Updates on the Kings, Red Wings and Flyers, plus the latest on UFA prospect defenseman Mike Reilly.
Latest on the Kings.
Los Angeles Kings center Mike Richards’ future could be determined by the end of this month.
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Rich Hammond reports Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi provided updates on the status of center Mike Richards, winger Justin Williams and defenseman Andrej Sekera. He said no decision has been reached yet regarding Richards, who could be traded or bought out to free up salary for the cap-strapped Kings. Lombardi said the club is working toward re-signing restricted free agents Tyler Toffoli and Martin Jones. Re-signing Williams would first require a move (a “domino to fall”) to free up cap space. He also said he doesn’t consider Sekera’s asking price to be unreasonable.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lombardi must clear salary to have a realistic shot at re-signing Williams and/or Sekera. That means Richards is dealt away or bought out before the end of this month. Given the decline in Richards’ performance and his $5.75 million annual cap hit for the next several seasons, a buyout seems more likely.
Free-agent forward targets for the Red Wings.
MLIVE.COM: recently listed some suggested free-agent forward options this summer for the Detroit Red Wings. They include Anaheim’s Matt Beleskey, Washington’s Eric Fehr, Curtis Glencross and Joel Ward, Nashville’s Mike Fisher and Mike Ribeiro, Winnipeg’s Michael Frolik and Drew Stafford, Vancouver’s Shawn Matthias, Chicago’s Brad Richards and Antoine Vermette, Boston’s Carl Soderberg, Minnesota’s Chris Stewart, Los Angeles’ Justin Williams and the New York Rangers’ Martin St. Louis.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not a particularly great list of options. We can rule out Fisher and Ribeiro as I don’t see them leaving Nashville. The Jets reportedly hope to re-sign Frolik and Stafford, while Ward is hoping to re-sign with the Capitals. Retirement could be beckoning St. Louis. Beleskey has only one decent season under his belt. Glencross did nothing to bolster his value during his brief tenure with the Capitals. Williams, Richards and Vermette are aging. Stewart is very inconsistent. That leaves Fehr, Matthias and Soderberg.
How will the Flyers boost their secondary scoring?
CSNPHILLY.COM: Tom Dougherty recently responded to a reader’s question regarding the Flyers’ secondary scoring by examining possible free-agent targets. He feels Washington’s Joel Ward price himself out of the Flyers’ range thanks to his strong postseason performance. Dougherty suggests Winnipeg’s Drew Stafford or Minnesota’s Chris Stewart would help the Flyers, but believes the club has the forwards to improve, singling out Matt Read, Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given the Flyers’ limited cap space, I don’t see them as big players in this summer’s UFA market. A trade is possible, but it could come down to expecting more from Read, Couturier and Schenn next season.
UFA prospect Reilly being courted by several clubs.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Aaron Portzline reports the Blue Jackets have allowed prospect defenseman Mike Reilly to speak with other clubs. While Reilly hasn’t ruled out re-signing with the Jackets, it’s assumed he’ll be moving on with another club on July 1. Reilly and his agent Pat Brisson have reportedly met with several teams during this week’s NHL scouting combine in Buffalo. Reports suggest the Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers are involved in the talks.
You sort of rule out Glencross for the Wings above because he hurt his value with the Caps. To me, that might make him the exact kind of player the Wings (or another team) will target as a top UFA priority, as he could be a “buy low” proposition.
Not saying the Wings will sign him – or that he’ll do well, wherever he’s signed – but I think a team like the Wings might actually look at him *because* he didn’t do well on the Caps (but might flourish with another team, for cheap).
I don’t see him flourishing anywhere anymore, he might be an ok 3rd line guy but at 32 yrs old he’s in decline and when you haven’t scored more than 35 points since 2011-12 I can’t see anyone making a big push for this guy.
I think glencross brings grit and leadership. Unfortunately for him, he is a grinder and you an tell he’s a little worn out. Jeff’s right. Good third liner for a team who needs some leadership.
I’m really starting to feel bad for Richards. I know he’s getting paid a butt load of money but I’m sure he actually wants to pay. The guy needs to go somewhere where he is wanted. Someone help this guy out!
Hey Mikeyj I may be completely wrong here but just in case I would like to clarify as I don’t want to be taking credit for others words of wisdom but when you say Jeff is right I think you mean the poster who goes by the name Noel. That’s not me, perhaps his name is Jeff to. lol
I’m Jeff Noel. Perhaps an Alias would end the confusion. Haha, or perhaps I should add the dots above my ‘e’ Jeff Noël, but they aren’t very visible in my opinion so I never bother :).
In any case I do agree with Noel
Oops, that comment was meant for Noel, not Jeff Noel. It’s too early for me hah.
Hey, yes I’m Noel, that’s my real name, sorry! Just “keepin it real”
I don’t think Richards needs much help. His problem isn’t not being wanted, I think most teams would be happy to have him, it’s the amount he’s being paid. He’ll likely be bought out and then have no problem finding a one-year million dollar contract loaded with incentives.
Who cares about Richards feelings. Idc about millionaires problems. Overpaid n slow n its his problem now. Hopefully no dumb GM bails out Lombardi for his toxic contract.
Exactly. Ottawa learned that by signing last year’s version of Glencross, David Legwand, to a 2-year $6 mil deal. Now they’re hoping to find a taker for his last year.
He could then fall into the David Booth, Mason Raymond, Mike Santorelli type of pick up. 1 year, 1 million. Helped Raymond get back on track.
Sorry this is Glencross I am referring to.
Raymond and Santorelli were 28 and Booth 29 when they got their later shots – Glencross will be 33 next December. As I said elsewhere, this year’s version of David Legwand.
I’d still take a low risk chance on him.
Glencross thought he took a hometown discount on his last contract with the Flames and believed he should be paid more on his next one. That is why he was traded. I find it hard to believe he’ll get any kind of raise after his performance with the Caps. It’s too bad as his next contract might be his last.
I don’t really think Detroit needs much help in the forward ranks, though a decent scoring winger certainly wouldn’t hurt. Their problem is on their blue line. They have 5 or 6 “second/third pairing” type guys, and no real top pairing type player. Trade Smith, Ericsson, Lashoff, Kindl and Weiss for whatever draft picks you can, bring up Marchenko or Oulette, sign either Cody Franson or Andrej Sekera to a reasonable two year deal and move on.
I don’t know why the Oilers are interested in Mike Reilly. He is to small for what they are needing. Unless they are looking at him to replace Schultz in a year or two.
I see Glencross as a pretty effective player. Your certainly not going to get 1st or 2nd line production from him, but 30-40 points off the 3rd line is solid…. I wonder if this is a guy Bergevin looks at for the Habs to add some much needed sandpaper into his lineup? Maybe he looks at Chris Stewart on a cheap 1 or 2 year reclamation deal? Both players would bring something the Habs don’t have…..
Don’t see the Wings needing as much as people (namely media pundits) think. Up front Holland and company have done a great job of positioning for the future (Nyquist, Tatar, Sheahan, with Pulkinen and Mantha coming). A shrewd blue line signing is all I see. Sekeras would be a great fit, or maybe Oduya on a 2 or 3 year deal as a stop gap to see what transpires over the next couple years…..
Mike Reilly is 6 foot 1 bud. How bigger do you think the oilers want?
5’11” 156lb’s http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8476422
That is not big for a NHL d-man.
He is 6’1, 185. That NHL link isn’t updated after the 2014 season. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=143097 .
This one is
Does Columbus receive any compensation if Reilly signs somewhere else?
Vermette may be aging, but his faceoff abilities will land him a 3 year deal somewhere. His GWG last night won’t hurt him either.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Stafford signed in Washington, I think the Caps will make a run at him.
Under a new system B Schenn and Couturier will be given a true opportunity to succeed offensively. This may be their make or break years with the Flyers. If theu don’t perform they will be shopped next summer.
There is obviously a reason the Flyers havent tried to give them a true opportunity to succeed offensively, I mean its not like they have been tearing up the league or anything.
Will Flyer fans give it up already Couturier is a checking forward he will never be a star and he will never be an offensive star. Its been 4 years now and 280 games and this kid has never hit 40 points or 20 goals. For the last time this kid is Dave Bolland 2.0 …
just like KAJ in the movie “Airplane”. Why do you tell the rest of the commentors to drag Walton and Lanier up the court for 48 minutes a night?
How do you expect a 22 year old kid to be your stopper every night, give his hear and soul to the defensive end, receive no PP time, play with meatheads and no hands on either side of hime and STILL be expected to score 20 goals and 80 points.
Many are of the belief that Couturier can point up 70 points a year if given that opportunity. The Flyers have not given him that opportunity. Couturier was a big time scorer in juniors and found a niche as a defensive stopper to stay with the Flyers year one.
This has to be the year he centers a scoring line or he is traded while he still very high value around the league. If Vinny stays dont be surprised in Couturier gets traded and the Flyers have too many centers and not enough top 6 wingers.
What are you talking about a big time scorer in Jr hockey? He played 184 games and scored 223 points that is hardly a big time scorer.
You honestly think Philly is just wasting his talent and not letting him shine? You think if he could handle 1st line minutes and produce he wouldnt be alteast getting second line time and numbers?
Where do you get the idea he could be a 70 point guy? What in his 4 year career has he shown that would lead you or anyone else to believe that? His claim to fame is shutting down an uninterested Malkin in 1 playoff series.
Dont experts normally say that by the 300 game mark that player is pretty much what he is?
Go look at his numbers vs Dave Bollands they are pretty similar.
He did win the scoring title in the “Q”
Mike Hoffman scored 52 goals and added 42 assists for 94-point 2008-09 season in the Q. He was also named the league MVP after his last season there. It’s taken him almost 7 years to get to the point he is now in the NHL.
7 years of development is not what you expect from a #8 overall.
Hoffman was drafted 130th over all in the 5th round.
He has also played just under a 3rd of the games Couturier has (Hoffman 104, Couturier 287) and has nearly half the points (Hoffman 54, Couturier 118)
My point was that being a top scorer in junior does not always automatically translate into instant NHL success. Alexander Daigle went # 1 overall after a huge junior season in the Q and in his 1st year with the Sens had 20g 31a 51 pts and in his 4th year had 26g 25a 51 pts.
Well, when Anton Stralman had played 400 regular season games, he was let go since Rangers thought they had a clear opinion of what his glass ceiling was. One season later, Stralman is now perceived differently altogether. Sometimes it takes time. Couturier should be able to reach 20 goals, 55 point guy, in the vein of Backes.
Both Couturier & B. Schenn were given an opportunity to score last season. Couturier was 3rd for average minutes played per game for forwards, 10th for average PP time overall in Phlly. That’s 2nd line C after Giroux & 2nd line PP time.
Schenn was 5th for average ice time per game for forwards & 5th for average PP time overall in Philly. That’s 2nd line LW really almost 1st as no other LW logged more ice time & 1st line PP time.
It’s to early to give up on Couturier as an offensive forward. Big guys like him can take 400 games to find their offensive top end in the NHL. As for Schenn concerns have to be growing as he has 274 games of NHL experience & has been given numerous opportunities on scoring lines. Although at 23 it’s to early to write him off as a top flight scorer. If he can’t break through this year he appears to be a 20 goal 40 point player. Not what was expected when he was drafted.
But to imply they are getting a better opportunity this coming season is a stretch. They got that opportunity last season & failed. Couturier logged most of his ice time with Schenn; when not with Giroux & Voracek, & Simmonds. Read also saw tons of time on this line. How is their respective opportunities going to improve? No 1’s playing ahead of Giroux & Voracek at even strength & Simmonds & Schenn play on the #1 PP with them & Streit.
I seriously hope that Lombardi isn’t desperate to keep Williams. Williams will be 34 years old in October. He had 18 goals, 23 assists, 41 points.
I like Williams, but he’s not worth putting us in cap jeopardy if he wants too much money. No doubt some other team will offer him huge money. Lombardi should avoid a bidding contest. Lombardi should offer Williams a reasonable contract (3 years at $4M to $5M) and tell him if he wants to live in Manhattan Beach and play the rest of his career on a cup contender, sign here. Otherwise, best of luck.
Toffoli and Pearson are ready to step into a bigger role and I think they are a long-term solution. If Williams goes, his spot will quickly be filled.
I think Lombardi would be wise to let William walk. His leadership will be missed, but I think most Kings fans would rather have Tofolli AND Pearson rather than JUST Williams. Especially now that they have that insanely silly Gaborik contract
Flyers top 6 of G, Vorachek, simmons, Raffl, Schenn, and Couturier isn’t too bad. An upgrade of Raffl on the top line would be nice allowing Raffl to go to the 3rd line with Laughton and Read. This is hoping Vinnie voids his contract after the July 1st $2M payment.
I’d love to see Justin Williams with the Penguins, he playing beside Crosby or Malkin would be bananas.
SHARKS NEED TO GO AFTER SOMEBODY LIKE JUSTIN WILLIAMS, CHRIS STEWART & ANTOINE VERMETTE. ESPECIALLY AFTER THIS YEAR. IT’LL SHOW HOW MUCH DOUG WILSON & THE FRONT OFFICE CARE ABOUT THE TEAM IF THEY DON’T DO ANYTHING THIS OFFSEASON. DOUG WILSON SHOULD BE MOPPING THE FLOORS OF A BATHROOM.
Doesn’t really matter how big Reilly is he is a great asset it’s like getting a first round pick for zip.