The Columbus Blue Jackets could have interest in Christian Ehrhoff, plus a look at possible moves by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Could Ehrhoff don a Blue Jacket?
The Columbus Blue Jackets are reportedly interested in former Penguins defenseman Christian Ehrhoff.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Aaron Portzline reports the Blue Jackets have had talks with the agent for UFA defenseman Christian Ehrhoff, who won’t be returning with the Pittsburgh Penguins next season. A deal could come together if Ehrhoff remains on the market long enough to drive down his asking price, as the Jackets only have around $3.6 million in cap space. Despite Ehrhoff’s injury history, Portzline believes he could help the Jackets’ power play. After acquiring Brandon Saad in a recent trade with Chicago, the Jackets have no need to sign any of the forwards still available in the UFA market.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ehrhoff’s agent recently claimed his client was willing to sign another one-year deal, so the Jackets won’t be on the hook for a significant period by taking a chance on him. As Ehrhoff’s salary last season was $4 million, the Jackets might get him for less than half that, especially if they’re the only club seriously interested in him.
Updates on the Flyers.
NBC SPORTS: James O’Brien cited CSNPhilly.com’s Tim Panaccio reporting Flyers GM Ron Hextall claiming things remain status quo with aging forward Vincent Lecavalier, whose $4.5 million annual cap hit is difficult to move. O’Brien suggests the Flyers could be waiting until next summer to move Lecavalier, when his actual salary become more affordable.
NJ.COM: Randy Miller also noted the Flyers appear stuck with Lecavalier for another season. He also claims the Flyers will attempt to trade a defenseman prior to training camp, as they now have eight under one-way contracts for next season. Miller considers Luke Schenn ($3.6 million) the likely trade candidate, as he only has a year remaining on his contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hextall was able to move Niklas Grossmann and the rights to Chris Pronger earlier this summer, so it’s possible he might still find a taker for Lecavalier. However, I think it’s more likely he could find a trade partner for Schenn, given his cap hit and term are lower than Lecavalier’s. Teams with cap space which could still use experienced blueline depth include the Arizona Coyotes and Buffalo Sabres, A need could also arise from a club that loses an established defenseman to a lengthy injury suffered in training camp or preseason action.
The Leafs should look at Schenn. As a third pairing D he would add some physicality. He’s still young at 25. If he couldn’t be re-inked at a better price we could trade him at the deadline for what we paid. Considering how few teams have cap space he could probably be had for a bargain.
Hextall’s track record thus far shows he is patient and extracts value. It could be he uses the glut of experienced dmen as an excuse to nurture his young bucks further in the minors… And as Spector suggested sees where the injury bug strikes or where the early season exposes needs.
But if provorov morin or ghost shows well in training camp, I would bet he moves schenn. Seems a win on multiple fronts. Fills the cupboard, makes cap space, and likely improves quality of team.
Pass I think the 4 or 5 other options for bottom pairing d men that the Leafs have are enough…if Luke was easy to move let Hextall do it himself. Not worth the effort IMO. Now if the Flyers want to give something up for the cap room it may be worth considering…
Maybe move him for JVR? Tee hee.
I still have a soft spot for schenn. I think he could help the team. I would take him back in a heartbeat.
The leafs should be trying to move phaneuf to the flyers for the schenn brothers, maybe even throw in bozak for vinny and with the leafs getting some picks
If you’re a Leafs fan, this trade sounds fantastic and you jump at the chance. If you’re a Flyers fan, well, you’ve probably just soiled your pants at how laughable this is
Not sure I think adding the Schenns and Vinny sounds like a fantastic Idea.. no thanks lol
Seems like some are taking this pick thing too far…if guys like Schenn and Vinny = picks why haven’t teams with cap room picked em up? If they could be moved for picks why wouldn’t Hextall move them?…
Move Dion to Anaheim instead. They got over $16 million in cap space; they have only 7 signed NHL defencemen,but they have 3 signed NHL goaltenders and 49 total signed AHL/NHL contracts including their two RFA’s that remain unsigned and both will resign for low dollars..and of course they have Nonis; who likely would listen to trade talks involving Dion since he gave him that crazy contract to begin with and this likely gives Kyle Dubas a bit of leverage as he is not in the Nonis doghouse like Shanny likely is for firing him.
Call me crazy but that’s a landing spot for Dion. The Leafs can take prospects or picks..either way..Leafs send him to a team that can afford him that only have 7 signed NHL defencemen where 8 dmen over 4 lines is ideal. Even if the Ducks ate all the contract, and they can afford to, they would still have $7-8 million left in cap space after Dion. Guess none of this means much if the Quacks are on a Dion no trade list. Have fun with this post
Schenn was supposed to be the anchor of the Leafs’ blue line when he was drafted. Fast forward a few years, it’s hard to believe he’s available and so many teams aren’t interested. I like Luke – But I am not sure a trip back to Tronna would be good for him.
Why not???? Not like we have Wilson or Carlye here to throw him under the boss. Babs would do wonders for him, just like DPh9 this year. We’ll see a DPh9 that resembles the one in the early years from Calgary(not the Norris Nomination year).
I’m a fan of Schenn and wish he did play for TO, especially with the new regime in place, but he was drafted as if he was going to be a franchise player but in reality has played mostly bottom pairing minutes. Considering his pricetag (I believe $3.6 million) we shouldn’t get him as his role would be limited to bottom pairing. He kind of reminds me of Luke Richardson.
Wouldn’t mind seeing Schenn in a Bruins uniform. Would be a good fit
Poor man’s Boychuk? Problem is the Bruins need a Hamilton replacement and, while we’re at it, they need a Chara replacement too.
But boy have they missed Boychuk …. as a Habs fan, I could not believe the good fortune when they traded him.
come on Penguins resign him already 1 year $2.25M
Resign who Ehrhoff? The penguins don’t need him. They have 8 to 9 NHL ready d-men and 8 on the roster. The penguins need two to three forwards. There are only 10 on the current roster and you need 12 to 13.
The pens need two more NHL forwards with 4.5 million in cap space. With Rutherford probably wanting to keep 1.5 to 2 million in space. That leaves 3 million or less to sign 2forwards.
Ehrhoff is gone and not needed, get over it.
Penguins do not need any f orwards
Kunitz Crosby Hornquist
Perron Malkin Kessel
Plotnikov Sutter Bennet
Wilson Sundquist Dupuis
Farnham Rust
Looks pretty good to me. They should stick with what they have until after training camp. Unless they move Sutter the black hole along and sign Fehr.
Wilson, farnham, and rust are all busts and eternal minor leaguers that never deserve a shot on a NHL roster. None did anything to show the slightest hope that that can contribute on a actual roster. I’ll give you sunqvist and is the only one that could make the roster and might do something. But would like to see him have some competition. As for the other three get real. The pens still need a winger or two.
It almost amazes me that Pens fans see a need to bolster the offense, and ignore what has been killing them for YEARS!!!!! Defense! 8-9 “nhl ready d-men?/……. Who are these d-men? NHL ready?
First: I like the Pens, but I agree with NYR4LIFE! I don’t think there are 8 or 9 NHL ready d-men!
Letang and Maata (when fully healthy) will be the top pairing, Cole and one of Dumoulin / Pouliot could be the 2nd pairing. That leaves Lovejoy, Erixon and Warsofsky for the bottom pairing. May be Pouliot or Dumoulin, but I don’t think both will make the cut. That doesn’t look very good! Erixon is an ahl player, Warsofsky too and Lovejoy is a 7th at best! So a healthy Ehrhoff for cheap would help. Give him more minutes on the pp and you get more points out of him! He was asked to play a more defensive style last season and he did well (imo) until he got injured! Just my two cents 🙂
Letang-Matta
Cole-Pouliot/Dumoulin
Pouliot/dumoulin-Scudari
Lovejoy-Erixon
Let’s go with these for now.
Everyone forgets Scudari…..I would like to as well but he in on the roster and as long as he is there they will play him and he is what is stopping the penguins from getting another d-man. The extra money will go to a winger or winger and center for the bottom six pairing. Not another d-man they can’t fit onto the roster and especially not Ehrhoff and injury risk just the same.
L. Eller + 1st and 2nd round pick 2016 to Phily for B. Schenn and V. Lecavalier. (Phily retains lecavalier salary (2 Million)for next 3 years ). Looks good to me.
Terrible trade. Habs lose any trade involving Eller unless it’s as part of a package for a #1 center or #1 right winger.
Terrible trade for the Habs ? Hell no. I think it’s a good trade for both teams.
@shticky
Big pass on your ideas… from every team in the league.
You think people are taking the “pick thing” too far???
What about all the picks TO will get for bozak, parenteau, lupul, Mathias!!!
Bahahahahahahah.. You sound exactly the same as others you complain about.
I would like to talk to you in person.. To see if you really believe what you say
It’s ok, right when the playoffs started, I predicted Kessel would end up on the Penguins and for what would amount to be picks, b prospects, and future cap space and he basically called me the biggest idiot ever. And let’s face it, I was WAY OFF what it actually ended up being.
DEEE you said Kunitz Scuderi and a prospect 9r Bennet letts do the math even holding Kessels 1.2 per year 7 × 1.2= 8.4 mill over 7 years… Kunitz and Scuderri is over 7 mill for the next 2 years over 14 mill coming back no pick a prospect with no ceiling…..Ive said it before I still dont love the Kessel deal but its cheaper than taking back 2 bad contracts and they got 2 pospects and swaped for a
better pick soo not great but definitely better than Kunitz
Scuderri and Bennet or what ever other garbage you were
spewing…lol
Scuderi was supposed to be part of the deal that actually happened but he wouldn’t wave his NTC so they had to retain instead. If I was the Leafs I would prefer 2 years of Scuderi at 3.3 then 6 years of having to pay 1.25. And I originally also said a 1st and a 2nd. In reality it was a first and a third. So it was Spalling instead of Kunitz which I never would have thought the Leafs would take a player as terrible as he is, even though it’s only for 1 season instead of 2. I like the deal they actually got so much better than the one I proposed, other than having to keep Scuderi. The Leafs got a forward who could one day be an ok player and a defenseman who was 4th on the depth chart and who looked terrible in the NHL last year. And the Penguins got a potential 40 goal scorer for the next 3-4 seasons anyways.
Why dont you try and use your big boy words K…
How is there any benifit to the Leafs in these deals? You dont like Phaneuf? Fair enough expain how trading an over 9aid top 4 for an overpaid bottom pairing helps a team like the Leafs who have no cap issues? Same as Bozak sure ok he is an over paid 3 c we will say how does it help to trade him for an even more overpaid 3 C again its not the Leafs with cap issues, they are rebuilding and have room so trade 2 over paid guys for 2 more over paid guys and a 2 C? No thanks even if the Leafs manage to squueze picks out of Vinny and L Schenn its not likely going to be anymore than what they would have got for Phaneuf and Bozak in the first place…it makes no sense for the Leafs or Flyers…Id be willing to hear why you think different but chances are it wont make any sense be filled with lots of really original deep thoughts like Leafs suck and just have a whole bunch of exclamation
marks and leave people wondering if you drool when you talk.
Guys, “Tony” is a troll.
Please.
Take look at his posts of every day, ridiculous trade proposals each, except for yesterday when he tried to entice you TO fans into a discussion of what JVR was worth.
Someone posted it outright, “troll”, after one of his comments two or three days ago.
About a week ago, I made a comment about Tony and Onanism.
For that someone suggested to Spec that I be disciplined, in some undefined manner, for my lack of sensitivity!!
Wow, I thought, I believe in soft hearts but not in soft heads.
“Jello” lives.
Could it be?
Leafs r on a rebuild from the draft on up. Any trades r not likely needed unless its for high picks.
As for cap crunched teams i laugh at em all for making their own mess.
Terrible trade for habs, vinny is way pass his prime and wouldn’t be good playing under Therrien’s system, Schenn wouldn’t do a whole lot better then Eller if he played the same minutes and role as Eller.