Atlantic Notes: Turris, Panthers, Ristolainen

While Senators center Kyle Turris has been seeking a max-term contract extension of eight years, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports that his camp is now aiming for a seven-year extension worth roughly $6MM per season.  The team, meanwhile, continues to offer a five-year deal instead.  The timing of this report is certainly interesting considering Turris was believed to be part of a recent three-team trade with Colorado and Nashville that would have had him going to the Predators but the deal fell through.

Turris is poised to be one of the top centers available on the open market this summer if he makes it to free agency and should be able to land a long-term contract wherever he signs.  Will this report affect negotiations between him and the Senators though?  It may be difficult for Turris’ camp to return to the table knowing that the team has been recently including him in trade discussions so that will be certainly something to watch for.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic:

• The Panthers will be getting some help from the infirmary tonight as NHL.com’s Alain Poupart reports (Twitter link) that forwards Jared McCann, Colton Sceviour, and Connor Brickley are all set to return to the lineup. McCann (lower-body) and Sceviour (upper-body) have each missed the last five games while Brickley (upper-body) has sat out the last three games.  Florida made a pair of roster moves yesterday to free up spots on the active roster when they returned forwards Denis Malgin and Chase Balisy to AHL Springfield.
• Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen suffered an upper-body injury on Thursday night and is listed as day-to-day, the team announced via Twitter. He joins fellow blueliners Zach Bogosian, Nathan Beaulieu, and Josh Gorges on the injured list; through 13 games this season, Buffalo has yet to dress a fully-healthy defense corps.  Ristolainen’s loss is a significant one as he is unquestionably their top defender and leads the league in average ice time per night at 27:09.  Taylor Fedun is expected to take his place in Buffalo’s lineup.