On the most recent episode of 31 Thoughts – The Podcast:
- Elliotte Friedman (12:10) says that he fully expects Jeff Carter to return to the Penguins next season instead of retiring with a year left on his contract. He suggests the team and the player may have had that conversation prior to the Penguins making the trade with the Kings. He suggests the Penguins will look for help in net, probably a short-term veteran option. He notes they tried to trade for Marc-Andre Fleury last season and that GM Ron Hextall is familiar with Jonathan Quick.
- Friedman (13:00) says that ownership does not want to trade Evgeni Malkin or Kris Letang. He says that he’s heard that ownership put it in writing that their approval is required for their GM to trade either Crosby or Malkin. He believes ownership wants Crosby, Malkin and Letang to retire with the team. He also thinks the only way Mike Sullivan is fired is if the team is convinced they need a new voice behind the bench.
- He also talks about the Florida Panthers (25:00). He says there are teams out there who were waiting to get a chance on Barkov as a free agent, but they are less optimistic about him hitting the market with Florida making positive strides this year. He suggests that Anthony Duclair has found a home in Florida, he will be a RFA this summer. He also wonders about the futures of Sergei Bobrovsky and Keith Yandle, who both have large contracts and the Panthers moved away from relying on either as the Tampa Bay series progressed. He thinks they might hold on to Yandle and do whatever they can to move Bobrovsky, though that would be incredibly difficult.
- He spoke about the Edmonton Oilers (41:30). He thinks an extension for Adam Larsson will get done, but he doesn’t think Tyson Barrie will return. He says he wouldn’t be surprised if the Oilers took a run at Zach Hyman as a free agent. He doesn’t envision Edmonton giving up a first round pick for Darcy Kuemper, who has only one season left on his contract. He could see them in on Elvis Merzlikins, however.
- He also says (45:45) is that one of his “theories” is that Merzlikins might get moved to Buffalo for Sam Reinhart. Columbus is looking for help at center and Reinhart played more center this season than in previous years.
