Latest on Dion Phaneuf, Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Bernier, Antti Niemi, Kari Lehtonen, Mike Richards and more.
Rumors from Elliotte Friedman’s “30 Thoughts.”
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports there’s simply wasn’t enough time at the trade deadline for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings to put together a complex deal for Dion Phaneuf on short notice. Friedman also claims the Philadelphia Flyers shipping Braydon Coburn to Tampa Bay for Radko Gudas and two picks changed everything. He guesses pre-Coburn a deal would’ve centered around Phaneuf, Stephen Weiss and Brendan Smith. Despite reports of the Leafs seeking Wings prospect Anthony Mathan, Friedman doesn’t believe it was a sticking point.
It’s believed the Chicago Blackhawks got calls last week for Patrick Sharp but the asking price was too high and potential trade partners didn’t like the request. It’s thought the demand from the Washington Capitals was winger Joel Ward and a first-round pick.
The Arizona Coyotes couldn’t trade Martin Erat because they had no more space to retain salary. Teams are allowed a maximum of three retained salaries and the Coyotes reached their limit with Keith Yandle, Zbynek Michalek and David Rundblad.
More trade speculation swirling about Jonathan Bernier.
Andrew Hammond’s performance suggests the Ottawa Senators could face a decision regarding their regular goalie tandem of Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner.
The Maple Leafs might be unwilling to make a full-time commitment to Jonathan Bernier as their starting goalie. San Jose and Edmonton could be possibilities, though the Oilers could attempt to pursue Chicago’s Antti Raanta.
The Anaheim Ducks have two good, affordable goalies in Frederik Andersen and John Gibson. Teams like Buffalo, Edmonton, San Jose, Toronto and others could be interested in what the Ducks do after this season.
The Buffalo Sabres could seek youthful options in goal, but Friedman speculates they might have interest in San Jose Sharks netminder Antti Niemi if he hits the UFA market this summer or in dealing for Dallas’ Kari Lehtonen.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s possible the Leafs and Red Wings could revisit a deal for Phaneuf this summer, but it’ll also depend upon the Wings playoff performance and if they decide to go shopping for a potential UFA like Mike Green, Paul Martin or Christian Ehrhoff….I believe Sharp is a certainty to be shopped this summer as a cost-cutting measure by the Blackhawks…If Hammond helps carry the Senators into the playoffs it could force the Sens to move either Anderson or Lehner. I’m guessing the latter…I don’t think the Ducks intend to move Andersen or Gibson this summer…Given Lehtonen’s struggles it wouldn’t surprise me if they try to trade him or buy him out in June and then take a serious run at Niemi. They could also get into the bidding for Raanta.
Latest from TSN’s Insiders.
TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Ottawa Senators had some interest in David Clarkson before the Maple Leafs shipped him to Columbus. The Leafs also reached out to Clarkson’s former team, the New Jersey Devils, but discussions didn’t get far. It’s believed the Leafs would’ve had to pick up the contract of injured winger Ryane Clowe.
Pierre LeBrun reports the St. Louis Blues had interest in bringing back blueliner Roman Polak from the Leafs. The Blues shipped Polak last summer to the Leafs for Carl Gunnarson. The Leafs, however, like Polak’s character…LeBrun also speculates there’s a chance Mike Richards might return with the LA Kings this season. Richards has played well with their farm team in Manchester.
PHILLY.COM: Sam Donnellon reported earlier this week Flyers GM Ron Hextall must determine which of his players still qualifies as young, and of those which ones still have potential or has developed as far as they can go. As an example, Donnellon notes winger Matt Read is in only his fourth NHL season but is 29 and may have already peaked compared to Brayden Schenn, who has as many seasons as Read but is only 23.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hextall isn’t done making deals. He’s got to get this team younger and to free up cap space. Don’t be surprised if Vincent Lecavalier is shopped or bought out in June.
Trading Patrick Sharp at the trade deadline would have made zero sense – Hawks are all in going for the Cup this year. Nice shootout winner by Vermette last night. Oilers certainly didn’t look like a tank team last night against Chicago.
The oilers are really not a tank team. They are actually focused on improving and have been under Nelson. They could have unloaded many players at the deadline if they were looking to secure their position in June.
Now that said, their management is still seemingly incompetent and since all the kids seem to be moving forward in progress once again, under coach Nelson. I fully expect another Skype firing this summer.
The players don’t know they’re supposed to be tanking . . . they just want to win. Only management can create a tanker, and MacT can’t even get that done.
The Oilers are tanking in the sense that through inaction, or too high of a cost they were unable to improve this team at the deadline. Finding a way to replace the injured hall would of been nice, but they are not tanking in the sense that there roster just isn’t good enough and are they are missin their best player and have sub par goaltending.
We can agree on either. It just depends on which side of the arguement holds more water for you personally.
No movement clauses – a topic yesterday. Mickey Redmond talked about NMCs last night in the Wings’ game, agreed with some of us that they need to go away.
At the very least the NHL should insist at the next bargaining sessions that the league adopt a variation of the baseball 5-10 rule. NO ONE signing a deal as an RFA or UFA should be allowed to dictate future movement. The league consists of 30 teams and in the interest of parity all teams should be able to get in on trade talks. The players are certainly paid well enough to put up with some movement.
Agreed – 5-10 would work fine for me. No NMCs should be the ultimate goal, but this would suggestion would be an improvement.
Makes a lot of sense. If you buy the company line that the salary cap was instituted to give small market clubs an equal footing on which to compete financially, than these NMC’s are effectively negating that line of thought. Sounds like many of these small market cities are being deliberately discouraged from asking about/pursuing players as a result.
This would be a good start, or simply a cap on the age a player can have a nmc.
Another change I’d like to see is, if a formula is worked out to limit NT/NM clauses as discussed, those that have it can no longer flat out refuse a trade anywhere IF they are the ones who demand a trade. The best example of that was Heatley when he asked to be moved out of Ottawa – and then turned down a deal that would have seen him go to Edmonton for – if I recall – Gagner, Smid and Cogliano, effectively ham-stringing Murray (and still pocketing the $4 mil bonus handed him by Melnyk). Real class act. Now he’s wallowing in the AHL at age 34.
Right! And I bet he’d give his left you-know-what for the opportunity to be an Oiler now! Karma, baby!
I agree with that George. If a player has a no movement clause and asks to be move the GM should be able to respond with. “Sure I will move you but you need to sign this form voiding you no movement clause.”
Maybe the GM should just not agree to a NMC? Enough rules in the CBA now without more to protect GMs from themselves. Maybe the league should just allow buyouts with no penalties?
This would make it tough for smaller, less attractive markets as they won’t be able to offer something like ntc. Teams like toronto and SJ to an extent have created this issue. Especially toronto they shouldn’t have to offer ntc to sign players long term, just shows nobody will gamble on moving even if its toronto.
just trade the buyouts to TO or other rich teams for draft picks or prospects and let them buy them out? NMC clauses are not a benefit on TO when you have to deal with what Kessell, Phaneuf, and Clarkson went through?
I like the deal of Brendan Smith and Weiss for Dion. Smith is a RFA and the deal is close in monies, this year at least. I have also had a “Phenough” of Dion’s trade speculation.
I would be willing to bet the Leafs wanted Mantha and the wings first, or the wings wanted a tonne of salary held or salary held for the entire life of the contract. I agree with Friedman there was more to this deal not getting done than just Mantha.
They should carry part of Dions ridiculous contract… if he’s a 7mil a year D man then the rest of the league is doing it wrong.
Not if they are taking salary back in Weiss they shouldnt or the return has to be a whole lot better than that, if what was speculated was correct 2 mill held in salary plus taking Weisses deal on is Toronto picking up 24 million bucks for just a prospect?…no thanks just from a business point of view that makes no sense let alone from a hockey point of view…easy to sit back and troll Phaneufs contract, but that is a stupid bad deal. Way worse than the contract.
So do the Leafs take Weiss in exchange for not taking back any of Dion’s salary?
there is no way that is the deal. Smith and another player or prospect which gets higher if TO takes Weiss. Sheehan or a first next year with Smith would be about right. Leafs could keep some salary for two years also. That is not overvaluing Phaneuf it is realistic. Coburn does not have the offense of DF and they are comparable defensively.
lol Keep Phaneuf or send him somewhere else.
Lyle, if the Kings bring Mike Richards back up, does he need to clear waivers again? Thanks.
Nope, he was already on waivers to go down, no re entry waivers anymore…not that it would matter no one would pick that contract up now I would doubt.
and even if they did, no team getting him on waivers now could use him in the playoffs.
I don’t see how the sens would want to trade Lehner unless it was a Ina deal for a star like hall. Andersons tolerance for pain, age and prone to injury makes him the least favourable of the two to retain. Let’s not kid ourself Hammond at best will be a back up in the NHL. They are just ridding the hot hand. I think it would be a terrible mistake to part with Lehner and if management has it in their heads to deal him we might want to look at replacing them.
Murray probably won’t trade either goalie
I think that the comment may have been more geared to say that Lehner is more tradeable, due to his age, contract and potential.
Exactly.
well I am not prepared to claim Hammond will be just a back up or that he will become a mainstay starter. We all know his current numbers are not sustainable. There will be a regression but it will be hard to judge him on this season alone. How bad the regression will be is anyone’s guess.
Therefore I agree if Ottawa were to trade any of their three Goalies it will likely only happen if they can bring back a top line player. Lehner after all is only 24ish, still needs to develope, Hammond is a toss of the dice and Anderson is not young, 33.
The more likely scenario next year is they carry all three and do like they did wih Bishop, Anderson and Lehner trade one at the deadline, or when a top line player is offered.. The only question will be who you start game by game if all three maintain a high pace, if Hammond keeps this up and they make the playoffs deciding who plays when one appears to struggle will be interesting.
For now ride the wave, ride the wave.
Murray probably won’t trade either goalie
Letting Bernier go would be a big mistake. If the Leafs go all in on a rebuild they should start from the net out, and Bernie has a few years to go before he hits his prime. He’s a quality goalie that won’t get his value back in a trade.
Of course Richards will be back up with the Kings this year. Maybe not during the season but certainly for the playoffs (if they get there).
He’s still an excellent addition to a team looking to go deep in the playoffs just not at the big salary he carries. But the cap and salaries don’t count in the post-season so he’ll certain be called up to center the fourth line of fill in for injured players in a top 9 role.
Spector you don’t mention Boychuk as a summer option for the Wings, hope you’re implying that the Isles will lock him up soon!
Hey hockey people. Let’s have some fun.
Give predictions for the finals.
I am picking Minnisota vs Montreal – the Habs win another cup.
chicago vs tampa bay
chicago wins
I think east is gonna be a battle this year, so the last team from the West wins cup because they’re more rested.
That said, I would pick Montreal instead (steadly the most improved team, best defense) but #1 im a leafs fan and #2 price/mtl will be taken out by a big team in round 2 (NYR) 🙂