A bit of deja-vu today to start your week in hockey rumors.
The Dallas Stars Valeri Nichushkin has been in the rumor mill for the past few weeks as he continues to negotiate a new contract with the Stars and rumors of a very good KHL offer surfaced.
When you talk to people around the league about Nichushkin there is no doubt he is a player (when healthy) but there is talk that he and Lindy Ruff may not be a fit here. Many have told me that Valeri Nichushkin is still very green. "He's young, but he is really more young mentally than physically. That is not a knock, just a reality."
Interestingly enough the team I keep hearing most interesting is the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres have called Dallas before regarding Nichushkin. This goes back to before the Sabres moved Tyler Myers to Winnipeg. They were much more interested in Nichushkin over Evander Kane.
Sabres fans will enjoy the irony here as well. Remember it was Lindy Ruff who supposedly had some issues with another young Russian, Maxim Afinogenov, who inevitably was moved on despite tons of promise.
And this is not a knock on Lindy Ruff either... I have had several NHL players who played for Ruff tell me he was the best coach they ever played for. Personally, I would put Ruff right up there with Mike Babcock when it comes to the best coaches in the game today. But no matter how strong the coach is every coach has some players that they have a hard time fitting into their system.
Buffalo isn't the only team interested in the young Stars player. Montreal, Boston, Columbus and Chicago have all wanted to be kept in the loop should Nichushkin negotiations fall apart.
Jim Nill, who I have often called among the best GMs in the business as well, has publicly said the contract talks are going well and he still expects Val to sign, but according to sources it appears the sides may be reaching a major crossroad.
"We are at the point where something happens soon," a source continues, "It is entirely possible that he does indeed sign with Dallas and they give this some more time...but the offers are getting better and the Stars have a window open now."
We will discuss all this and more on today's HockeyBuzzCast Live at 1pm ET.
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