spent all of his nine NHL seasons with the Bruins. Without him, they likely would have been eliminated in the first round when they trailed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 with less than 11 minutes left in regulation of an intense Game 7. He tied it with 51 seconds remaining in the third period, then won it with his goal at 6:05 of overtime. He scored another overtime winner in Game 3 against Pittsburgh. Then he had two goals and the first since his rash of injuries in Game 4 against Chicago. But that was the game in which the center tore rib cartilage. Early in Game 5, he was hit in the ribs and suffered a crack on the left side. Doctors told him the only way he could play in Game 6 was to get a nerve block that would freeze the area. So he had one and needed other pain-killing shots during the game. Bergeron also separated his right shoulder in the first period but played the rest of the way. I can t remember who it was from their team, but it was in the corner, trying to just battle and I was trying to protect my ribs, he said. I fell kind of awkwardly in the boards and opened up my shoulder a bit and separated it. As the game went on, he could feel his energy fading. When it ended, he endured the tradition of shaking hands with his opponents and went to the locker room. From there, Bergeron went right to Massachusetts General Hospital, where a puncture was found in the lung. I kind of had trouble breathing a little bit, he said. I felt like my chest was closing in on me so the doctors didn t want to take any chances. There s an X-ray machine (in the locker room), but they couldn t tell, really. It wasn t clear enough for them. They wanted to make sure and, luckily enough, they made the right decision because I went there right away and they found out that my lung had collapsed.

4 General manager Peter Chiarelli said he thought the lung was punctured after the game. If it had happened during the game, he would have felt the pain and then he wouldn t have been able to play, Chiarelli said last week. At the hospital, a tube was put in his left side for a few days to remove air from the area where the lung collapsed and make sure it stayed inflated, Bergeron said. Some teammates visited him there on Wednesday, the day he was released. It was actually nice to see a bunch of guys and be able to talk a little bit, he said. While he recovers, he hopes to get an extension of his three-year contract that runs through next season. Bergeron tied for the team lead with nine playoff goals and had 15 points. He led the NHL in winning faceoffs, and he won the Selke Trophy as the league s top defensive forward the previous season. So he s very confident he'll get an extension. It would mean a lot, Bergeron said. It s a team that believed in me when I was 18 and when I was coming up and now, like I said before, it s my home. I feel like it is, and I love the city. I love the people, definitely love the organization. He'd love another Stanley Cup. That s why he played through the pain. There s no regrets on my part, he said. I did whatever I could've done to help my team and try to be there for our biggest game of the year. Copyright 2013 Globe Newspaper Company. Boston Globe LOADED: Boston Bruins Patrice Bergeron recovering from Cup injuries By Fluto Shinzawa Globe Staff July 03, 2013 Just over a week ago, Patrice Bergeron had trouble breathing. His face was pale. It was not because the Blackhawks had punted the Bruins from the playoffs. Sometime during Game 6 Bergeron and the team suspect it was after the first period either a broken rib or a nerve-blocking shot opened a hole in one of his lungs. By the time Bergeron arrived at Massachusetts General Hospital after the season-ending loss, the lung had collapsed. I felt like my chest was closing in on me, Bergeron said Tuesday at TD Garden. The doctors didn t want to take any chances. There is an X-ray machine here. But you couldn t tell, really. It wasn t clear enough for them. So they wanted to make sure. Luckily enough, they made the right decision. I went there right away and they found out my lung had collapsed. The collapsed lung was the exclamation point on a bombardment of injuries Bergeron suffered during the Stanley Cup Final. Bergeron s troubles began in Game 4 at the Garden. Early on, Michael Frolik thumped Bergeron. The center retreated briefly to the dressing room, but returned and finished the game. The Frolik hit left Bergeron with torn rib cartilage. Bergeron had two off days to heal. But on his first or second shift of Game 5, Bergeron absorbed a hit on his left side. The thump was strong enough to break one of his ribs. During the game, he was taken from the United Center to a local hospital. Doctors were concerned about Bergeron s pain level, and he was admitted because of the fear of damage to his spleen. Tests were negative. The following morning, Bergeron returned to Boston with his teammates to prepare for Game 6. Bergeron didn t participate in the morning skate prior to Game 6. Before warm-ups, Bergeron took a nerve-blocking shot. Bergeron explained the shot dulls the nerves for the area around six to eight ribs. It didn t take away all of Bergeron s pain. I was trying to play my game and not worry about it, Bergeron said. But the pain was still there. In the first period, more discomfort would come. During a puck battle in the corner, Bergeron tried to protect his left side. Bergeron tumbled into the boards and separated his right shoulder. During the first intermission, Bergeron required another nerve-blocking shot to address his rib pain. Doctors believe that second shot could have punctured Bergeron s lung. The other possibility is that Bergeron s broken rib poked the hole in his lung. For the rest of the game, Bergeron s condition worsened. He played 17 minutes 45 seconds and didn t take any shots on net. It could have been from getting the nerve block, or from the rib being cracked and getting checked, Bergeron said. I m guessing during the game, because I felt my energy level went down during the game after the second period. After the loss, Bergeron s pain and breathing trouble led him to MGH. At the hospital, doctors inserted a tube through Bergeron s side to remove the air between his lung and rib cage. The procedure, Bergeron explained, allowed his lung to expand. Bergeron stayed in the hospital for two days. His teammates, initially unaware of his situation after the loss, visited him at MGH. Had the Bruins won Game 6, Bergeron would not have been available for Game 7 in Chicago. Some people would say it s stupid, Bergeron said of playing through his barrage of injuries. But it just goes with the way it is. You don t think at that point. You re just trying to help the team. You try to do whatever it takes. You obviously don t want to put your health in danger. We had this conversation with the doctors. You never know what s going to happen in a game, so there s always a risk. At the same time, it s our passion. It s what you want to do. You want to win. That s the most important thing. At that stage, at that point, there s no regrets at all on my part. I don t know if there s necessarily pride. I just did whatever any of my other teammates would have done. Bergeron will not require surgery to fix any of his injuries and expects to be ready for training camp in September. By then, it is likely Bergeron will have a contract extension in place. Bergeron will not reach unrestricted free agency until next summer. But Bergeron and the Bruins have been discussing an eight-year deal, the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement. Bergeron will turn 28 this month and an eight-year extension could keep him in Black and Gold for his entire career. It would mean a lot, Bergeron said of being a life-long Bruin. That s the goal since the beginning. It s the team that believed in me when I was 18 and I was coming up. Now, it s my home. I feel like it is. I love the city. I love the people. I definitely love the organization. It would mean a lot to me. Hopefully we can work something out. Fluto Shinzawa Boston Globe LOADED: Boston Bruins Bruins exploring free agency, trade possibilities at right wing Posted by Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff July 3, :46 AM Nathan Horton will test free agency. The Bruins told Jaromir Jagr during last week s exit meetings that he will not be back, and Horton s decision will most likely not affect that situation. So with their top two right wings headed elsewhere, the Bruins are looking at free agents and trades to fill out the position. We re doing a thorough sweep of those guys, general manager Peter Chiarelli said during a conference call on Wednesday. With Nathan gone,

5 we re going to look to the right side and assess how we can reconstruct the right side the players from within who may be able to fill it, and a sweep of players available in trades and free agency. I d like to think we re a destination for an older player, older, relatively speaking, who wants a chance to win. The free agency signing period in the NHL begins on Friday. The Bruins lost out on Vincent Lecavalier. The former Tampa Bay captain agreed to a five-year, $22.5 million contract with Philadelphia on Tuesday. Lecavalier would have had to change positions in Boston, and the Bruins were not prepared to give him the contract he landed with the Flyers. Pascal Dupuis is also off the market. Sidney Crosby s right wing signed a four-year, $15 million extension with the Penguins. Other possibilities include Jarome Iginla, Dan Cleary, and Michael Ryder. A darkhorse is Daniel Alfredsson if the Ottawa captain decides not to re-up with the Senators. The Bruins can speak to free agents on the phone during the current interview period. Internally, this may be Jordan Caron s best shot at regular playing time. The Bruins qualified Caron, who is now a restricted free agent. Re-signing Caron should not be a challenge. * Chiarelli said he s confident he can re-sign Rask prior to Friday. The Bruins have not ruled out re-signing Anton Khudobin, even if the backup reaches the open market. * The Bruins are not looking at defensemen, according to Chiarelli. Boston Globe LOADED: Boston Bruins GM: Bruins nearing a deal to re-sign G Tuukka Rask By JIMMY GOLEN / AP Sports Writer / July 3, 2013 BOSTON (AP) Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli says he is confident the team will re-sign goalie Tuukka Rask. Chiarelli told reporters on a conference call Wednesday that he thinks it will happen by Friday, when Rask can become a restricted free agent. Even if they don t meet the deadline, the GM says he still feels like he can get a deal done. Rask allowed just two goals a game this season while leading the Bruins to the Stanley Cup finals. He is 26. Chiarelli also said he would consider re-signing forward Jaromir Jagr. The team had decided to part ways with the future Hall of Famer, whom they acquired at the trade deadline. But after Nathan Horton said he wanted to test the market, that left Boston looking for forwards. Boston Globe LOADED: Boston Bruins Patrice Bergeron eyes extended stay Wednesday, July 3, 2013 Author(s): Mark Daniels The pain only escalated for Patrice Bergeron in the Stanley Cup finals. It went from bad to worse during the last three games against the Chicago Blackhawks, but the Bruins center fought through it all. Anything for his team, he said. Yesterday, Bergeron touched upon multiple topics including his injury ordeal in the finals. He suffered torn rib cartilage in the middle of the series and ended up lying in a bed in Massachusetts General Hospital with a collapsed lung when it ended. But through it all, Bergeron was looking out for the B s. The Hub is a place where the 27-year-old, who has just one season remaining on his contract, hopes to finish his career. According to reports, Bergeron is close to signing an eight-year extension. Yesterday, he said he hopes to stay with the Bruins until he retires. It would mean a lot. That s the goal, Bergeron said. Since the beginning, it s a team that believed in me when I was 18 and coming up. It s my home. I love the city, love the people and definitely love the organization. It would mean a lot to me. Hopefully we can work something out. During the past nine seasons, Bergeron has been one of the B s best players. This postseason, the alternate captain became one of the toughest. It started in Game 4, when he tore cartilage on the left side of his rib cage. In Game 5, he cracked those ribs. He received a nerve-block before warmups for Game 6 but separated his right shoulder in the first period. He received another injection after the first period then noticed his energy level dropped considerably. Following the heartbreaking, 3-2 loss that left the Blackhawks celebrating with the Cup on Garden ice, Bergeron had trouble breathing and felt like his chest was closing in on him. He went to MGH, where it was discovered that his cracked ribs had broken and a lung also had collapsed. You don t think at that point. You just want to help the team, do whatever it takes, Bergeron said of playing through injury. There s no regrets on my part.... I did whatever I could to try and help my team and try to be there for our biggest game of the year. Bergeron is expected to make a full recovery and won t need surgery. While he expects to be ready for training camp, he noted that the upcoming season will be different without defenseman Andrew Ference or winger Nathan Horton, free agents who will be moving on to new locales, in the mix. It s a first in probably the last five years now that there are going to be some changes like that, Bergeron said. They were a huge part of our team and leadership group.... At the same time, you ve got to trust P eter (Chiarelli, the B s general manager). He s done a great job over the years and I m sure he s going to do the same thing again. Bergeron undoubtedly is a big part of Chiarelli s plans. A new deal to keep Bergeron around with other young forwards such as Tyler Seguin would give the Bruins a strong offensive nucleus. Though Chiarelli has been critical of Seguin this offseason, Bergeron expects the winger to learn from his mistakes and rebound. And Bergeron expects to be with the Bruins long enough to see Seguin progress, expressing confidence that an extension will be worked out. I am (confident), Bergeron said. I just don t know how long it s going to take. I m very confident. Boston Herald LOADED: Boston Bruins GM expects Tuukka Rask deal soon Thursday, July 4, 2013 Author(s): Matt Kalman As he goes through the interview period with prospective NHL free agents that started yesterday and runs through noon tomorrow, at which time the market opens, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli is not handcuffed by the fact that star goalie Tuukka Rask is unsigned. I feel confident that we ll get a deal done on Rask in short order, Chiarelli said during a conference call yesterday to discuss free agency. So I ve got

6 a placeholder number in there that I can work around as far as (salary) cap (space). Chiarelli s main priority will be to execute a game plan that makes up for the loss of Nathan Horton and Jaromir Jagr, who are both unrestricted free agents, on the right side of the forward depth chart. Horton already told the B s he is going to test the market, while the team told Jagr after the season they would not re-sign him. Chiarelli said he has considered circling back to revisit the idea of bringing back the 41-year-old Jagr in light of Horton s decision. The Bruins have approximately $5 million in cap space to work with according to capgeek.com. They would have closer to $9 million if they used the long-term injured reserve option on injured center Marc Savard. The Bruins did not do that last season. So while Chiarelli can pursue his other needs tomorrow and beyond without a Rask deal, of course, the best-case scenario would be to have the goalie already signed and ready to build off a sensational season. Playing on a one-year deal he signed last summer, the 26-year-old posted a.929 save percentage and 2.00 goals-against average in the regular season. During the B s run to the Stanley Cup finals, Rask was even better, with a.940 save percentage and 1.88 GAA. If Rask becomes a free agent tomorrow, he will be a candidate for an offer sheet from another club. The Bruins would then have the right to match or accept compensation in the form of draft picks (based on a formula that ties the number and round of the picks by how much the new contract is worth). The Bruins and Rask s camp also have arbitration as an option. Chiarelli s not counting on the Rask negotiations going on long. I would think before (tomorrow), Chiarelli said. But if it s after, I m fine with it too. I know he would enter free agency, but I m confident regardless, either or. There are several ways Chiarelli and his staff could go in terms of making up for Horton and Jagr s departures. Some of the bigger names available as unrestricted free agents are the New Jersey Devils David Clarkson, Philadelphia Flyers buyout Daniel Briere and New York Rangers power forward Ryan Clowe. Clarkson figures to get one of the bigger paydays after scoring 15 goals in a 48-game, lockout-shortened season. Briere is 35 and coming off one of his worst seasons (16 points, minus-13), while Clowe is a left winger who struggled with injuries and a lack of production in a campaign that he started with the San Jose Sharks and ended with the Rangers. Chiarelli acknowledged to espn.com that he has had discussions with Daniel Alfredsson s camp. Chiarelli has ties with the 40-year-old Alfredsson from his days in Ottawa, as does Bruins captain Zdeno Chara from his time as a Senators defenseman. And free agency isn t Chiarelli s only option. I want to do a thorough sweep of those guys. With Nathan gone we ve got to look to our right side and see and assess how we re going to reconstruct our right side, Chiarelli said. We ve got some players from within that may be able to fill. I want to do a sweep of these players that will be available in trade and free agency. I d like to think that we re a destination for an older player, older relatively speaking, that wants a chance to win. So I ve got to canvas that. It s about turning over all the stones, going through the free agent list player by player. The Bruins already have Tyler Seguin, Rich Peverley and Shawn Thornton among veterans that play mostly on the right wing. There also are some players that can switch sides and some in-house younger options that could win a job in training camp, including prospects Jordan Caron, Ryan Spooner and Jared Knight. Chiarelli said that the assumption he won t be shopping for defense help was a fair one following the emergence of rookies Dougie Hamilton, Matt Bartkowski and Torey Krug. And a mutual desire to keep Anton Khudobin might require a deal getting signed after free agency starts. We can still sign him if he goes to the market. It s just a little riskier, Chiarelli said. Boston Herald LOADED: Boston Bruins Rask, right wingers on Chiarelli's to-do list Wednesday, July 3, Mark J Murphy With the free agency period set to open at noon on Friday, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli has two main goals. One, is to get a deal done with restricted free agent goaltender Tuukka Rask. The second is, in his words, to reconstruct his team s right side forwards after the departure of Nathan Horton and the probable exit of Jaromir Jagr. The Bruins have around $5 million in cap space to work with according to CapGeek.com. They would have closer to $9 million if they used the Long Term Injured Reserve option on injured center Marc Savard. The Bruins did not do this last season. As far as Rask, Chiarelli said in a conference call today that even if a deal isn t done by Friday, he won t be hindered in his pursuit of other players. Chiarelli said he has a placeholder number he can work around. Chiarelli s confident, however, he ll have a definite number instead of a placeholder by Friday. "I would think before, Chiarelli said about a Rask deal beating Friday s start of the open market. But if it s after, I m fine with it too. I know he would enter free agency but I m confident regardless, either or. If Rask becomes a free agent Friday, other teams would be able to present him an offer sheet. The Bruins could then match it or accept compensation (based on the amount Rask signs for) from the other team. The Bruins and Rask could also opt for arbitration. As far as right wings are concerned, Horton has told the Bruins he will enter the open market. Although Chiarelli said he and his staff have thought about re-engaging with Jagr, the Bruins told the 41-year-old they wouldn t re-sign him when the season ended when they thought they still had a chance to retain Horton. So now Chiarelli is open to anything in terms of making sure his right wings will meet the standard set by those two guys and others in recent seasons. I want to do a thorough sweep of those guys. With Nathan gone we ve got to look to our right side and see and assess how we re going to reconstruct our right side, Chiarelli sad. We ve got some players from within that may be able to fill. I want to do a sweep of these players that will be available in trade and free agency. I d like to think that we re a destination for an older player older, relatively speaking that wants a chance to win. So I ve got to canvas that. It s about turning over all the stones, going through the free-agent list player by player. Boston Herald LOADED: Buffalo Sabres Gerbe waived on apparent road to buyout July 3, :49 PM By Mike Harrington The Sabres have placed winger Nathan Gerbe on waivers, with TSN reporting it's for the purpose of using one of their two compliance buyouts on him. The 5-foot-5 Gerbe had five goals and five assists in 42 games last season, failing for the second straight year to become a major part of the offense as he struggled after offseason back surgery. He had a breakthough season in , with 16 goals and 31 points in 64 games but slumped in to post just six goals in 62 games. In 188 NHL games, Gerbe has 29 goals and 43 assists. He was Buffalo's fifth-round pick in 2005 out of Boston College, where he was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2008 Frozen Four and a Hobey Baker finalist to current Sabre Kevin Porter.

7 GM Darcy Regier has said on several occasions, including yesterday's free agency preview press conference, that the Sabres did not expect to use one of their compliance buyouts this summer. Teams have two to use in a period that ends at 5 p.m. Thursday or they have to wait until next June. By buying out Gerbe, the Sabres would owe him $308,333 each of the next two seasons -- but his $1.45 million cap hit would be wiped from the books. Gerbe was scheduled to make $1.85 million this season. Buffalo News LOADED: Buffalo Sabres Development camp schedule set July 3, :53 PM By Mike Harrington The Sabres have finalized their schedule for next week's development camp at First Niagara Center, which has been shortened to three days. All sessions are open to the public but times are subject to change. The roughly 40 players will be split into two groups, with assignments announced next week. On Wednesday July 10, Group 1 is scheduled from 10:30 a.m.-noon with Group 2 from 3-4:30. On Thursday July 11, Group 1 remains 10:30-noon while Group 2 goes from 2:15-3:30. As previously announced, the Blue-Gold scrimmage is set for Friday, July 12 at 4 p.m (gates open at 3). Admission is $10 and includes a post-game concert by 10,000 Maniacs at Canalside. All of the team's 2013 draft picks are scheduled to attend the camp, as our most prospects from the last couple of years. The only players excused to date are Johan Larsson (commitments in Sweden) and Joel Armia (wedding in Finland). Larsson was acquired from Minnesota in the Jason Pominville trade while Armia was the team's No. 1 draft choice in Buffalo News LOADED: Buffalo Sabres Sacco on Sabres: 'It was the best situation for me moving forward' Sacco said he didn't have specific duties yet but would be in charge of one facet of Buffalo's special teams (Colorado was 24th on the power play and 20th on the penalty kill last year). He said he's going to tackle a video review of Sabres games, especially late-season ones featuring the club's young players, because there wasn't much crossover last season due to the lockout of coaches watching games from the other conference. Sacco said he signed a multi-year deal with Buffalo. His wife, Tammy, and three children are in the midst of planning their move from Denver, so he may not attend the team's development camp next week. Buffalo News LOADED: Buffalo Sabres Preseason schedule includes 3 home games July 3, :51 AM By Mike Harrington Remember training camp? Preseason games? They'll be back in September for the Buffalo Sabres and the rest of the NHL. Wiped from the slate last year because of the lockout, the teams are returning to their usual calendar for the season. The Sabres have announced their preseason schedule, a seven-game slate that includes three contests in First Niagara Center -- Sept. 19 vs. Carolina, Sept. 21 vs. Toronto and Sept. 25 vs. Columbus. The preseason opens on the road with games Sept. 15 at Montreal and Sept. 17 at Columbus. There are also road games Sept. 22 at Toronto and the finale, Sept. 27 at Carolina. All games, home and away, are at 7 p.m. The regular season schedule remains tied up in discussions over whether the NHL will participate in the Sochi Olympics, necessitating a two-week break in February like the teams have had in previous Olympic years. The scuttlebutt continues to be July 17, the day after the MLB All-Star Game, will be schedule release day. Buffalo News LOADED: Buffalo Sabres July 3, :54 PM By Mike Harrington New Sabres assistant coach Joe Sacco told me today he had no intention of taking some time away from the game after he was fired following the season by the Colorado Avalanche. He interviewed for the Vancouver head coaching job and was eyeing spots in the AHL as well, before ultimately deciding = to stay in the NHL as an assistant in Buffalo under Ron Rolston. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity of working with Ron," Sacco said by phone from Denver. "I've never worked with him but we know some of the same people from USA Hockey. Sitting down with him and talking about philosophies was interesting. He asked my opinion on certain things and we just seemed to be on the same page as far as how things should be done moving forward. "I'm in a little different role, a different capacity. I'm there to support Ron 100 percent and make sure we have success as a team. I think I have a lot of experience dealing with young players. In Colorado, we were one of the youngest, if not the youngest teams every year so I can learn from my experiences of dealing with younger players and the hurdles they'll face dealing with a long season. You can help guys through those situations." Sacco met with Rolston, GM Darcy Regier and toured First Niagara Center as well as learning about the plans for the HarborCenter project. "After speaking with Ron and Darcy, going out there, seeing the facility, the arena. I had a good conversation with those guys," he said. "It seemeed to be a really good fit and I thought it was the best situation for me moving forward." Agent says release caught Gerbe by surprise By Mike Harrington News Sports on July 4, :20 AM With a logjam of forwards growing and the chance to reclaim more money as the free agency period opens Friday, the Buffalo Sabres made a surprise move Wednesday putting winger Nathan Gerbe on waivers for the purposes of buying out his contract. Under terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, teams can use two compliance buyouts to get out from under salaries either this year or next June. In Gerbe s case, assuming he doesn t get claimed by 5 p.m. today, the Sabres will owe him $308,333 each of the next two years; his cap hit of $1.45 million will be off the books. General Manager Darcy Regier had been asked multiple times by reporters if the team was pondering any buyouts and said there were no plans for any; Regier was most recently asked after the draft Sunday in New Jersey and again in Tuesday s free agency news conference in First Niagara Center. But the Sabres apparently made a quick change in plans with the Gerbe move. There has been no confirmation of it by the club but as a general rule, teams do not comment on waiver transactions until the player s waiver period has been completed. Jordan Neumann, Gerbe s agent, said he received an from the Sabres informing them of the team s decision.

8 We had no conversations with them regarding Nathan s future, Neumann said by phone late Wednesday afternoon from his Westchester County office. His exit meeting was fine. This whole thing was certainly a little bit surprising. The 5-foot-5 Gerbe had five goals and five assists in 42 games last season, failing for the second straight year to become a major part of the offense as he struggled after offseason back surgery. His best season was , when he collected 16 goals and 31 points in 64 games. In 188 NHL games, Gerbe has 29 goals and 43 assists. He was Buffalo s fifth-round pick in 2005 out of Boston College, where he was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2008 Frozen Four and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, won by current Sabre Kevin Porter. Corey Tropp, who missed most of last season after suffering a knee injury during the opener in Rochester, is one player expected to get a long look by the Sabres this season. The team is also pursuing the return of former captain Daniel Briere, who was bought out of his deal by Philadelphia. On the day of the Sabres regular season finale, Gerbe told The News the Sabres needed to do a better job supporting their players through tough times. I think confidence is 95 percent of this game. It really is, said Gerbe, 25. As an organization you can t squash guys confidence every single day, and I think you ve got to realize that everyone in this room, if they re confident, you re going to have a good team. You guys see a stretch of someone having confidence, and then you see a stretch of someone not having a confidence, and it s a world of difference in a player. It s not a different player, it s confidence in the game. That s so important to each individual. We ve got to do a better job of that. If a guy s playing well, reward them. If they don t, talk to them. Don t just call them out. Everyone sees it in every sport. Confidence is far beyond anything you can imagine. As part of the buyout, Gerbe becomes an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team beginning Friday at noon. We ve scrapped some ideas together pretty quickly today, Neumann said. It would have been nice to be prepared. But we have a nice little game plan here and I m feeling confident and he ll look back at this as a welcoming event. He can go somewhere else to play a more prominent role. Buffalo News LOADED: Buffalo Sabres Sabres notebook: Sacco eager to be mentor to young players By Mike Harrington News Sports on July 3, :35 PM, updated July 3, 2013 at 11:07 PM Joe Sacco has the coaching bug. After getting fired by the Colorado Avalanche in April, he quickly decided he wasn t sitting on the sidelines and collecting the money in the final year of his contract. He looked around for another NHL job, interviewing for the Vancouver post that went to John Tortorella. He thought about AHL openings and then decided to pursue an NHL assistant s spot. In Colorado, he perennially coached one of the NHL s youngest teams and said that s one reason he was attracted to joining Ron Rolston s staff with the Buffalo Sabres. It seemed to be a really good fit and I thought it was the best situation for me moving forward, Sacco told The News by phone Wednesday from Denver, a day after he was hired by the Sabres. I m looking forward to the opportunity of working with Ron. I ve never worked with him but we know some of the same people from USA Hockey. Sitting down with him and talking about philosophies was interesting. I m there to support Ron 100 percent and make sure we have success as a team. I can learn from my experiences of dealing with younger players and the hurdles they ll face dealing with a long season. You can help guys through those situations. Sacco, 44, played 738 NHL games for five teams from and started his coaching career as an AHL assistant in He was head coach of Colorado s Cleveland affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, for two years and was then named head coach of the Avalanche in He led Colorado to the playoffs in his first season before not qualifying the next three years. Sacco said he signed a multi-year contract, believed to be two years. He said it will be an interesting adjustment going back to being a second-incommand on the bench and serving in a different role with players. You want them to know that as a staff, you re there for them and you re a resource, he said. That s one of the things we wanted them to understand in Colorado. Beyond the game, you try to personalize relationships with our players. As a head coach, there s obviously more space between you and the players. As an assistant, I can dig in and really know these players more on a one-on-one basis. That excites me because it s something I haven t had in a while. Sacco said he expect to be in charge of one aspect of the Sabres special teams and he has had success with the power play in Colorado. Although the Avalanche were just 24th in the NHL last season, his previous three years they were ranked 15th, 11th and ninth. One of Sacco s immediate tasks is to grab some popcorn and pop in last year s Sabres game videos, especially ones later in the season when Rolston was the coach and several young players were in the lineup. NHL teams only played within their conference last season so the Avalanche didn t play Buffalo or see the Sabres in footage of upcoming opponents. I need to catch up on some of the players Buffalo had, especially some of the new younger players they have in the lineup, he said. The Sabres officially announced a new deal with veteran center Matt Ellis, one that General Manager Darcy Regier said was close on Tuesday. It s a two-year, two-way deal, with Ellis expected to captain the Rochester Americans. Ellis will make $550,000 if in the NHL and $300,000 in the AHL. Ellis, 31, played in six games with the Sabres last year and 32 with Rochester, collecting seven goals and five assists there. The Sabres announced their seven-game preseason schedule Wednesday, featuring three games at home Sept. 19 vs. Carolina, Sept. 21 vs. Toronto and Sept. 25 vs. Columbus. Road games are Sept. 15 at Montreal, Sept. 17 at Columbus, Sept. 22 at Toronto and the finale, Sept. 27 at Carolina. All games, home and away, are at 7 p.m. The team also firmed up its schedule for next week s three-day development camp downtown. The highlight is the Blue-Gold scrimmage on July 12 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 and include a postgame concert by 10,000 Maniacs after the scrimmage at Canalside. On Wednesday, one group will skate from 10:30 a.m.-noon with another going 3-4:30. On Thursday July 11, times are 10:30-noon and 2:15-3:30. Buffalo News LOADED: Buffalo Sabres Sabres sign Ellis and other evening ice chips July 3, :00 PM By Mike Harrington ---As GM Darcy Regier indicated yesterday, the Sabres announced they had reached agreement this evening with Matt Ellis on a two-year, two-way contract. Ellis, 31, is expected to serve as captain of the Rochester Amerks. According to Capgeek, Ellis will make $550,000 in the NHL and $300,000 in the AHL. ---The Sabres remain in the Daniel Briere sweepstakes. The Devils and Canadiens are also possibilities. Multiple reports this evening say Briere has eliminated the Islanders from consideration. RDS in Canada is reporting there could be as many as six teams still in consideration. Buffalo certainly freed a little more money with the buyout of Nathan Gerbe.