An update on Christian Ehrhoff’s contract status, a listing of the notable remaining UFAs by position, and a KHL star is linked to the Washington Capitals.
NHL UFA update.
Free-agent defenseman Christian Ehrhoff appears no closer to signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Aaron Portzline reports the Columbus Blue Jackets still have an offer on the table for unrestricted free agent defenseman Christian Ehrhoff, putting them in line with a least a couple of other NHL teams. Ehrhoff will accept a one-year contract but wants more money than what the Blue Jackets are offering. The 33-year-old blueliner isn’t considering playing in Europe or the KHL.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ehrhoff earned $4 million last season with Pittsburgh on a one-year deal. He’s not believed seeking that much for 2015-16. However, the Blue Jackets only have around $3.7 million in cap space and would prefer inking him to a deal that still leaves them enough room for other moves (if necessary) over the course of the season. Ehrhoff could be seeking $3 million and the Blue Jackets could be offering $2 million or less. He’s also been linked to the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes.
Portzline also compiled a roster consisting of every notable player still available via the UFA market:
F1: Curtis Glencross – Steppen Weiss – Daniel Briere
F2: Martin Havlat – Olli Jokinen – Michael Ryder
F3: Martin Erat – Tomas Fleischmann – Brenden Morrow
F4: Erik Cole – Marcel Goc – B.J. Crombeen
extras: Tyler Kennedy, Jiri Tlusty
D1: Christian Ehrhoff – Andrej Meszaros
D2: Jan Hejda – Cody Franson
D3: Tim Gleason – Marek Zidlicky
extra: John Erskine
G1: Josh Harding
G2: Jonas Gustavsson
G3: Ray Emery
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Portzline observes, this would be a pretty good team in 2008-09. Kidding aside, he expects some of those players could end up on professional tryout offers (PTOs) during training camp in September. Some, like Briere, Morrow, Jokinen, Havlat, Cole and Harding, are likely facing retirement. A couple of notable exceptions from this list are forwards Brad Boyes and Mike Santorelli. I expect they’ll also end up on PTOs as they try to earn themselves roster spots for next season.
KHL defenseman to join the Capitals?
CSNWASHINGTON.COM: J.J. Regan cites a report from the KHL’s website claiming KHL defenseman and Team Russia captain Ilya Nikulin hopes to make the move to the NHL. Two reporters have linked Nikulin with the Washington Capitals. He is close friends with Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Regan notes the Capitals limited cap space ($470K) and Nikulin’s age (33) could prevent the veteran blueliner from joining the club. Sure, Ovechkin could put in a good word, and the Caps could free up some space by demoting goalie Justin Peters, but that won’t give them enough to sign Nikulin and still leave them sufficient cap room for next season. Unless the Caps ship out a salaried player from their current roster, they simply cannot afford to add Nikulin.
That looks like the Las Vegas expansion team roster for 2017.
Nah Vegas would be way to far under the cap floor with that team…good thing there are enough crappy big contracts around to leave unprotected for an expansion draft.
…and with those 3 goalies it appears the stars of the team would have to be the medical staff.
LOL
That forward line is better than Arizona’s , the coyotes are sending out an AHL forward line and will be terrible to watch. You can only sell the old,” our team will be hard working” line so much. Luckily they give away most of their tickets.
Nothing wrong with playing their kids
Yes Arizona will battle Carolina & NJ for the distinction of last overall in the NHL but even Arizona isn’t that bad. 1/2 those forwards won’t be in the NHL this season.
Boedker, Vermette, Doan.
Rieder, Hanzal, Duclair.
Domi, Gordon, Downie.
Chiphura, Richardson, Vitale.
Spare Scott.
Ekman-Larsson, Stone.
Grossman, Murphy.
Dahlbeck, Michalek.
Gormley, Samuelsson.
Smith, Lindback.
The expansion teams won’t be that bad either, as the UFA team above. Teams will use the opportunity to jettison some contracts that don’t fit the cap & if the NHL follows the expansion model from the past 3 expansions the expansion teams will look better than the Portzline roster above. They will finish last for several seasons but 1 team in the NHL now NJ looks worse than a potential expansion team.
striker you always forget the leafs for the worst this year they be lucky to be out of the bottom 5 terrible defense average goaltending and below avg forwards I hope they stick to the plan and stockpile high draft picks
Bigbear.
We have had this conversation before. I don’t see the Leafs as that bad. I don’t see them as a legitamate playoff contender but the only players moved out were Kessel, Franson & Santorelli, yet they brought back Winnik, signed Parenteau who’s fancy stats are extremely positive & if used as a top 6 forward will generate offense. He is more a set up winger than goal scorer. As well as Spalling & Matthias. These 2 with Winnik are solid point producers at even strength & I think Parenteau & Matthias will see 2nd line power play time giving Toronto better options on the 2nd unit next season, something Matthias hasn’t had yet in his career but managed 18 goals with out last season. I also think Lupul if he can stay healthy will benefit from getting better quality minutes now & might even play on as a 1st line RW as opposed to 2nd line LW & will surely see 1st line power play time now with Kessel gone.
I have Toronto to finish in the 10 to 12 range in the east & they are my dark horse to make the playoffs although I think it very unlikely. I did lay a $100.00 wager at 40 to 1 that they will. Seemed worth the risk.
hey striker, soory to be gloomy but if you make that bet after 2 more seasons then you got a chance.
Leafs are definetly tanking next 1-2 seasons
I think with new mindset (babcock) with the leafs will be that even while leading a game, they will focus on defense (at all costs including losing) to learn to shutdown the other team, even after 1 period.
This approach would still be good for the team/players/system/fans; while still tanking by blowing leads
All good gloom away. It seemed like a reasonable bet. As I said I didn’t have Toronto to make the playoffs but stranger things have happened. It’s simply a risk reward issue. If I lose a $100 who cares. I have laid a total of 37 bets to date. Usual make about 50ish by the time the season is over. Hedging in some ways. Last season I made 13K +.
I don’t believe tank is even in the vocabulary of people like Lou Lamaire or Babcock…they may not be good, but it won’t be with the intention of getting a draft pick.
40 to 1? I must meet these people laying these kind of bets.
If Mathias is on your 2nd power play unit.. Then your team is bad!!!
Straight up. I wouldn’t know how to explain it better than that!!!!!!
I think Matthias may surprise you. He scored 18 goals with 3rd line icetime 13:06 TOI/GP & no power play time. He’s right at the break thru point of 400 regular season games for Dman & the monster forwards, the 6’3″ 225lbs plus guys that take significant longer to develop & grow into their bodies. He should see more icetime in Toronto with better linemates than his primary mate of Richardson last season & should see some power play time which has to help his point production. Toronto has few other options & he’s a huge body to put in front of the net & was a scorer when he played in the OHL. Time will tell.
If he’s a bigger body, you can expect Babcock to try and park him in front of the net, especially on the PP.
5-8 spot is where the Leafs will finish
I don’t not what 5-8 spot means?
5th – 8th draft position??