Rumor Central

FLA- Panthers' GM Jacques Martin is expected to offer a flurry of contracts before July 1st, the date unrestricted free-agents hit the open market. Martin needs to re-sign several restricted free agents including forward Stephen Weiss, defenseman Noah Welch and either goalie Alex Auld or goalie Craig Anderson. He is also expected to tender qualifying offers to defensemen Steve Montador and Alex Semenov. With those previous attempts at re-signing numerous players, Juraj Kolnik will not be re-signed, as the Panthers need to set a clear budget for this year's free-agent signings and are in need of a more productive forward than Kolnik. Several free-agents are on the Panthers' randar, including forwards Slava and Viktor Kozlov, as well as Todd White. Martin might also consider re-signing forwards Martin Gelinas and Jozef Stumpel, but his clock is ticking, since he has 7 more days to offer them offers they have to consider and then either accept or decline. Basically the Panthers, if they are willing to re-sign both veterans, have one offer to give them, since if the afforementioned players reject them, there likely will be no more time left before they hit the market, or July 1st.

NJ- Per Larry Brooks of the New York Post, Lou Lamoriello, currently without a head coach, has contacted Brian Sutter. Sutter was last an NHL coach in 2005, for the Chicago Blackhawks, a period of time which tarnished his, up to that point in time, highly recognised coaching ability.

NYR- According to John Dellapina of the New York Daily News, the 2nd round selection of big Quebec League goalie Antoine Lafleur in this year's draft could spell the end for goaltending prospect Al Montoya with the Rangers. Montoya was drafted 6th overall in the 2004 entry draft which means he is 22 years old and still hasn't had a "serious" stint with the Rangers. He is currently "blocked" by Rangers' starting goalie Henrik Lundqvist, whereas Lafleur, won't, since he is 7 years younger than the Swedish 'keeper, who is 25.

UFA- Alexei Yashin's agent indicates that if an NHL team does not offer the veteran center an "attractive" offer, over the "10 cents on the dollar" they expect they will sign him for, he might play in europe, for the "top dollar".