Latest on Steven Stamkos, Anze Kopitar, Eric Staal, Jeff Skinner and Justin Abdelkader, plus updates on the Ducks, Blue Jackets and Flames.
Status of Stamkos, Kopitar, Staal, Skinner and more.
USA TODAY: TSN insider Bob McKenzie appeared on USA Today’s “Top Shelf” Podcast to discuss some of the early-season NHL storylines. Among the highlights:
McKenzie believes Anze Kopitar will re-sign with the Los Angeles Kings before Steven Stamkos re-signs with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He believes Kopitar seeks $10 million annually, but thinks Kings management will try to talk him down to $9 million to leave some cap space to re-sign players like Tyler Toffoli.
Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal are frequently popping up in the rumor mill.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With Kopitar, we’ve at least heard some updates on his contract talks in recent weeks, including the team’s director of hockey ops telling Hockey Central at Noon both sides are getting close to a deal. With Stamkos, it’s like a cone of silence has descended over his contract negotiations. Maybe they’re talking, maybe they aren’t.
No further word on Eric Staal’s contract status with the Carolina Hurricanes. If the two sides agree to part ways by the Feb. 29 trade deadline, Staal will be an attractive playoff rental player.
Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murrray was trying to make a trade, but wasn’t receiving worthwhile offers. Murray’s on record saying he won’t make any rash changes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, there’s nothing in the trade market right now that can help the Ducks.
The Columbus Blue Jackets would like to make a move to improve their defense.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Obviously there’s currently not much out there in the trade market to bolster their blueline.
McKenzie believes the trade market could start to pick up around American Thanksgiving (late-November).
TSN: McKenzie also reported on the struggles of Carolina Hurricanes winger Jeff Skinner, noting his name has come up recently in trade rumors. While the Hurricanes don’t appear to be shopping Skinner, it’s though they could move him for the right price. However, McKenzie notes teams aren’t likely lining up to take on a young, struggling player with a concussion history and a big contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Unless the Hurricanes are willing to pick up a big chunk of Skinner’s $5.75 million cap hit, they’re stuck with him. And considering his contract runs through 2018-19, I’d say they’re stuck with him even if they were willing to pick up part of that cap hit. Either that, or they take back a toxic contract in return.
Updates on the Red Wings and Flames.
MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan reports a source claiming the Detroit Red Wings are close to re-signing winger Justin Abdelkader to a long-term contract extension. Abdelkader, 28, is eligible next summer for unrestricted free agency. The deal is expected to be longer than four years and worth over $4 million per season. His current cap hit is $1.8 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That will be quite a raise for Abdelkader, who had a breakout performance (44 points in 71 games) last season. Going over $4 million annually seems high, until one remembers his actual salary for this season is $2.2 million. Judging by Khan’s estimates, it could be a five-year, $22 million contract, at around an annual cap hit of $4.4 million. So, what do you think, folks? Fair deal, or too much?
CALGARY SUN: Eric Francis reports Flames GM Brad Treliving has been scouring the league to bolster his struggling roster, but he feels it is up to the current players to dig themselves out of their current mess. “We’re banging on every door we can, but we can’t mortgage the future,” said Treliving.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s no outside help coming for the Flames, at least not at this point in the season. The current roster will sink or swim together.
Ugh, I like Abdelkader, but I think anything over $3.5 per is too much. He’s had one great season, but that was it. I wouldn’t mind keeping him, but not at that price tag. He’s not a proven/consistent 20+ goal scorer
but he does bring more then just scoring to the game, he’s a high energy guy, does the dirty work in the corners, gets under the oppositions skin, fights if he has to, throws the big hit, scores 15-20 goals, plays top 6 minutes, is a real leader on the team, plays hard in front of the net. 4 million would be ideal for him, but for 4.4 how can you really complain for all the intangibles he brings? You got guys out there who make well over 5 who don’t even come close to bringing the other parts of their game like that and only score around 20
Gotta go with Jaysin here I like his game to but paying 4 mill or over for “intangibles” leads to contracts like Bickells.
I agree with Jaysin. Abdelkader is a fantastic addition to any team. He brings a certain level of tenacity along with a bit of skill. Yet I always felt hockey is career of production. Goals matter in regards to you value. Abdelkader should be valued under 4 million.
However my personal value system is obviously not what happens in the real NHL. So since we have Toews with 10.5, Kopitar argued to be equal to that or a bit less. Abdelkader very well could be worth half of those guys.
I, too, think paying Abby $4.4 mil a year is too much. He is a great asset to the team, but his production comes from skating with Z or Dats. Dats is only under contract for 1 more year and Z’s back may or not make it until he is 40. If both of those players are gone, who supports Abby?
Also, the Wings have 6 pending UFA and 6 pending RFA this season. One of which is Mrazek, who is also going to get a nice pay increase from his $667,000 he is currently making.
Reading this article, it seems like one team’s problem solves another team’s problem. So Carolina wants to trade Skinner. The Ducks are struggling to score goals. Skinner is only 23. Carolina may be willing to pick up some of the salary. The Ducks are sitting $7M below the cap. Am I the only one who sees the connection here?
I think the main issue with that proposed move is that Jeff Skinner is also struggling to score goals so not seeing how taking him on would help Anaheim at all.
Also are the Ducks willing to give up what the Cane’s asking for.
Noel,
I admit it’s a high risk/high reward scenario. But Skinner is still young and could turn out to be a key player for the Ducks for the next decade. This the type of move that either gets a GM branded as a genius or an idiot.
The ducks are also a budget team that don’t pay to the cap ceiling so that cap room isn’t actually available.
That Bobby Ryan deal is starting to look better. Jacob Silfverberg has 0 goals 2 assists so far this season and is still the “perimeter” F he was in Ottawa. Nick Ritchie – the draft pick they acquired in 2014 (10th overall) has 8 goals in 8 GP with San Diego Gulls – could be the sleeper in the deal but even with all their scoring problems the Ducks haven’t called him up – yet. Stefan Noesen has 0 goals in 8 GP with San Diego and looks to be a career AHLer.
maybe the trade is looking good but bobbys contract aint that good for what he is producing. nick Ritchie is gonna be a good player in the nhl!
He’s starting to gel with Zibanejad and right at the moment has 5x the number of goals scored by Perry and Getzlaf combined. And is 5 for 5 in the SO. We’ll see.
I would agree accept I’m sure teams are steering clear because of his concussion history. There are many examples, Eric Lindros, Mike Richards, Paul Kariya and the list goes on of players who were a shell of themselves after suffering a concussion, or series of concussions. It’s sad really, but that’s a topic for another discussion someday.
Enegry guys like Abdelkader can break down once they get into their 30’s. He would be slightly overpaid now, definately overpaid if his style forces a falloff in play in 3 seasons.
Then you only sign him for 3 years. Voila!
Stamkos will leave Tampa, and possibly by the trade deadline if Yzerman realize it. I’m guessing he’s dealt to a contender, say St.Louis or maybe a “sleeper” type play-off team like the Yotes. I than think he signs a 10 year deal similar to Toews & Kane with the Maple Leafs.
I’m not sure. In fact the more that highly touted triplet line struggles, gets separated and placed back together again and again the more Stamkos’ value to the Lightning will increase.
Perhaps one of the 3 playoff hero’s last year will be traded and Stammer will remain.
File that under “Constant Wishful Thinking.”
That’s too much for Abby. I thought Nyquists contract was too high as well. Abby isn’t as tenacious as he has been. The goal scoring has taken away some of his edge. 4 yrs graduating from 3.6 to 4.4 so we have cap room in 2019.
Abby is worth every penny he gets, have you guys seen the amounts being paid for lesser players? The reality is that in the current nhl economic picture players are getting the wings are getting a good deal.
its a hard contract decision
pros: hometown boy; great 3rd liner or unproven 2nd liner; competes hard
cons: 28yrs old; 3rd line points; age catches up to 3rd liners plugs quicker
3.5 mil @ 4 yrs or 4 mil @ 3 years or 4.5 @ 2 yrs
its a hard contract decision
Honestly the Kings are making a big mistake Kopitar is NOT worth 9-10 million a year, Don’t get me wrong he’s a great two-way Center but he does not put up numbers like Towes or Kane, His numbers have dropped and he averages like 2 shoots a game, I Love my kings and yes they are on the decline that’s why they should think about trading him while he has a lot of value, After this season and the Kings cap space they should really start thinking about the future (example what Boston is doing keep some core players but trading away bad contracts for High draft picks. Kings should really start to rebuild after this season.
I don’t know if you are a kings fan or not but I totally disagree and would say I’d have to long and hard about taking stamkos or kopitar if given the choice.
Kopitars numbers may be directly related to sutters coaching style and the emergence of the 70’s line. Not relied upon as much for scoring. If kopitar was in a more traditional market say Montreal or Toronto or nyr the whole hockey world would see what a beast he is.
I’ve seen so many low scoring affairs with LA Kings. Sometimes in the playoffs the games are so defensive they are almost stalled into a lockdown of sorts. The only player I’ve seen able to will himself in those situations and create offense or a goal despite the complete stalemate is Kopitar. He won’t win scoring titles but will force himself upon the other team in extremely tight situations. When he’s on his game, d-men can’t contain him. He is probably the best at protecting the puck in the entire league. He won’t be very far off Toewes/Kane salaries if UFA – and that is what is discussed here.
“trading away bad contracts for High draft picks” …is not possible anymore. You could see around 2010-2012 that there were new-school GMs dumping some contracts to GMs who had old-school thinking. That doesn’t happen in 2015 with the current stalled cap and weak canadian dollar. Every GM more or less thinks the same way nowadays.
Kings are stuck with the stupid Brown contract and the Richards cap re-capture penalty i.e. their current cap situation is set in a lot of ways (sans Kopitars future). They might as well try to win for the next 5 years. A rebuild takes a lot of years and who’s saying the Bruins will succeed in their plan? They have Quick in his prime for a limited time. Kings should go for it the next 5 years. It doesn’t change much as every team has to supply the core with complementary nhlers and rookies anyway to stay competitive under the cap.