By Tim Panaccio
CSNPhilly.com

June 18, 2009

Holmgren said that goalie Marty Biron is changing agents, but the club remains in the dark as to what Biron wants in terms of money or length of contract, and time is running out; he added that the club still would consider re-signing Antero Niittymaki.

Interestingly, Holmgren said if the team re-signs Scott Munroe, he doesn’t see him backing up Ray Emery. Which sort of opens the door for … Robert Esche “if” he can void the final year of his Russian deal, which the NHL frowns upon unless the Russian club is compensated.

SKA St. Petersburg coach Barry Smith says Esche owes him another year, or any NHL team signing him has to fork over a goalie.

“He played both years [in Russia],” Holmgren said of Esche. “He’s changed. I talked to him for a couple hours last week. I think he is a different guy. Older, more mature. I think his family is a bigger issue in his life now. I think he struggled with things back at the end of his time here.”

Holmgren would like to re-sign Knuble before July 1, but there is no agreement on length of contract as of yet. Same for Andrew Alberts.

Re-signings