Updates on Ryan O’Reilly, Patrick Sharp, Vincent Lecavalier, Vladimir Sobotka and the Ducks goaltenders.
Latest on O’Reilly and Sharp.
NICHOLS ON HOCKEY: TSN’s Darren Dreger recently reported the Colorado Avalanche will do all they can to re-sign Ryan O’Reilly, who becomes eligible for UFA status in July 2016. If they’re unable to re-sign O’Reilly they could try to trade him, though his UFA status in 2016 could make it difficult to move him.
It’s expected the Chicago Blackhawks will trade winger Patrick Sharp this summer.
Bob McKenzie believes the Chicago Blackhawks will trade winger Patrick Sharp “for sure” this summer. McKenzie feels the ‘Hawks will keep Marian Hossa, but he also thinks Bryan Bickell and Kris Versteeg will be gone.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Avalanche are willing to pay close to $7 million annually to keep O’Reilly or he’s willing to accept less than that on a long-term deal, then he won’t be dealt. Otherwise, the Avs will either trade him this summer or face losing him for nothing next summer to free agency. Sharp, Bickell and Versteeg could be shopped in cost-cutting trades this summer.
Could the Oilers pursue Sobotka or a Ducks goaltender?
NICHOLS ON HOCKEY: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes Blues forward Vladimir Sobotka (currently playing in the KHL) could be a perfect fit with the Edmonton Oilers if they’re able to sign him. It will depend upon what the Blues want to do as Friedman claims there’s “been a lot of bad blood there.”
Friedman also claims the Oilers could be among several teams (like the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs) who could have interest in Anaheim Ducks goalies Frederik Andersen or John Gibson. If the Ducks have a terrible playoffs, Friedman speculates Andersen or Gibson could be dealt.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Sobotka returns there will be considerable interest in him because of the limited depth of talent in this summer’s free-agent market. As for the Ducks goaltending, we’ll have to wait and see how the playoffs shake out before determining if Andersen or Gibson could be available.
Latest on Lecavalier.
PHILLY.COM: Frank Seravalli reports the future is uncertain for unhappy Flyers forward Vincent Lecavalier. He ” still has 3 years left on his $22.5 million deal, at a $4.5 million salary-cap hit.” Seravalli claims the Flyers’ first preference is to trade Lecavalier, preferably to a small market team seeking value as $12 million of his salary has already been paid out. Another would be a buyout, though that would leave the Flyers with $1.75 million in dead cap space for the next six years. He could also retire, though that would prevent Lecavalier from finishing his career on his terms.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lecavalier’s agent recently hinted his client might be willing to retire a year or two before the end of his current contract if he were dealt to another club. That, plus perhaps the Flyers willingness to pick up a portion of his remaining contract, could improve his trade value this summer.
Serious question. Would chicago not be further ahead to trade Crawford to say Edmonton or San jose for some picks and young player? They seem to have two more then capable goalies and would save them from touching their roster.
Why trade Crawford? Ranta would be a better trade and maybe get rid of some dead weight like Rosival. Richards won’t be around next year either.
Yes to trading Crawford.
But what team wants to pay crawford what is it 6 million a year?
Cam Ward was. A great contract at the time too.
do not understand why GMs gibe goalies long term contracts unless they are truly elite a la Price and his ilk.
@Gordon, I wouldn’t even be willing to give an elite tender long term / big contracts. Lundqvist is an elite guy, but for how much longer? That is a contract that will be hurting NY for a LONG time imo. I’m not paying anyone that cannot win games $8.5 per for 7-8 years.
Fair enough. Goaltending seems to be the most unpredictable position. Best goalie in the league right now can be argued Dubynyk …..
The real question out of the Windy City:
Is a deal in principle in place with the Capitals for Patrick Sharp?
caps have to sign holtby and other rfas cant see them affording sharp
I can’t see how the Caps trade for Sharp when they still have to re-sign Holtby, as well as their remaining RFA’s, not to mention decide what they wanna do with Mike Green (who probably won’t be re-signed)
Sharp if dealt will to a team that one needs a lw with right handed shot and who can take his contract phily and Washington make the most sense but cap issues might be an issue. Richards rosival runbland versteeg and bickell will not be back Crawford or rannta go as well. Personally I think the hawks try and keep sharp move out other contracts one thing is for sure hawks need more size and grit
on there team to much skill not enough phsicallity
ON ROR,
“If they’re unable to re-sign O’Reilly they could ‘TRY’ to trade him, though his UFA status in 2016 could make it difficult to move him”
I’m sure they wouldn’t have a difficult time finding a trade partner.
Tim Murray has stated publicly he would take a gamble on such a player without directly mentioning ROR.
Buffalo offers the STL 1st they possess, Grigorenko (reunited with junior coach Roy) and a prospect for ROR at the draft…any thoughts
if im the avalanche I try to keep ror this guy brings so much more to the game than points and is still young! it would be a mistake to move ror with such a good young core
What I am missing on ROR that dictates such a return from a trade or cost via free agency? In six NHL season he topped the 15 goal mark twice, including the 25 goal mark once. Paying for or trading for potential has gotten GM’s in nothing but trouble. It also seems as though he has chemistry issues with his teammates. I would stay away until he proves more
larry m…. ror has no chemistry issues with his teammates at all!! with his contract yes but he is a good teammate and brings a total all around game! if he only is average in scoring points the rest of his game makes up for it the avalanche are not a good defensive team he is the lone bright spot
I like ROR’s game but since when is a defensively responsible 15 goal guy worth7 million?
Exactly Gordon
Guys with simmilar, numbers of takeaways, and goals to ROR, Holland Hoffman Stone Backlund Bozak Skinner Komarov….none worth 7 mill, RORs offensive stats are also kinda padded by who he plays with same as Bozak. As far as other adv stats ROR doesnt make a huge impact.
Since when is a goal only scoring winger worth 8m/yr long term. Maybe a 2-way top 2C is worth 7m/yr then.
Whats more sought after a top 6 C or W?
Perspectibe n need.
Since when is a goal only scoring winger worth 8m/yr long term?
Maybe a 2-way top 2C is worth 7m/yr then?
Whats more sought after a top 6 C or W?
Perspective n need.
@shticky-you aren’t comparing holland and komorov to ROR and Skinner are you. That takes leaf bias to a new level!
agree scott leafs fans think kessel contract is good 30 goal scorer is all he brings and makes 8 million lol
shticky…. I think landeskog and tanguays points are padded by oreillys play!
Has nothing to do with Leafs this or that…those happen to be the players that are pretty close to OReilly how is Stone Hoffman Skinner or Backlund “Leaf” bias?
ROR is a career .577 ppg is a career minus player (-9), does not play physical.
He is a great positional player, high hockey and is 24 with 6 years in the league.
Has he reached his potential or is there more to give?
Comparables: Bergeron 6.5, Jordan Staal 6, Brian Little at 4.7
Is ROR worth nearly 10 percent of the cap? What does that make Landeskog worth and Duchesne and McKinnon worth when they come up?
I am not saying ROR sucks, he is a good if not great centreman but i am not sure if he is elite. Maybe i am wrong but i just do not see the value of ROR at 7 plus per. If a trade with buffalo can be made for a first plus two blue chip prospects, i would make that deal.
as an aside. The NHL is at the high end of the entertainment industry and they are there to make money. Goals are a premium and the guys that can score despite other deficencies have always gotten paid.
Perhaps we are evolving into a new era where the 20 goal defensive specialist is the new superstar and the “one dimensional” 35 and 40 goal guy is the way of the dodo if that is what fans want to pay for but we will see.
anyways, in short i would not pay ROR 7 million on my team playing arm chair gm.
peace out
Since when is a goal only scoring winger worth 8m/yr long term?
Maybe a 2-way top 2C is worth 7m/yr then?
Whats more sought after a top 6 C or W?
Perspective n need.
So does Mikael Backlund a 7 mill player? Is that what your perspective tells you Gordie?
How bout Bozak? Only 1 year ROR had more goals than Bozak, Bozak wins more faceoffs and has almost as many takeaways, he worth over 6 mill?…of course not.
why would all gms take ror over bozak or backlund than shticky? ror brings so much more to the game plays the pk goes against the opponents top lines! if you think his contract is bloated give your honest opinion about kessel!!
More familiar with ROR than Backland. I used 7m/yr as the threads example with a current 8m/yr contract. I don’t believe 7m is justified but 6-6.5 tops.
The deal I’ve heard bounced around is the late 1st, Grigerenko, and either McCabe or potentially Ruhwedhl.
If I’m Sakic and Roy I trade ROR for the best return I can get. He’s a good player, and as Jello pointed out he DOES offer more than points, but given the previous contentious contract dealings I personally wonder if his desire is more in tune with his paycheck and personal accolades or with the crest on his sweater
Agreed,
If the Avs can get a first rounder plus multiple pieces vs paying ROR 7 million plus. Do it.
You make the deal if you think O’Rielly is a top six forward that you can sign long term. Sabres don’t need to make any more stupid deals like they make with Winnipeg.
Hanson, I don’t consider that trade with Winnipeg to be stupid because as I see it Myers and Bogosian wash both needed a change and Winnipeg got the better offensive D-man and Buffalo got the needed physical D-man they lacked who can still contribute some offense. In Kane they get a proven scorer who also needed a change which they gave up prospects who have proved nothing yet in the NHL. Armia hasn’t scored a goal in 21 straight AHL games, doesn’t mean he is a bust but it may mean he doesn’t belong in the NHL. I would have liked to have kept Lemieux but if he wasn’t going to sign with Buffalo then at least we got a return and the 1st again is a prospect and nothing more at this time. Stafford might have been the most important piece in the trade for Winnipeg because if re-signed and continues to play as he is now he may put out the same point production as Kane.
It’s really a time will tell trade as Buffalo gets proven talent and Winnipeg gets potential talent. I think it’s essential that Winnipeg signs Stafford because if those 3 prospects don’t turn out to be NHL talent at least Stafford may save face for Chevy.
Re: Ducks goalies.
Don’t see either one being traded YET. At times both have looked good and at times both not so good. Neither has played all that many IMPORTANT games which is the bottom line, how well do you play in the must win games. Doubt Murray trades either until he figures out who is best one. Also, young goalies don’t get much back as in Ben Bishop (Ottawa) and Bernier (LAK). Now Ducks have two great needs in a top #1 D-man of which Murray has been trying to get for two years but face it, these D-man are just about impossible to trade for. Second need is a left wing next to Getzlaf who can put the puck in the net. I could see something like a Silfverberg / Gibson / pick going to Leafs for JVR, but before that happens Murray would want to pick over the UFA’s on July 1 for a goalie and a LW, so don’t this happening until after July 1.
Gibson is/will be better than Anderson he will get moved if either goalie
try Phaneuf, lupul and Reimer for Gibson, Ritchie and next years #1 or this years 2 and 3. TO might have to take two or three years of 2 million salary, a bad contract back to make this work, or add a secondary prospect to this? Ducks get their dman, a decent left winger and a goalie they can use as a back up or an asset to trade. If JVR is substituted for lupul then a young roster player would have to be added.
Aren’t you a tad over-evaluating a collections of Leafs who have contributed mightily to their current bottom-feeder status?
The Tugboat that sank…..
lol not a chance in hell the ducks do that!
Does your all time team include Ron Tugnut in goal?
I don’t think either goalie is going anywhere either. Only if the Ducks could get a blue chip player to get them to the Cup.