Updates on Patrick Kane, Milan Lucic, Eric Staal and Cam Ward, plus the date for this season’s NHL trade deadline is revealed.
Kane not asked to waive no-movement clause.
ESPN.COM: Scott Powers reports a source claims the Chicago Blackhawks have not asked winger Patrick Kane to waive his no-movement clause. Trade speculation recently sprung up about Kane, who is currently under investigation for sexual assault.To date, no charges have been filed against him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: At least five teams have reportedly contacted the Blackhawks inquiring about Kane’s trade status. There’s no indication the club intends to move Kane, who is starting the first season of an eight-year, $84 million contract. As I’ve previously stated, I believe the Blackhawks and the NHL are awaiting the outcome of the investigation before deciding if further action is necessary.
Could Lucic one day join the Canucks?
Could Milan Lucic suit up one day for the Vancouver Canucks?
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Jared Clinton cites a recent interview Los Angeles Kings winger Milan Lucic gave with TSN 1040 in Vancouver, in which he didn’t dismiss the possibility of one day suiting up for his hometown Canucks. While admitting it was a childhood dream to play for the Canucks, Lucic said his focus is currently on making the most out of his season with the Kings. Lucic is eligible in July for unrestricted free agency, and Clinton speculates the Canucks could be among the bidders if the big winger opts to test the market.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings have limited cap space for next season and their obvious priority is re-signing first-line center Anze Kopitar, who’s also a UFA next summer and could cost over $10 million annually to retain. Lucic could seek over $7 million annually, which is likely out of the Kings’ price range. Lucic also has ties with Canucks GM Jim Benning, who was assistant GM with the Bruins during most of Lucic’s tenure in Boston.
Updates on Staal and Ward.
USA TODAY: Joedy McCready reports Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal and goaltender Cam Ward claim they’re focused on the upcoming season, rather than their contract statuses with the club. Both are slated for UFA status next July and are in the final seasons of expensive contacts with the Hurricanes, who appear in the midst of rebuilding their roster. Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters calls the uncertainty over their contracts a non-issue.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER’s Chip Alexander tweets “Canes GM Ron Francis says it’s unlikely either EStaal, Ward will be signed to extensions before season begins.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It appears Francis will be in “wait-and-see” mode with Staal and Ward, evaluating their respective performances over the course of the season. If the Hurricanes fail to significantly improve, or if either player struggles this season, one or both could hit the block by the trade deadline. Speaking of the deadline….
NHL trade deadline set.
TVA SPORTS’ Renaud Lavoie reports the 2015-16 NHL trade deadline will be Monday, February 29, 2016 at 3 pm ET.
The Kane situation won’t be made clear until this investigation concludes. Lucic is going to be a canuck and it’s pretty much just a matter of time. I hope they sign him to a long term deal as he’s clearly lost a step and playing his style leads to early burnout. Staal and Ward will be traded at some point this year and the canes will do better in the future without them. Ward doesn’t have much value because of his contract but if they eat some of it, he becomes a lot more valuable. Same goes with Staal, he’ll likely be a deadline deal that gets a massive return.
I just booked deadlilne day off of work. Even if it’s a boring day trade wise, it’s a fun hockey day.
If he does go back home, Lucic may want to stay away from downtown bars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5ztF6AUaJQ
At present Lucic is vastly overpaid for what he brings to the table. While he is a big body and a tough guy, he’s very slow (mentally and physically) and he has a temper which results in stupid, selfish penalties. I think the Canucks will pass – they are rebuilding and won’t overpay for a guy past his prime. Look at the guys making $7 million – not many 18 goal and 44 point players there. Then again Rutherford gave Semin $7 million so Lucic may end up in Pittsburg.
I too have a hard time believing that Lucic might get 7M/year. Then again he got Boston a handsome return – Martin Jones (who was traded for a first rounder and a middling/low prospect), a first rounder in 2015 and another middling prospect all for just one guaranteed year. GMs might be seeing Lucic differently than you and I perceive.
While I do believe he will be signed by the Canucks, I don’t think it will be for more than 5.5m per year. While he is a hot head, I think WD can get him to tone it down a bit. He would be a perfect compliment to the Sedins, as they finish out their careers with a winger that will most likely feed guys like Ferland and bollig his fists if they try and take a run at them. He’s not that bad and would most likely average around 50/60 points per year playing along side of them. We have to remember that there are a few contracts off the books and GMJB will have more cap space to play with, and it opens spots on the roster for young guys like Cassels and Mcann who
are projected to make the roster permanently in 2016/2017. It would be awesome to see Cassels frustrate McJesus over the next decade. Now if we could only fix the defense.
I am not sure how Lucic a LW is a perfect fit for the Sedins. Daniel is LW as well. If I were the Canucks I would keep Vrbata who fits well with them and put Lucic on the second line with Horvat.
Lucic and the Sedins would play together on the powerplay.
Lucic would be on the 2nd line otherwise.
I’ll wait and see what the 27 year old can do with Kopitar and Gaborik, before I label him as past his prime.
I think the hometown angel is media driven more than anything. We hear it all the time in Ontario. Not to say it won’t happen, but it’ll come down to money as it usually does.
Ya agreed, lets cool the jets on the Lucic to Vancouver talk and see what LA does with him first. Jeez the guy hasn’t even put on a sweater yet and he is already gone.
Yeah I always felt Lucic wanted to play in Vancouver.
I believe he told Bruins he wasn’t staying long term and that’s why he got moved. Nice return for a guy who wasn’t staying after this season.
The Bruins got a lot better of a return for Lucic than they got for Seguin
Problem being, Bruins blew it on the picks. IMO
I totally agree, bluesbrat.
Most agree they over reached in their picks feeling that the players the Bruins drafted would likely been available later in the draft but they obviously liked these guys and all we can do is wait and see if they made a mistake.
There are many players overlooked in the draft. Me being a Sens fan will point to Daniel Alfredsson who know one even knew of but the Sens brass and luck played in their hands to a Alfy was hurt during a during a tourney with many NHL scouts to view it leaving Ottawa’s secret to be selected at leisure by the Sens 133rd over all in the 6th round.
It’s possible the Bruins try to sign Lucic in the off season as well at a discount because he never wanted to leave in the first place and the chance to come back to beantown might be a very tempting offer. Assuming the bruins have cap space which so far they do and Sweeney seems content to keep it that way for reasons only he knows.
kane for kessel