Notes at Noon: Scouting Combine in Full Swing - Brad Richards Will Test Open Market

There have been countless "Tweets" from the scouting combine in Toronto today and many people seem impressed with Northeastern defenseman Jamie Oleksiak.  The 6'7 blueliner has been called an "awesome physical specimen", as well as several other things.  Oleksiak was projected to go somewhere in the middle of the first round but will this strong showing move him up?

We will check out the results later and see what the experts have to say after the dust settles.  In the meantime, you can follow some of the action on TSN's Draft Combine Live Blog.

Brad Richards and Dallas to part ways

In news that didn't surprise anyone, it was reported yesterday that Brad Richards will officially be moving on from his stint with the Stars and will indeed test the free agent market this summer.  The center is number one on several team's wish lists, including Buffalo, Toronto, NY Blueshirts, Tampa Bay, and on and on. 

Even though Richards mentioned Carolina as a possible destination of choice in a previous interview, Caniacs shouldn't hold their breath on this one.  The All Star will most certainly get a long term, high dollar contract which will be too high for this budget team.

Imagine if Richards goes back to Tampa Bay?  The "Southleast" is getting tougher and tougher.

In case you missed it, Mike Maniscalco and Mark Thomas interviewed Rod Brind`Amour on their show this morning.  Brind`Amour is in the news because he recently won a leadership award from the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. 

Still as modest as ever, he joked that the group probably chose him because everyone else was out of town.  I don't think so Captain.

You can listen to the interview here:  Rod Brind`Amour on 620 The Buzz