In today';s rumor rundown the Red Wings just signed Dylan Larkin while Henrik
Zetterberg might be questionable for the season. Mark Stone says his new deal
in Ottawa doesn';t say what most insiders are suggesting it does and Ryan Ellis
 is still actively working on a deal with the Nashville Predators.Zetterberg
2018-19 Season Questionable

As Detroit Red Wings fans were celebrating a new contract for Dylan Larkin,
GM Ken Holland wasn';t only delivering good news on Friday. Speaking on a
conference call about Larkin's contract, Holland told media including Helene
St. James of the Detroit Free Press that Zetterberg is still considered
questionable for the 2018-19 and has had trouble training this offseason.

Holland said, "I am anxious to know where Henrik Zetterberg is at. He's a bit
 of an unknown as far as health." He then added, he talked to Zetterberg';s
agent who admitted the Red Wings star has had a tough summer and that his
training hasn';t been close to on par with the training of past
seasons. Essentially, Holland has his fingers crossed that Zetterberg will
play.(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Holland suggested that come September, he';ll know more but should Zetterberg
not be able to play, it essentially solves most of the problems in terms of the
 Red Wings cap troubles. This, of course, doesn';t mean Holland is hoping
Zetterberg can';t go but there is something positive that can come out of him
not being healthy.Related: NHL Rumors: Larkin, Hutton, Vasilevskiy, MoreMark
Stone Not Necessarily Leaving Ottawa

The minute Mark Stone signed a one-year extension with the Ottawa Senators,
many insiders suspected it signaled the end of his time in the organization and
 that he';d explore free agency next summer, likely leaving the club as other
stars like Erik Karlsson and Matt Duchene may do. Stone told Postmedia's Bruce
Garrioch that may not be the case.Mark Stone, Ottawa Senators, Nov. 15, 2016
(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Stone mentioned that he's certainly open to discussing an extension when the
window opens up in January:

"Everyone is looking at this and I think most fans are thinking this is pretty
negative news.  I think both sides left Toronto happy that we still have the
opportunity to work something out.  Everybody knows the way that arbitration
can go sometimes and the fact that both sides were able to leave on good terms
is a good sign."

This is good news for the Senators who are facing the optics of their team
being almost wiped out in terms of star players and long-term contracts with
only Zach Smith, Marian Gaborik, and Bobby Ryan signed past the 2019-20 season.
 If Stone does stay, it signals the organization is not throwing in the towel
or writing off the short-term, potentially going only with a rebuild with
prospects and overpaid former stars.

Still, the idea of unrestricted free agency may be attractive for Stone who
stands to make a lot of money if he has another strong season. Ottawa
potentially can';t afford a hefty frontloaded contract with huge signing
bonuses and Stone would have to be willing to take a value deal to stay
long-term.Related: NHL Rumors: McDavid, Drouin, Karlsson, MoreRyan Ellis and
Nashville Still Talking

Negotiations between the Nashville Predators and Ryan Ellis haven';t exactly
been front page news this summer but reports are the two sides are
having "consistent and continual negotiations" regarding a contract
extension. GM David Poile told ESPN 102.5 that Ellis entering the final year of
 a very team-friendly deal is not lost on the organization and that Ellis is
important to the team';s future. They understand his salary will likely more
than double.(Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

Currently, Ellis carries a $2.5 million cap hit and could become an
unrestricted free agency in July of 2019.  He';s produced three consecutive
seasons of 30-plus points and two of those three seasons with double-digit
goals. Should Ellis improve his numbers this season, it could be hard for the
Predators to keep their very strong defensive corps together. P.K. Subban and
his $9 million person season has already been the subject of trade
rumors.Related: NHL Rumors: Pacioretty, Nurse, Staal, MoreMatt Cullen
Retiring?

NHL veteran center Matt Cullen may be leaning towards retirement after this
upcoming season.  In an interview with Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette, Cullen acknowledged that he';s thinking this year will be his
last. "I'm definitely going into [the 2018-19 season] thinking that this is
probably it.  I'm not going to formally announce anything before the season
starts, but I think this probably is it."

Cullen signed a one-year with the Penguins this summer. With only 22 points in
79 games, unless he has a big bounce-back season, he';s unlikely to be offered
a contract by another team anyway. This year';s deal was worth an NHL league
minimum.

The post NHL Rumors: Zetterberg, Stone, Ellis, More appeared first on The
Hockey Writers.

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