Kevin Allen of the USA Today: Allen offers 10 early projections for the upcoming season. 1. Jeff Carter and Rick Nash will score more than 75 combined goals this season. 2. Predicts the Oilers will be an “elite Pittsburgh Penguins-style contender by 2013-14.” 3. If Shane Doan isn’t re-signed during the season, he’ll be hot name at the trade deadline. 4. Ales Hemsky will lead the league in trade rumors again. 5. The Rangers and Sabres have improved and should move up the standings. Some think the Capitals and Penguins will drop, Allen doesn’t. 6. Best bargain goaltending: Tomas Vokoun ($1.5 million), Jonathan Quick ($1.8 million) and Jimmy Howard ($2.25 million). 7. The Predators will acquire a top 6 scoring forward. Cory Stillman and Sergei Samsonov are free agents, or they could go the trade route with teams looking so shed some salary. 8. The Lightning will give up 20 to 25 less goals due to having Dwayne Roloson for the entire season. 9. Predators Blake Geoffrion will be in the rookie of the year race. 10. Sabres owner Terry Pegula will be the teams MVP this year.
Larry Brooks of the NY Post: The Nassau County referendum vote for a new arena is today. If they don’t get a positive vote for a new arena, the team could be up for sale. Would NJ Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov want to buy the club and bring it to Brooklyn? The new arena being built in Brooklyn will be ready for the 2012-13 season, and could fill 44-60 dates.
Peter Grathoff of the Kansas City Star: If votes go in the way of not building the new arena in Nassau County, it could one day increase the chances of moving them to Kansas City. The Islanders lease expires at the Nassau Coliseum in 2015.
Josh Cooper of the Tennessean: Shea Weber’s arbitration hearing is tomorrow morning at 8 a.m., and both sides have filed their written briefs. After briefs are filed, it sometimes speeds up negotiations to get a deal done before the hearing.
Kelly Friesen via twitter: Word is that the Blues would like Jaden Schwartz to play with the Tri-City Americans but he’d rather stay at Colorado College.
