NHL Rumors: Gauthier, Nikishin, Xhekaj, and Fantilli

Quick hits on Cutter Gauthier, Alexander Nikishin, and Arber Xhekaj

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic: There is progress being made between the Anaheim Ducks and RFA forward Cutter Gauthier. Both sides want to get a deal done, with talks continuing over the weekend and yesterday. Not 100%, but believe that it will be a six-year deal, and maybe in the $13 to $14 million range.

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek did make offers to Leo Carlsson and Gauthier early last season in the fall. The agents for both players were smart by waiting.

After last season, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin asked for a change of scenery and as of Monday, he would still like to move on.

The Montreal Canadiens could re-sign Arber Xhekaj as early as today.

Columbus Blue Jackets talks with Adam Fantilli have been moving slowly

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic:  One source said that contract talks between the Columbus Blue Jackets and RFA forward Adam Fantilli are going “very slow.” There remains a sizable gap. The sides have been making offers and counter offers.

Aaron Portzline: “Deals are getting done. Have to believe #CBJ GM Don Waddell and Adam Fantilli’s agent, Pat Brisson, will be hard at work today. #CBJ report for physicals on Wednesday, take the ice on Thursday. Nobody wants the 21-year-old No. 1 center to miss the start of camp.”

Things will take care of themselves in Columbus, eventually

Aaron Portline of The Athletic: It’s been an offseason of speculation with Zach Werenski at the start, then moving on to Kirill Marchenko, and there’s Adam Fantilli without a contract. Columbus Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness when asked if it feels like things are teetering:

“No. Not to me. All of that stuff will take care of itself. You can’t let that be a distraction. Z’s stuff is behind us. He wants to be here, and he’s made that very clear. We don’t even bring it up. He’s all in; that’s not a question. Mo (Fantilli) is going to get signed at some point, too. We know that; we just don’t know when. The other stuff … we’re no different than any other team. The only guys you want on your team are the guys who want to be here.”

Bowness, when asked what it means if Fantilli isn’t at camp when they open on Thursday.

“It’s not an ideal situation for the player or the team. But you coach the guys who are here. The guys who are here, you get them ready to go. If he misses a couple of days, when he comes back, I know we’ll get him ready to go. I talked to him a couple of weeks ago. The conversations with him all summer have been excellent. He’ll be in great shape when he gets here.”