Can the Flyers find any takers this summer for Vincent Lecavalier? Could the Bruins trade Milan Lucic? Does Jordan Staal want out of Carolina? Read on for the latest.
Can the Flyers move Lecavalier?
Will the Flyers try to trade Vincent Lecavalier this summer?
NJ.COM: Randy Miller believes the Philadelphia Flyers can move unhappy and unproductive forward Vincent Lecavalier this summer, despite his declining production and lengthy contract. Miller cites sources claiming the Flyers were close to trading Lecavalier last summer to either the Florida Panthers or Nashville Predators, but the respective owners of both clubs nixed the respective deals. He also cites Lecavalier’s agent Kent Hughes claiming a deal last summer with Nashville was “awfully close.”
Miller also believes Hughes’ comments suggest his client might retire after a year or two if he gets dealt to a club where he’ll get a better opportunity. “I’m sure if Vinny found a good environment … an opportunity to go to a new team and end on a good note, I wouldn’t be surprised if he retired before finishing the term of his deal,” said Hughes. Miller also feels that Lecavalier’s contract being front-loaded will also help efforts to move him. Flyers GM Ron Hextall declined to comment on trade rumors.
PHILLY.COM: Sam Carchidi reports Flyers GM Ron Hextall doesn’t anticipate making any big off-season moves.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lecavalier has three years remaining on his contract at an annual cap hit of $4.5 million. If he were to retire in a year or two after being dealt to a new team, that team wouldn’t be on the hook for his full contract. However, I’m not sure if there’s specific language in the CBA which addresses this type of scenario whereby a player on a lengthy contract agrees to retire before the contract expires to facilitate a trade. If it’s allowable under the CBA such a scenario might be necessary for the Flyers to move him this summer. Sure, there was interest last summer, but given the ongoing decline in Lecavalier’s production it could be harder to move him now. As for Hextall’s comments, I’ll believe it when I see it. Not that I expect him to blow up the Flyers roster, but there will be changes coming this summer.
Lucic to Edmonton?
CSNNE.COM: Joe Haggerty believes there will be major roster implications for the Boston Bruins if they fail to make the playoffs. He thinks everything points to the Bruins trade Milan Lucic, who has a year left on his contract at a cap hit of $6 million and is eligible for UFA status next summer. “You may have already seen the best of Milan Lucic. I would love to see the Bruins and the Oilers revisit a Milan Lucic-Taylor Hall deal,” said Haggerty.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t believe the Oilers will swap Hall for Lucic. That deal just doesn’t make sense for them. Why ship out a younger left wing for an older one who will bolt via free agency in a year’s time? Sorry, does not compute.
No truth to Pittsburgh trade rumor, says Staal.
TRIBLIVE.COM: Jason Mackey reports Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal said he heard about a recent rumor claiming the Pittsburgh Penguins were interested in reacquiring him. At the time, Hurricanes GM Ron Francis said his club wasn’t trading Staal. Jordan says he never asked Francis for a trade.
In what world is Joe Haggerty living that that Edmonton trade Hall for Lucic? Lucic is not the answer to Edmonton’s problems. If anything Lucic moves to a playoff fringe team, could add some gritty depth on the 2nd or 3rd line but does not fit in at EDM IMO.
You’re right Noel no way oilers trade hall for lucic!
Lucic isnt the answer to anyones problems nevermind Edmonton good enough player but..I’m not sure how easy he would be to move let alone getting a player like Hall. Cant see many GMs giving up top players that are locked up on their team for a 6 mill guy who only has around 40 points and 1 year left on a deal before ufa status. Sights may be set a little high there.
I don’t get the Hall for Lucic deal either. Maybe Hall for Lucic, a first round pick, and other stuff. Lucic is a nice power forward who puts up good numbers, but Hall is a superstar-in-the-making if he just gets surrounded by the right team. I could easily see Hall becoming a point-per-game guy for the next 8 years or so.
And size wise I am not sure one guy is 6 1 close to 210 and fast the other is 6 3 220 and is not,really its not like Hall is a soft player… it makes absolutely no sense.
Especially considering the fact that Lucic is a UFA next summer. It would be tough for the oilers to re-up Milan in 2016.
Oilers need to keep Hall and try to find answers to their goaltending and defensive issues without giving up Hall.
Dropping hints like Ill retire early or I may not play for the entire length of my contract is a good way to get traded to Toronto…
^^^^^ This was supposed to be to 4th Hanson
So what are the Leafs gonna give up to get him?
Who knows….
maybe ask Mike Milbury
As for Vinny who cares
The same world in which he thinks Bartkowski will get them Kassian.
I don’t think you read the whole article. Haggerty didn’t say Hall for Lucich, he said those two would be the centerpiece of a larger trade. Having said that it would take an awful lot out of Boston to land Hall, especially when at least one part of the trade is a free agent to be.
If Lucic is all it takes to get Taylor Hall EVERYONE in Edmonton needs to fired.
Vinny is “unhappy” in Philly? Why, cuz he’s getting paid alot to be unproductive? He should be happy he’s getting top 6 money to be a fringe player.
He is unhappy cause he is playing on the 4th line, never sees minutes on the top pp unit and is often scratched. oh and he is never at center.
Last year he put up 20 gls playing center for half the year with Schenn and Simmonds. Still did not play on the top pp unit though.
Bottom line is if they were going to sign him they had to commit using him correctly.
Put him on the right team, on the top pp unit, at center with guys that can play and he will reach 20 goals and 45 or 50 pts which this year would be a very good year in the NHL.
Sign a guy for alot and put him on the 4th line – Flyer logic
He was a bad fit to start with-a 3 yesr contract would of been more palatable. But is lack of plying time is on him not Philly. Vinny has proven to be too slow-to play top line minutes.
as I said yesterday Haggerty said the Bruins would also have to throw in g prospect Subban who is listed as their best propesct. It wasn’t Lucic straight up. With that said it still be a bad deal for the oilers evan if they could resign Lucic to a deal. I do think Lucic could be a good fit in Edmonton they lack grit in the tough West but not sure what the return would be. Personally I take Darnell Nurse and a draft pick, but don’t see Edmonton giving Nurse up either, makes more sense then the Hall wish.
I would rather have the Oilers look to getting Krejci and Character for Hall before Lucic. Chara can teach the young defence a nastier side along with staunch leadership.
IF the knock on Lucic is true – i.e., that he no longer displays any desire to play with an edge – I’m sure the other 29 GMs are aware of that. Not saying no team would take him in a trade – BUT he doesn’t bring back Hall. Not even with Subban tossed in.
Chiarelli oughta be fired for the cap mess he created. Cost Boychuk already n still has work to do. He will get squeezed hard or teams will look elsewhere.
Only KY jelly will help him.
I could see Lucic goin home to my Canucks possibly.
PC would have to take back some salary.
JB might move say Higgins n 1 other maybe.
Any off season moves by JB predicated on how the draft goes probably.
Lucic would help against LA n add the last grit needed.
didn’t lucic get in a fight downtown van and say he would never go back there again
On the team 1040 when they interviewed Benning he said that he was in on Kane until it became a multi player deal of the magnitude it ending up being.
so he wants a guy like Lucic.
just not sure if there is enough distance between the cup final and other incidents for there to be a fit…..does Lucic have a NMC?
As an aside Vinny scored 20 last year. He still has game in the right situation.
Peace
Lucic HATES Vancouver and said he will never be back unless he has to for hockey, and will be leaving ASAP. Lucic will never play for vancouver and I can’t blame him.
Which is perfectly fine, and most of us do not want him here. He’s turned into a cheap-shotting punk.
I always liked Vinny. I hate that his career is ending as badly as it started.
I like Vinny too, but it’s clear he went chasing for the money without any regard of the situation or how he would be used.
He should have done his own due dilligence.
When you are given a contract like that you would expect that the organization was serious about what your role is going to be in the future. It’s hard to say what was said or agreed upon prior to his signing from either side. That would be purely speculation either way. I’d almost say by his public reaction he was promised a bigger role. It hasn’t been his m.o in the past to publicly vent his frustrations, even as poorly as he was handled in Tampa his first 4-5 years.
Yeah I wish he could have gone to Nashville. It probably came down to how much the Flyers would keep in salary – or how much they would not keep.
Id rather Vinny than Bozak… Cant see a deal there but I think vinny for 2 uears could work in Toronto, he would fit top 6 considering the guys they eill be dumping in all likelyhood, 3rd line at worst. Wouldnt mind it a bit.
Another version of the Horton deal. Vinny,and 2 schenns and a second for Bozak and a prospect.
Jordan enabled his NTC in the last hour of the Trade Deadline to block trade back to Pittsburg.
Francis in his regime wants to make changes and the Staal’s are not part of the future plan.
Where did you read this?
I am quite sure that promised retirement as a part of a trade is not enforceable. ie) Vinny tells Nashville that he will retire after next year-then decides not to, Nashville will be stuck with his salary. But,that would be Nashville’s risk not Philly.
I doubt the Preds were serious n prolly kickin tires at most for Vinny if at all. As for his role its what he earns n he’s slow n not in high demand.
Lucic was dumped on in Van n would forget all about it as would the Canucks players from the cup finals. They would have no choice n if he helps them its all moot. Roster spot n moving out a player or 2 is needed n if he would resign for a good price maybe 3m/2yrs n reprove his value say.
Preds went for Roy, Jokinen and Cullen – bunch of used up, wash up forwards so Vinny is right in their ballpark. You have to think money not retained by Philly was one of the main reasons the deal was not completed.