NHL Rumors: Utah Hockey Club, Anti Raanta, and Columbus Blue Jackets

Contract negotiations during the collision between Utah and Victor Soderstrom

Craig Morgan: The Utah Hockey Club and RFA defenseman Victor Soderstrom have reached an impasse in their contract negotiations.

They scoured the trade market for a 2019 first round pick and Utah has yet to find a match.

Soderstrom is considering what his options are in Sweden or Switzerland.

NHL Rumors: Teams Interested in Bringing James van Riemsdyk to Camp on PTO

Antti Raanta’s NHL days may be over

Patrick Johnston of the Province: The Vancouver Canucks have been linked with free agent goaltender Antti Raanta about going to their training camp. Raanta tells them that he doesn’t care.

Raanta told Finnish newspaper Ilta Sanomat that he no longer wants to play in the NHL. Raanta said he talked about Zoom with GM Patrik Allvin and goaltending coach Marko Torenius.

The Canucks’ offer wasn’t enough to convince him. He also said that he had other questions for the start of the season. There was a chance for him to end up in the AHL and Raanta said that was something he was not interested in.

The Canucks also talked to Kevin Lankinen but there seems to be a split regarding the potential salary.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are looking for a veteran forward or two

Aaron Portzline of the Athletic: Teams begin signing certain players to PTOs, potentially taking them off the market. Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell has circled back to the free agent market and is looking to bring in a veteran player or two, and on a contract and not a PTO.

“There will be players who will be waived and some who may be traded, as we have already talked about,” said Waddell. “As of right now, there is nothing outside (the trade market) that I would be willing to do. There are a few guys that we like that are still there, and we can just sign them.

“We’re at least two strikers short right now.”

NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres

There was the unfortunate loss of Johnny Gaudreau, and Justin Danforth may be out after wrist surgery.

Free agent options could include James van Riemsdyk, Kevin Labanc, Kyle Okposo, and Phil Kessel.