Snapshots: Malkin, Vesey, Columbus, Trade Talk

Surgery will not be necessary for Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin writes the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Seth Rorabaugh. An MRI revealed that an unspecified injury on March 11 would not require surgery to Malkin’s elbow. Malkin, who has been the subject of trade rumors, played through the injury since March and only missed one postseason game as a result.

In other NHL news:

• CSN New England’s Joe Haggerty reports that despite having his rights traded to Buffalo, Hobey Baker Trophy winner Jimmy Vesey shouldn’t be counted out of signing with Boston. The Massachusetts native was drafted in the third round by Nashville in 2012, but never signed with the Preds. His rights were traded to Buffalo this past week, and although he had Buffalo on his shortlist, many analysts are convinced Vesey will reach free agency on August 15. Haggerty stressed that the Vesey camp has been difficult to predict so anything is possible. But reading between the lines, and listening to his agent, it sounds as if Vesey will take a thanks, but no thanks approach to Buffalo’s overtures.
• Columbus might be looking to move up in the draft writes Craig Hagerman.  The Blue Jackets currently own the #3 overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, but are interested in jumping to one of the top 2 spots according to Columbus Dispatch writer Aaron Portzline. Portzline points out that the asking price would still be significant should the Jackets climb in the draft, but it wouldn’t be as insane as last year’s attempts when Connor McDavid was the expected (and eventual) #1 pick.
• Pioneer Press writer Chad Graff indicates that with the expansion draft now a reality, trade talk will ramp up during the draft. Due to limitations of the players that can be protected, Graff writes that GMs are trying to offload players they could lose for nothing. Additionally, Graff quotes Minnesota general manager Chuck Fletcher as saying the Las Vegas team will be more competitive out of the gate than any previous expansion team due to the league’s new financial structure.