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The Kris Letang camp notified the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday evening that it was turning down an eight-year extension offer worth around $56 million, a source told ESPN.com. A source also told ESPN.com that the Letang camp counter-offered with a long-term deal south of $8 million a year and that it was deemed too rich by the Pens. Where it goes from here remains unclear. Perhaps another offer will come, or the rejection could spur Pens GM Ray Shero into finally putting the All-Star defenseman on the trade market. Letang has one year left on his deal, which pays him $3.5 million. Only 26, he’d be in huge demand on the UFA market. If Shero decides to move him, the list of teams wanting a top-end defenseman like Letang would be through the roof. Elsewhere:• Contract talks have gone on in earnest the past few days between Bryan Bickell’s camp and the Chicago Blackhawks. Bickell is a pending UFA. • Teams already have reached out to Vincent Lecavalier’s camp, on the same day he was bought out by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Although Lecavalier can’t sign with anyone until July 5, the league confirmed to ESPN.com that his camp is allowed to talk to teams now because he’s been bought out. • Spoke with an executive from an opposing team earlier Thursday who said the Blackhawks have made center Dave Bolland available for trade. Doesn’t mean they’ll move him, but they’re listening ...
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