NHL Summer Buzz: Blue Jackets make offer for Matt Duchene

Welcome to the NHL Summer Buzz. With the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, the Trade/Waiver Freeze and the NHL Draft over, and the beginning of free agency on July 1, the 31 NHL teams are free to make moves to shape their rosters for the 2017-18 season.
Here's a look around the League at the latest doings for Friday:

6 p.m.

Blue Jackets make offer for Matt Duchene: report

The Columbus Blue Jackets have made a trade offer for Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene that includes defenseman Ryan Murray, The Columbus Dispatch reported Friday.
The trade would involve Columbus also including "another roster player or prospect/pick," the newspaper said.

The Nashville Predators also have made an offer for Duchene, TSN reported, and earlier this week Sportsnet said the Pittsburgh Penguins could have interest.
Duchene, 26, had 41 points (18 goals, 23 assists) in 77 games this season, his fewest points in a full NHL season. He has two years remaining on his contract, which carries a $6 million charge against the NHL salary cap, according to CapFriendly.com.
Selected by Colorado with the No. 3 pick of the 2009 NHL Draft, Duchene has 418 points (174 goals, 244 assists) in 572 NHL games.
Murray, 23, was the No. 2 pick in the 2012 NHL Draft. He had 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 60 games this season and has 60 points (11 goals, 49 assists) in 220 NHL games.

5:40 p.m.

Ondrej Pavelec talking with Rangers: report

Goaltender Ondrej Pavelec is having discussions with the New York Rangers regarding a potential contract, TSN reported Friday.

The 29-year-old could become an unrestricted free agent July 1. The Rangers are seeking a goaltender to back up Henrik Lundqvist after they traded Antti Raanta to the Arizona Coyotes on June 23.
Pavelec was 4-4-0 with a 3.55 goals-against average and .888 save percentage in eight games for the Winnipeg Jets this season. He is 152-158-47 with a 2.87 goals-against average, .907 save percentage and 17 shutouts in 379 NHL games with the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers franchise.

5:30 p.m.

Michael Stone signs three-year contract with Flames

Defenseman Michael Stone signed a three-year contract to remain with the Calgary Flames on Friday. It has an average annual value of $3.5 million.
Stone, 26, could have become an unrestricted free agent July 1.
The Flames created roster flexibility Friday when they waived defenseman Ryan Murphy and forward Lance Bouma for the purpose of buying out their contracts.
"It's not necessarily a precursor to something for sure happening, but ultimately we felt that that room, we've still got a couple players to sign internally, we still would like to see if there are ways to make ourselves better," Flames general manager Brad Treliving said Friday. "When you factor in those things, we felt the need for flexibility was real important."

4:13 p.m.

Vegas expects quiet opening to free agency

The Vegas Golden Knights are happy enough with what they accomplished during 2017 NHL Expansion Draft that general manager George McPhee doesn't expect to be active when free agency starts.
"It's probably going to be quiet for us," McPhee said Friday after Vegas' development camp scrimmage at Las Vegas Ice Center. "We did much better with the expansion thing than we anticipated. We're pretty happy with our team."
One issue the Golden Knights have is a glut of defensemen on the roster. McPhee said he expects to make more trades but won't force the issue.
"The ideal would be in the next few days," he said. "But we'll wait as long as necessary."

3:15 p.m.

Patrick Marleau has two-year offer from Sharks: report

Forward Patrick Marleau has received a two-year contract offer to stay with the San Jose Sharks, TSN reported Friday.
Marleau, 37, can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. He had 46 points (27 goals, 19 assists) and 16 power-play points (seven goals, nine assists) in 82 games for the Sharks this season.

The left wing's future with the Sharks
could be tied to center Joe Thornton
, who can also become an unrestricted free agent July 1.
Marleau is the Sharks' all-time leader in goals (508), points (1,082) and games played (1,493). He was selected by San Jose with the No. 2 pick in the 1997 NHL Draft and has spent his entire NHL career with the Sharks.

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1:15 p.m.

Bruins to take quiet approach to free agency

Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said he doesn't anticipate being as aggressive when free agency begins July 1 as he was during his first two seasons as GM.
"Probably in a more patient mode right about now," Sweeney said. "I've certainly explored some of these similar situations but not anxious or overly anxious to jump the gun."
Sweeney is trying to make sure the Bruins are deep enough to compete while providing opportunity for prospects, including defenseman Charlie McAvoy and forward Anders Bjork. Sweeney said he thinks there are more forward prospects close to being NHL ready than defensemen, so defense will be a focus of his free agent shopping.
The Bruins have approximately $14.4 million in NHL salary cap space, according to CapFriendly.com, but have to re-sign restricted free agent forwards David Pastrnak, Ryan Spooner and Tim Schaller. Pastrnak was second on the Bruins with 70 points (34 goals, 36 assists) last season.

12:45 p.m.

Radim Vrbata could remain with Coyotes

The Arizona Coyotes are considering re-signing right wing Radim Vrbata, according to general manager John Chayka.
Vrbata, 36, can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. He led the Coyotes in goals (20), assists (35), points (55) and shots on goal (233) this season.
"We have some interest," Chayka told the Coyotes website. "He had a great year, but we're in the business of paying for future performance and not past performance. He is certainly a guy that we have interest in, but he would not be the only alternative."

12:15 p.m.

Teams placing players on waivers before start of free agency

With the start of free agency set for July 1 at noon ET, multiple NHL teams are waiving players for the purposes of contract buyouts Friday.
The Boston Bruins placed forward Jimmy Hayes on waivers for the purpose of a buyout. Hayes' contract will count for $566,667 against the salary cap next season and $866,667 in 2018-19.
The New Jersey Devils placed forwards Michael Cammalleri and Devante Smith-Pelly on unconditional waivers for purposes of buyouts, and the Calgary Flames placed forward Lance Bouma and defenseman Ryan Murphy on unconditional waivers for purposes of buyouts.
Also placed on waivers for the purposes of their contracts being bought out were Jussi Jokinen of the Florida Panthers and Brad Stuart of the Winnipeg Jets, according to Sportsnet.

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9:20 a.m.

Flyers keep forward Jordan Weal with two-year contract

Forward Jordan Weal signed a two-year contract Thursday to remain with the Philadelphia Flyers. Financial terms were not released but the Philadelphia Inquirer reported the total value to be $3.5 million, for an average annual value of $1.75 million
Weal, 25, could have become an unrestricted free agent July 1. He had 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in 23 games after being recalled from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League on Feb. 10.
"The Flyers gave me a great chance last year to play with some great players," Weal told the Flyers website. "I think the group is headed in the right direction, and there's a lot of talent and skill especially with some of the additions they've made. I'm excited to get back and to keep getting better as a group."
The North Vancouver native met with the Vancouver Canucks before deciding to re-sign with the Flyers.
Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the third round (No. 70) of the 2010 NHL Draft, Weal was traded to the Flyers by the Kings on Jan. 6, 2016. He did not have a point in his first 18 NHL games (10 with Los Angeles, eight with Philadelphia) before scoring against the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. 28; his six goals in March led NHL rookies.