Latest on Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis, Calgary Flames goalie Jonas Hiller and Ottawa Senators winger Colin Greening.
Hamhuis, Canucks could talk contract this season.
Will the Vancouver Canucks re-sign Dan Hamhuis?
NBC SPORTS: Jason Brough reports Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis claims he spoke about his contract status with GM Jim Benning “a little bit” this summer. An unrestricted free agent next summer, the 32-year-old Hamhuis suggested contract talks could occur throughout the upcoming season. Brough notes some Canucks followers believe the transitioning team should trade him before the Feb. 29 deadline, perhaps for a return similar to what the Carolina Hurricanes received last season from the LA Kings (a first-round pick) for blueliner Andrej Sekera. Brough believes the Canucks will either re-sign Hamhuis or trade him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hamhuis is a BC native who has enjoyed playing in Vancouver. He will be completing a six-year deal worth an annual cap hit of $4.5 million. Hamhuis is now the most experienced rearguard on the Canucks and his skills and leadership will be invaluable in aiding the adjustment of younger defensemen. However, he’ll turn 33 in December and I doubt he gets an extension longer than three years from the Canucks, nor do I expect it will be worth much more than his current annual salary. If unable to come to terms on a new deal, the Canucks could shop Hamhuis leading up to the trade deadline, especially if they’re out of playoff contention by then.
Will the Flames trade Hiller?
CALGARY SUN: Eric Francis speculates Jonas Hiller could be the odd man out in the Flames goaltending rotation if promising Joni Ortio has a strong training camp. He claims the Flames would love to trade Hiller to a club in need of depth between the pipes but the return will be minimal. Francis speculates it’s more likely Hiller will hit the waiver wire and either be picked up by another club or sent to their AHL affiliate. Hiller, 33, is in the final season of his contract and will earn $4.5 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I agree with Francis that the Flames won’t get much back for Hiller in terms of a trade. His performance has declined in recent years. His salary could prove difficult to move, though the Flames could pick up part of it to make him more enticing on the trade market. If he’s demoted, they’ll only receive $950K in cap relief. For now, we’ll have to wait and see how things shake out in training camp.
Update on Greening.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports little-used winger Colin Greening carries a contract (two more seasons at $2.65 million per) the Ottawa Senators would like to unload, but he’s hoping to prove himself worthy of that deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Garrioch observes, Greening will have his work cut out for him. “Their depth chart, before the tinkering, figures to have Clarke MacArthur with Kyle Turris and Mark Stone, Mike Hoffman with Mika Zibanjad and Bobby Ryan, Milan Michalek with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Curtis Lazar, and Alex Chiasson with Zack Smith and Chris Neil.” Greening will also have to outperform promising Shane Prince and Matt Puempel. If he’s odd man out again, expect the Greening trade speculation to continue this season.
I wonder how Ottawa is going to get ANY thing in return for Greening if they never play him. Their choices are either play him in hopes he shows some worth (which could doubly serve them as the increased production would be welcomed), buy him out of his contract, or continue to sit him and pay him for practices and moral support.
Apparently, according to Dorion they CAN’T buy him out. In order to be eligible for a buyout, someone with his term making less than $2,700,000 in terms of a cap hit cannot be bought out. So, for the sake of $50,000 they are stuck with him and he gets that even if he’s waived and sent to Binghamton. Someone did not do their homework when he got that contract after one decent season playing mainly alongside Spezza.
That’s right, I forgot he made just under the minimum amount to qualify for a buy-out. Thanks for the reminder George!
I would say play him as often as you can in the exhibition games to show case him for other teams.
If he plays in the minors and excels they will find a trading partner. Regardless of where he plays the return won’t be anything to right home about.
Colin Greening is the most Leaf like guy on the Sens in so many ways.
They can always claim him off waivers once he’s sent to Binghamton. Of course, he knows this is his last chance so it’s up to him to use his speed (he held the team record until it was broken by Hoffman) and size (6′ 3″ 210) to impress Cameron in the upcoming exhibition games. If he does that he could be the replacement for Condra’s role.
Neil and Chiasson are both RW.
Prince isn’t waiver exempt, so he will probably play with Lazar and Pageau, and Michalek will likely play with Smith and Chiasson ( or Neil )
I think the sense missed their opportunity to move Greening when they moved Lehner to Buffalo….. maybe Arizona for a bag of pucks?
I also think there is a stronger likelihood of Hamhuis being moved than resigned. The Canucks have a number of expiring contracts this year (Vrbata and Higgins are other notables) meaning they are well set up to seriously stock a cupboard at the deadline. At least given where the Canucks are, that would be the pragmatic thing to do.
I am sure Murray, knowing Greening would have passed it offered.
Lyle. A question that doesn’t really fit this space but then again, it doesn’t fit any of the other categories either. It’s regarding the 3-on-3 set-up. What’s the rule say if someone takes a penalty while 3-on-3? I mean, a team can’t just have 2 players on the ice. Does the opposing team then get a 4th player out there? Otherwise, if I’m a coach I’m telling my guys not to let ANYONE break away. trip him. Take a penalty and we’re still 3 on 3. They must have some solution in place.
Hey George, I just found this “PENALTIES & POWER PLAYS: If a penalty is taken in overtime, the teams play 4-on-3. (Essentially, the team on the power play just adds another player.) If a second penalty is taken, the teams will play 5-on-3. If a penalty carries over from regulation, the teams will play at 4-on-3.”
This was taken from this website http://www.broadstreethockey.com/2015/6/24/8841353/3-on-3-overtime-nhl-rules
Nice catch, Kevjam. 🙂
Many thanks Kevjam
You’ll have to be careful when the penalty expire and goes back to 3 on 3 that you don’t get caught with too many men on the ice 🙂
the player in the penalty box would come on the ice, and the two teams would play 4 on 4 until the next whistle. 3 on 3 play would resume after next whistle.
Nobody is going to pay that salary, when they have the Sens in a bind.Ottawa will likely deal him and retain half his salary.
They’re hardly “in a bind.” They have cap wiggle room of almost $8 mil as it is. They likely won’t like paying him that much to play in the AHL but the Rangers had it far worse when they had to pay Redden $6 mil per to play in Hartford.
Ottawa likely won’t hold salary. To penny conscience. They will either trade him for a late round draft pick or another bad contract. Or put him in the minors. Hope one day he improves and call him up from time to time. That way they can get something for the money spent. I predict he will play out his contract in the Sens organization.