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The Labor Day long weekend is nearly upon us, and the NHL’s UFA market still includes some interesting names. Insider Elliotte Friedman made an appearance on NHL Network Wednesday evening, and provided his latest information on Tomas Fleischmann, Peter Mueller, and Kris Russell.

“I heard a rumor last week that Fleischmann was going to land somewhere, but I haven’t been able to pin it down,” said Friedman. “I don’t know if we’re talking a PTO or a one-year contract, but I did hear a rumor that Fleischmann was looking at something and I’m sure to hear about it soon. So I haven’t been able to pin down the team, but I’ve heard about it.

“One other guy I got an interesting note about is Peter Mueller… He’s a guy that had some injuries. He went overseas. He had some decent success in Europe. And he wants to come back. He wants to make an NHL return. He’s been kicking around maybe some PTOs here and there. But I heard the other thing is that he has told teams, ‘Hey, if I have to go to the American Hockey League first to show you that I’m serious, I will go.’ Because I think he’s a guy who would really like to take another stab at the NHL, so I’m curious to see if he’s going to end up somewhere too.”

Friedman had one more tidbit for the evening.

“Kris Russell, I hear, has got some interest out there and that he’s probably getting close to make a decision in the next few days. He’s a Western guy. I think in a perfect world he would stay out West, but right now he’s kind of got to wait. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if maybe he wants to go back to Calgary. Calgary has got a really crowded blueline. Unless they can do something there with one of their existing contracts, I’m not sure there’s room. But I think you’ll hear Russell signing probably within the next few days.”

Source: NHL Network/ Transcript: Nichols

Friedman thinks Russell will sign ‘probably within the next few days’