Latest on Eric Staal and Brandon Saad, plus updates on the Avalanche and Red Wings.
Hurricanes not shopping Eric Staal.
Hurricanes not shopping Eric Staal.
WRAL SPORTS: Mike Maniscalco reports Carolina Hurricanes GM Ron Francis said he isn’t shopping captain Eric Staal. “No, not at this point,” said Staal. Francis and Staal’s agent haven’t engaged in formal contract extension talks yet, though the GM has stressed Staal’s importance to the franchise. “Francis reiterated he is not looking to part ways with the franchise’s second leading scorer in goals assists and points,” writes Maniscalco. Staal has a full no-movement clause, and still has a year left on his contract.
NEWSOBSERVER.COM: Luke DeCock reports “Both Eric Staal and Ward need to be either re-signed or traded, because their contracts are up after next season. Jordan Staal is signed to a long-term contract but came here to play with his brother and may not want to stay without him. Skinner has three years left on his contract but is one of the Hurricanes’ most marketable assets.” He noted agent Rick Curran represents all four.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As one pundit noted this week, all roads lead to Eric Staal. If the Hurricanes fail to re-sign him and decide to trade their captain, it could have a domino effect upon the others. It’s telling that Francis said he’s not shopping Staal “at this time.” It’s possible this could become a situation comparable to Jason Spezza with the Ottawa Senators last year.
Penguins to send Saad an offer sheet?
DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS: Josh Yohe reports Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford won’t comment on other teams’ players because of the NHL’s anti-tampering rules, but he isn’t against offer sheets. “Let me say this about restricted free agents out there: We’ll always play within the rules,” Rutherford said. “If there is a situation that comes up, we’ll think about it. As long as it’s OK under the CBA, if there’s a player out there that we think can make us better, we won’t be afraid to consider making an offer.” This comes up as rumors have been floated speculating Rutherford could try to sign Chicago Blackhawks winger and RFA Brandon Saad (who’s a Pittsburgh native) to an offer sheet. Yohe also suggests not to be surprised if Brandon Sutter, Chris Kunitz and Rob Scuderi are playing elsewhere next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Rutherford intends to send Saad an offer sheet, he’ll have to free up cap space to do so. If he can find any takers for Kunitz and Scuderi (which won’t be easy), that will help. He’ll definitely have more luck moving Sutter.
Updates on the Avalanche and Red Wings.
THE DENVER POST: Mike Chambers wonders if pending UFA defensemen Mike Green and Cody Franson, who are right-handed shots, are good fits for the Colorado Avalanche defense.
MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan believes Detroit Red Wings center Stephen Weiss’s contract is untradeable, speculating he’ll either be bought out or brought back next season.
I hope a few offer sheets happen from a fans point of view!! lol I think kunitz could be good in montreal if a deal could be worked out they need a rugged winger like him
When did Kunitz suddenly become rugged? I must have missed that. His stats are padded by playing with Crosby and he would be a terrible disappointment offensively to almost any other team, especially with a declining skill set at age 65. I would be astonished if any team other than a team trying to reach the cap floor would be interested. Not much value there unless Pittsburgh would be willing to add significant assets
and a swing and a miss by bob
Actually he kind of hit a home run there..
“Yohe also suggests not to be surprised if Brandon Sutter, Chris Kunitz and Rob Scuderi are playing elsewhere next season.”
That’s really going out on a limb, isn’t it?
LOL. So true. You can BET Scuderi, for one, will be out of Pittsburgh, but if he signs anywhere else it’s going to have to be for the proverbial song. And wherever Kunitz goes he ain’t gonna have a Crosby to feed him juicy passes any more so he also better not be asking for the moon.
Scuderi has 2 years remaining on his current contract George so won’t be signing for a proberbial song anytime soon & if Martin & Ehrhoff arn’t returning surely Pittsburgh has to keep some veteran Dman to mentor these young kids coming.
I personally can’t stomach the thought of another year of Scuderi blasting the puck around the boards or into his partners feet. Last season Despres carried him and made him look occasionally like an NHL caliber player and then he was traded for his troubles. The Penguins will be just fine rolling with Letang/ Maatta, Cole/ Pouliot, and Dumoulin/ Suckjoy. Unless they can move the Rev along as well and maybe help the fanbase not think about the worst trade in recent memory and one of the worst in the history of the franchise. Get him out of there any way possible and sign Jackman or someone similar for some toughness and leadership. But Scuderi has to go we still have Scott Harrington and hopefully Mike Reilly in the fold and before anyone says Taylor Chorney they need to be reminded that Dumoulin carried Chorney is WBS and in the playoffs for the Penguins. They were by far the least scored on pairing in the entire AHL but it was mostly Dumoulin (and Mathew Murray of course). My point is there is no reason to keep Scuderi even intangible.
Is anyone going to take Scuderi with 2 years left at a cap hit of 3.375
Is Scuderi not a candidate for a buy-out?
There’s no more compliance buyouts, at least until the next contract/ most is season lost to lockout. He can be bought out the regular way and they can save almost 2 mill on the cap but it’s for 4 years. Would be better to move him with a pick to a team like the Leafs. If the Leafs could take Scuderi and Dupuis in done kind of trade then in 2 years they will have almost 8 million off the books. I think I would even take Lupol going the other way, he might produce more if he’s playing with a proper center. Not sure what his contract is but it can’t be too bad. At least he’s a top 6 caliber winger.
Lupul’s cap hit is $5,250,000 and doesn’t end until 2017-18. I don’t know what his actual salary calls for.
Well if Lupol is 31 now he ll still be younger than Kuni is now. Not that Kunitz is a bad player but he pouts when he doesn’t play on sids line and if he’s not there he can’t pout. Yeah I’m fine with that deal.
Brandon Sutter can play on my team anytime – perfect third line center.
I think it’s bigger news that Barrett Jackman isn’t returning to St. Louis Blues. Great guy to bring in if you have a young defense core that needs to learn from a real pro.
I like Sutter alot too, only thing is his deal runs out this year thand will be looking for more next year…3.3 is fine for a third line center but you have to figure his first year of ufa eligibility is going to be costly, do you really want that kinda money tied up in a 3rd liner?
How about 5.5 million for a fourth liner in Mike Richards.
Even up trade? Uncle Darrell would love it.
Agreed on both counts, although money will play a factor on whether Sutter can be retained. If he accepts a nominal raise maybe but any more than 4 million & Pittsburgh will have to look at moving him.
I would love to see Jackman go to Edmonton. He would make a great mentor for the kids, 2 years at around 3.5. I also think he would be a great fit in Colorado not as a mentor but to just help stabilize that group as a #5 guy.
slow down their striker. It seemed a month ago and long before that everyone was saying Edmonton will be paying through the moon to acquire D and trading away their top 6 core.
How dare you come on here and suggest a reasonable contract!
Haha. I just teasing the rest of yah
Yeah I had Jackman on their radar for quite some time. I think they should also go after Beauchemin if the Ducks dont’ sign him right awayj, yet he will likely be a bit pricey. Then perhaps try and bring in Erhoff or Martin. Klefbom and Nurse would fit well in that group.
Sutter is really not a good player. He’s weak in the boards, he loses every 50/50 battle, he has zero play making ability, he’s a posession black hole and every winger that has played on the team in the last 2 years have much better advanced metrics playing with anyone else including Nick Spalling the few times he played 3c last year. I’m hoping most gms see things your way though and offer maybe even a top 6 caliber winger for him. The Penguins fully intend on Oskar Sundquist playing either 4c or even 3c if training camp goes well. And depending on how much of the dead weight we can trim we may be able to afford Sodderberg which would be ideal. But a Shawn Mathias would be fine too, definitely better.
Well we are less than a week away from probably the most interesting off season in over a decade. Boston, Chicago, LA, Philly, Tampa Bay, Pitt, Washington and NYR all need to make some moves to free up salary cap to sign younger guys.
Then there are teams that want to tear down and rebuild like the Leafs, Carolina, and New Jersey. Next you have teams like St. Louis, Vancouver, and San Jose that would like to make some moves to change the culture/ structure of their teams.
I can’t wait for all the craziness to start.
I still do not believe that Tronna is capable of withstanding a full rebuild. Don’t be surprised in the Leafs make a play now for Stamkos. He wants a big, big deal and you might wonder if he is worth it. Stamkos would bring alotta talent to the Leafs – it may cost their #1 and more.
The Bolts have alot of young talent to sign in the coming years – Stamkos and his $9-10 mil contract would make that near impossible to keep together.
What the heck, if I were the Leafs I would do it.
At 1 time I would have agreed with this and I do agree if he hits UFA status you do everything you can to try and sign him, but you dont trade for him firsts then try to sign….multiple firsts young players plus a 10 mill contract is too much imo. I wonder about the rebuild myself and hope I am wrong but I have a feeling you are right.
they have to move one of phaneuf or kessel before next season! we need to hire a gm with experience if for nothing else just knowing how to deal with the other gms shanny dubas hunter aren’t very experienced in the nhl that’s what worries me
kessels reported 8 teams montreal,rangers,boston,minnesota,philly,
Chicago,la,penguins!! lmao if that is the list we are eating money for sure all those teams would have to move a bunch of money to fit fat phil under the cap!! bobby mac reported all this so probably not to far off
Stevie Y has stated that Stamkos is a priority. I don’t think Tampa is ready to replace him with Johnson at this point. What Johnson has been doing for the last 2 years is VERY impressive. But a 5’9″ (very generous 5’9″) 1st line center? I don’t think Tampa is in that hard of a place just yet. I think that major squeeze will be in 2-3 years. Stamkos at a 10 million hit, is only 2.5 more than today. Which they can afford.
Palat, Johnson, Kucherov. Kilhorn and Drouin are all still very cost controlled. Coburn comes off next year in time to make room for Hedman. But it’s going to start really tightening up from there. This is where that Callahan deal doesn’t look so good anymore.
I agree NYR they have a couple year grace period before it gets to crunch time
I doubt anything happens, just saying if it did come about I dont think its wise to trade away the farm then try and sign a player to that kind of contract…no matter who it is, empty the cupboards to get a player then leave a 10 million dollar guy no one to playwith. Makes more sense to me to just wait it out let it be someone’s elses mistake.
ya we already know about high priced mistakes!(kessel phaneuf) we don’t need to jump back into that lol
Only mistake with Phaneuf was the resigning. The trade was quite reasonable. If he made 4.5 and did not have the C on his chest there would be no problem with him
I agree motor
Yzerman isn’t letting Stamkos go any where. He will get money some where between Kane & Toews or Getzlaf & Perry on an 8 year deal. He signs his extension before the start of next season.
Yzerman will address the cap implications as they happen. If you look at how Yzerman has staggered his player contracts it is a thing of beauty. He has time to truly decide who his core players will be & who needs to be cut for futures when the time comes. The real potential crunch is 3 years away potentially & who wouldn’t want to play for this team. They are the best young team in hockey, that will compete for the cup for at least the next 5 seasons.
I’d be shocked if Yzerman allowed Stamkos to break his salary structure.
As far as Stamkos goes why would you trade for a guy if does not sign in TB they can sign him for without trading for him.who knows what Stamkos wants to do but I think it’s just a matter of time for one of theses young UFA stars at 25 leaves to go home and play in front of family and friends.
cant see stamkos leaving tb imo players of his calibre know they will get the money next contract why would he wanna come to Toronto when they wont be competitive for a few years?
Not saying stammer is coming too TO just saying it’s just a matter of time before one of these big UFA stars are going to leave too go home at a very young age.
Going to happen? It’s already happened several times. The most recent was Parise & Suter returning to Minnesota 3 years ago at the ages of 27.
It’s a nice thought, but it rarely happens. People had Lecavalier going to Montreal since he was 18-19 years old, that never happened. Even given a chance, he didn’t go home. Callhan was going to Buffalo, etc. These guys end up where they end up. And after 8-10-12 years somewhere else, Usually home is no longer home anyway.
St. Louis Vanik Parise Sutter Kovalchuk Miller(west coast as close as he could get) Ferrance Clarkson Luongo Gionta…I think wanting to play around family is starting to happen more and more than it has in the past, Toronto is not for everyone of course but at some point with the numbers of players from the area its bound to happen.
There are some cases. St. Louis is Canadian. I don’t know we can count that one. Vanek is from Austria/ Cezch. I don’t think either are US citizens. Which goes back to my ” And after 8-10-12 years somewhere else, Usually home is no longer home anyway.” But for every instance of one that does go home, there are probably a thousand that don’t go home. Not saying it can’t happen, I’m saying I think it’s more of fans feeding into it and hopeful speculation than anything. I hope it does happen more, at least for Shattenkirk. LOL
Vanek came over from Austria & played in the USHL in grades 10 thru 12 in Sioux Falls South Dakota, then went to the University of Minnesota for 2 years.
He married a girl from Minnesota & has lived there in the off season even when playing in Buffalo.
I know he played college in Minnesota, But He isn’t exactly from there either. He still plays for Austria Nationally. So I’m guessing he still feels Austria is “home”.
I am saying to play close to family is considered home, not saing they want to live in their parents basement. Yes I realize Vanek was not born in Minnesota, and St.Louis is Canadian lol. Look at the number of players that are developed in the GTA and Ontario its the law of averages at some point there will be a star player who will want to
play close to family and friends. Clarkson tho
a terrible contract and not a star chose
Toronto for less money than offered
elsewhere. I get that people dont like the Leafs but, come on use some logic.
He’s lived more than 1/2 his life there, in Minnesota that is. He considers it home. He will always be Austrian.
I was born in England, just outside Manchester. Moved to Canada when I was 12. I have landed immigrant status & I consider Vancouver home; lived their for 17 years, the formative 1’s, 18 through 35 & have lived on Vancouver Island ever since & prior to moving to Vancouver & now have 3 teenage boys 13, 15 & 17 that were all born on the island. I haven’t been back to England since we left. I consider myself to be English but don’t even remotely consider it home, although I cheer religiously for Manchester United in soccer but in hockey I’m a Bruins fan & I cheer for Canada internationally as it’s my home team.
That was kind of my original point. Guys like Stamkos, Miller, St.Louis, Vanek etc. Build a new life over a decade and are going to follow that, more so than where they originally came from. Miller comes from Michigan, I can think of fewer places in the US less like Michigan than California. Like everyone was saying he was headed.
Win do you all think Teows will get bored of winning Stanley Cups with Chicago and want to go home and play for Winnipeg?
And don’t forget the adamant “Bobby Ryan is headed to Philadelphia” nonsense, and the hopes in TO of landing Nash and Perry before they were crushed.
Garrison (later traded) Hamhuis, took discounts to play at home…face it George doesnt matter what someone states about the Leafs you are going to bash it but its not uncommon players would like to work/play around family no matter in what profession. Its bound to happen.
settle down shticky just cause George has a different opinion than you the worlds not gonna end!! lol
Ya I can see how my comment was really antagonistic…lol sorry bout that Bigbear. Ill try not to get so riled up just for you. Didnt meant to hurt you or Georges feelings.
LOL. The day you think anything you say can hurt my feelings is the day they parade the Cup down Yonge street. And since I’m now 77 I doubt I’ll still be around then or, if I am, hockey will be a blur somewhere in the back of my mind. As for “bashing” the Leafs, I just mentioned two prominent names that either could have been traded to their home town area or b) signed there as a UFA. Both made it clear that that was not going to to happen – I assume for similar reasons, i.e., the “fishbowl” atmosphere co-created by the smothering media and the passionate fan base. Not saying it’s right or wrong – just what it is.
lol George only shtickys feelings get hurt on here nobody on here really knows whats going on but he thinks his opinion is the only one that matters lol
I agree man on tv at somepoint it will happen, not saying Stamkos but its not unusual that a player would rather play at home, or atleast closer to it.
Thanks shticky I hope it will happen and pretty sure it will if not stammer then maybe it’s the the big guy that’s going to edm. At the draft he did not look too happy when edm. Won the lottery. Lol
I think as long as we have dion players will stay away he is not very liked around the nhl and way overpaid lol
I don’t think the Devils are a complete tear down. Not even close actually. They have one of the best goaltenders in the game a ton of good young defensemen coming through the pipe. What they lack is forwards who can score. We have Cammy, Henrique , Zajac(to a certain extent depending on who his wingers are). Reid Boucher and Stefan Matteau should be ready to step in this year. We have a ton of cap space, and more big expiring contracts coming off next season to go with a bunch this season.
Not exactly complete tear down material.
You are 2/3rds tight. They need offence, plain and simple. Their d prospects are good, cs is a good goalie but they are stuck when it comes to scoring. They have 0 offensive prospects coming. Boucher looks alright and mateau is a third line winger at best. What do you think the Devils would give up for kessel? A first, a second and Larson? Maybe Toronto fluffs it up and gives up levio or brown etc? Would you rather see kessel there or jvr?
The Devils won’t pick up Kessel. You wouldn’t get Larsson, 6th overall, Severson, Greene, or Schneider from them, and you wouldn’t want anyone else…
that means no Kessel. If they gave up any of these pieces for Kessel, I would cease to be a Devils fan.
I Speculated a trade with nj and tor weeks ago and I think it could work. The fact is the leafs would get at least one of those assets you said they wouldn’t because kessel is better than all of them right now. It will give Henrique someone to pass to at least. In a package I suggested
To NJ:
Kessel, nsh 1st
To Tor:
6th overall, Larsson, Ruutu
Severson, Merrill, Gelinas as your future top 3 D. Ruutu for cap reasons. Nj still gets a 1st rnd pick and someone to score goals. Leafs, despite my hatred, get a good start to a rebuild with a decent, young D. Both teams get what they want and most importantly need.
highly doubt phil will have a non playoff team on his list of teams to go to
The things is, bigbear, he’s on a non-playoff team now and doesn’t appear to be too anxious to go anywhere else. Maybe he’s one who is just in a comfort zone as it relates to salary (all U.S. dollars of course) and early summer vacations.
Admirable your team loyalty to NJ but they are going to have some serious pains rebuilding this roster. Thank God Lamerello has stepped aside as GM so someone can fix this mess.
Yes you have a great goalie & a solid group of great young Dman coming but at forward it’s pretty ugly. The model is sound, build from the net out but who the hell is going to score. NJ is old, slow & has virtually nothing coming at forward. No slight to your thoughts on Boucher & Matteau but both have 2 full seasons in the AHL with Albany & haven’t been very good scorers or point producers there.
When your #1 C is Zajac your in serious trouble & it’s going to get worse before it gets better. NJ has the worst team in the NHL on paper. It’s no contest.
Cammalleri, Zajac, blank.
Henrique, Elias, Zubrus.
Clowe; inj, Josefson, Tootoo.
blank, Gionta, Ruutu.
Adding Matteau & Boucher to that group of forwards doesn`t help but good news! Bernier & Gomez are both UFA`s so they can be resigned & play top 6 rolls & see 1st & or 2nd line PP time again. That should help NJ at least not finish dead last in the NHL next season.
NJ are essentially where Calgary/Nashville were two years ago. You’d be surprised how fast a good forward group can assemble itself.
Next year is going to be a “transition” year, so you’ll have to be patient through that. The year after, the Devils should start contending again. The draft system sort of screwed us this year (the worst defensive teams draft the best forwards). I expect another 3-7 draft pick next year.
Interesting comments. Kessell will bring in a 1st, top prospect and a roster player. If NJD wants him you are looking at the 1st,and Larson plus a third piece dependant on what is coming back. If it is Clowe then probably Matteau or the 2nd? TO might have to add a lower prospect or pick? If I was NJD I would ask for Bozak and Kessell to give up the three pieces and Clowe? One top three forward and a top six forward for a top four defenseman and two excellent prospects. You know what Kessell and Bozak are but you don’t know what the prospects might be. Kessell’s contract is ok for a top ten scorer. You will see a better player if he is in front of a better defense.
doesn’t sound like the devils are on phils teams to accept a trade too
Kunitz still has chemistry with Sid and plays hard even if he lost a step.
What team would not want Sutter though what team wants to pay him next contract to be a 3rd line center. His offense has a limit for sure.
Saad will stay in Chicago once Sharp is dealt. He would look good in Brooklyn with only 2 years left on his contract.
If the Pens trade Sutter they should get a solid return. How many third line centers are better than him? Cody Eakin probably. Who else?
If you mean centers used as centers that are better than Sutter, I can only think of Carl Soderberg, Paul Stastny.
In a broader perspective, many teams have abundance of centers that they avoid using in 3rd C role but rather as wingers in their top 6. SJ has Hertl and Couture, Chris Kreider in NYR and so on.
Sorry, meant “SJ has Hertl and Pavelski”.
Seriously how much cap space you want the pens to free up? After all 9 million is off the books with Martin and Ernhoff already. Plus you add Adams plus other UFA players last I looked the pens are ranging somewhere to 15 million under cap. Which that alone could be enough for the pens to extend a 3 to 3.5 million dollar offer sheet. Take into consideration that Kunitz and Scudari will be either bought out or moved, that’s another 5-7.5 million.
Truth is penguins are going to be one of the teams to watch closely in coming weeks.