ESPN.com’s Pierre LeBrun suggests Keith Ballard of the Vancouver Canucks is a prime candidate for one of two compliance buyouts this summer. Ballard is due $4.2 million annually through the next two season. “Lebrun says “T he defense is set, which is either a good thing if you like this group or a bad thing if you’re [...]

Alexander Edler and the Vancouver Canucks are expected to begin discussions on a contract extension soon, according to assistant GM Laurence Gilman. The 2012-13 campaign is the final year of Edler’s current deal and it will earn him $3.25 million. He will probably be seeking a hefty raise, as he is presently the team’s fifth-highest [...]

Bob McKenzie is reporting that the Vancouver Canucks have sign Jason Garrison to a six-year $27.6 million dollar contract. The 27-year-old set career-highs with 16 goals and 17 assists in 77 games with the Florida Panthers in 2011-12. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth by the Panthers in [...]

Catching up on some Quick Hits from around the league: The Pittsburgh Penguins are no longer “actively” shopping Paul Martin, Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says.Even though there has been some interest, he has it on “rock-solid authority” that the defenseman is not being offered around the league. The Penguins are rumored to be primed [...]

The St. Louis Blues will be in the hunt for a top-four defenseman during the unrestricted free agency period. The Blues are believed to be interested in Jason Garrison, but they also might fill that need via a trade. Garrison is reportedly seeking a five-year/$25 million contract after breaking out with 33 points in 77 [...]

The Florida Panthers could have defenseman Jason Garrison locked up with a new contract in the next few days. ESPN.com’s Pierre LeBrun reports contract negotiations between the Panthers and the UFA-to-be will “resume this week”, at which point the defenseman can expect an offer” from General Manager Dale Tallon. “We’re going to start the process this week, we’re going to talk [...]

With Ryan Suter being the hottest defensive commodity that could potentially be on the open market this off season, here is a look at some defensemen that will get a look from teams once Suter is off the market. 1. Matt Carle, Philadelphia Flyers Despite expressing an interest in re-signing Carle, according to CSNPhilly.com Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren has yet [...]