Truth & Rumors > NHL

07:23 AM ET 06.18 | While the youth movement marches in Detroit, there are still some long-tenured players who merit extensions into their mid-30s -- particularly those who have scored at nearly a point-per-game pace over nearly 800 games. [The Red Wings] are reportedly very close to a contract extension with star forward Pavel Datsyuk. MLive.com first reported the sides are close to a new deal and TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie added he is hearing it will be for three years. Datsyuk has one year left on a seven-year, $46.9 million contract. The 34-year-old has spent his entire NHL career with the Red Wings, recording 15 goals and 49 points in 47 games this season. In 779 career NHL games, the three-time Selke Trophy winner has 255 goals and 767 points.

TSN.ca

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07:21 AM ET 06.18 | Logan Couture was at liberty to say very little as word spread that he'd come to an agreement with the Sharks. "Can't say details, sorry," the 24-year-old said. Blame the CBA for that. ... Couture likes it here. And it's pretty unlikely he or his agent, John Thornton, would push for more than a five-year deal. Dollars? That remains to be seen, but it could be argued Couture gave the team a break with his current deal that averaged $2.875 million for two years. The next deal could more than double that and San Jose might still feel as if it got a bargain. The buzz over the new deal for Couture spread quickly and that may have had something to do with the fact that Couture himself (@LoganCouture) sent a "Big dayyyyy" message out around 8 p.m.

San Jose Mercury News

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03:16 PM ET 06.17 | The Washington Capitals have a few needs, but with the No. 23 pick in the NHL Draft they are unlikely to find an immediate contributor so it is more likely that they draft the best player available than draft for need. Washington holds picks in each round, including two in the fifth round, and they could take a few defensemen to try and provide depth for a blue line corps. that could use it, but if the Capitals hope to improve upon this season's first round playoff exit, they are unlikely to do it via the draft. They'll have to hit the free agent market and see if they can work a trade to make it happen.

Penn Live

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03:10 PM ET 06.17 | The Vancouver Canucks have snapped up Swedish goaltender Joacim Eriksson, who helped lead Skelleftea to the Sweden Elitserien championship last season. Eriksson went 21-9-0 with a 1.67 goals against average for Skelleftea before stepping up his game in the playoffs with a 1.06 goals against average and .952 save percentage. Eriksson was originally a seventh round pick, 196th overall, of the Flyers in the 2008 NHL draft, but he never signed with Philadelphia and was available as a free agent.

NHL.com

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03:04 PM ET 06.17 | The Calgary Flames are chasing the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft and have offered up all three of their first round picks to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for the top selection. The Flames are willing to give up the No. 6, No. 22 an No. 28 pick in the draft to move up to No. 1, where they would likely select Seth Jones or Nathan MacKinnon, and the Avalanche have said that they are open to dealing the top pick. Whether three first rounders is enough to make Colorado budge remains to be seen.

Calgary Sun

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