On the Dallas Stars and Valeri Nichushkin …

Aivis Kalnins: Source saying that Valeri Nichushkin asked Traktor of the KHL for $1.5 million.

Alessandro Seren Rosso: The GM of Traktor said they can’t afford the $1.5 million that Nichushkin is looking for.

On Carlo Colaiacovo …

Igor Eronko: Rsport is reporting that defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo has offers from two KHL teams.

On Justin Fontaine …

Igor Eronko: Justin Fontaine, who signed a PTO with the Florida Panthers, received strong interest from a couple of KHL teams.

On the Calgary Flames …

Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun: The Flames and Johnny Gaudreau appear to be $1.5 million a year apart on a new contract.

Sources are saying that Gaudreau’s camp is looking for a deal in the $8 million range, with the Flames looking for something between Sean Monahan’s $6.375 million and Mark Giordano’s $6.75 million.

Gaudreau has only two years in the league and as an RFA doesn’t have a lot of rights. The Flames are looking for market value, and Gaudreau wants superstar pay.

“He wants unrestricted money but he’s restricted,” said one source, who doesn’t blame Gross for the monstrous ask. “He’s played two years in the league and is a great player, but is he that much better than (Nashville’s Filip) Forsberg ($6 million AAV) or Nathan MacKinnon ($6.3 million AAV) or Monahan? This is the one year the Flames have rights and they’re pushing hard to exercise them.”

On insider source said there is “no precedent or rational” for the Flames to give him $8 million a season.