Latest on the Maple Leafs, Oilers, Islanders, Blue Jackets and Canadiens in your Sunday NHL rumor roundup.
Blue Jackets and the expansion draft.
An expansion draft next year could make it difficult for the Blue Jackets to trade Scott Hartnell.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Aaron Portzline examines how a possible expansion draft could affect the Columbus Blue Jackets. He notes TSN’s recent report claiming players with no-movement clauses would have to protected, pointing out the Jackets have six players – forwards David Clarkson, Brandon Dubinsky, Nick Foligno and Scott Hartnell, defenseman Fedor Tyutin and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky – with no-trade clauses. He claims the Jackets would be forced to protect them, which could create the risk of potentially leaving a good young player exposed in the draft.
The Jackets could try trading Tyutin and Hartnell as they did during the season, but they would be difficult to move because they could have to go on the draft protected list. It could prompt them to buy out the remaining two seasons of Tyutin’s contract. Given the structure of Clarkson’s contract, they’ll get little financial benefit from buying him out. Another option is if a mutual decision could be reached by player and club to waive a no-movement clause allowing the player to be exposed at the draft.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Last week, Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reported Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury had an NMC for the purpose of waivers and demotion and a partial no-trade clause. “As a result, he’s not exempt from the expansion process,” writes Johnston. Cap Friendly and General Fanager indicate Bobrovsky lacks a no-trade clause, but I’ll defer to Portzline on this one. Regardless, the team will have protect one of their two goalies and Bobrovsky seems the most likely candidate. Tyutin has a modified no-trade clause, so I’m assuming that means he falls into the same category as Fleury. If so, the Blue Jackets could simply leave him exposed if they can’t trade him this summer or decide not to buy him out. Clarkson would also be in that category but I doubt any expansion club will take him off the Jackets’ hands. It’ll be interesting to see if any players with full no-movement clauses agree to waive that protection and be let exposed in an expansion draft.
Islanders need to find help for Tavares.
NEWSDAY: Mark Herrman believes New York Islanders GM Garth Snow must find a scoring winger (perhaps two) for John Tavares’ line this summer. He notes the lack of support Tavares has had this season and especially in the Isles second-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. If defenseman Travis Hamonic still wants to be dealt to a western-Canadian team, Herrman believes Snow should ship him to the Edmonton Oilers for one of their young forwards.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Snow maintained he wanted a comparable defenseman in return for Hamonic. Watching Tavares trying to make due with lesser linemates, however, perhaps he’ll change his mind. If he does, he could ask for Jordan Eberle or Leon Draisaitl, who can play wing as well as center.
Leafs and Oilers.
TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons claims the Maple Leafs have no intention of trading away Auston Matthews, who they will select as the first-overall pick in next month’s NHL draft. He dismisses speculation – “some of it thoughtful, some of it mindless” – the Arizona Coyotes will make a big pitch to acquire local boy Matthews. Simmons claims the word around the Leafs is they’re keeping that pick and selecting Matthews.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the rebuilding Leafs holding the first-overall pick and crafty Lou Lamoriello as their general manager, that’s generated some flights of fancy about them trading the first-overall pick. Heck, some are now even wondering if the Leafs will pass over Matthews in favor of Finnish winger Patrick Laine. I’ll acknowledge anything’s possible, but I’m in agreement with Simmons. The Leafs will keep the pick and take Matthews.
Simmons also expects the Edmonton Oilers will “almost certainly” trade down with their pick to select a defenseman. The Oilers have the fourth-overall pick, but the best players available at that position are forwards.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: They could do that, but I think the Oilers could package that pick with center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to pursue a deal that lands them a top-two defenseman at the draft.
Should the Canadiens pursue Radulov?
JOURNAL DE MONTREAL: Vincent Duquette wonders if Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin will try to sign former NHL winger Alex Radulov, who spent the past four seasons in the KHL.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: After the failed Alexander Semin deal (which was mercifully only a one-year contract worth $1.1 million), Bergevin could be reluctant to go down that road with Radulov.
Lyle,
Spotrac.com also had Sergei Bobrovsky lacking any type of NMC or NTC… I’m unsure of where Portzline is getting his information but there doesn’t seem to be an indication that Bobrovsky has any type of clauses in his current contract… when he signed the new 4 year extension with the Blue Jackets. Also, it should be noted that many websites state Dubinsky and Tyutin have limited no movement clauses.
As per Cap Friendly, Dubinsky’s is a full no-movement clause through 2017-18
I was referencing The Forth Period for the information I found… just goes to show you how fluid the information on the internet is and the discrepancies involved.
http://www.thefourthperiod.com/no_trade_list.html
The GM who hands a contract to Radulov is a desperate one ready to grab at any straw that floats by.
I think that covers almost all of them. Hahahah Considering the cost is nothing more than cash a ton of teams will bid it simply comes down to what hey are prepared to pay. Rest assured Radulov is going to select which ever team offers the most cash.
Striker,
You must have been typing while I was researching the Red Wings playoff appearances… I agree it covers most GM’s (desperate). I do agree as well that Radulov will likely choose whichever team offers the most cash. As much of a pain this entire situation could playout to be… at the end of the day it’s nothing more than cash. Might as well take a chance. There have been plenty of bad contracts in the NHL, and given to players that began and ended their careers strictly in the NHL. I do wonder what the final contract will look like for him though, he was making crazy money overseas… some sites were showing $7.5m US another said $9m US, I’m assuming it’s somewhere in that range.
*Assuming it’s somewhere in that range (that he was making overseas), not what he’s going to get in the NHL – correction!
George O.
I would think there are many GM’s in the NHL who are desperate every off season to make any significant change they can. I would add Ken Holland to that discussion as well. The Red Wings have had 4 first round exits and 3 second round exits since their Stanley Cup/Stanley Cup finals appearance (back to back years). Although many organizations and fanbases would enjoy the consistency in making the NHL playoffs every year… there does come a time where it starts to become monotonous.
Hey if Medvedev can get 3 million, Radulov is a walk to. Some team will over pay on a 1 year show me deal making him a UFA to try again after 1 season to show he’s reformed.
Now don’t get me wrong I have no hope Radulov has, reformed that is. A player I can’t stand. A selfish, self centered premadona. Essentially just another cancer for me & I wouldn’t sign him but someone will. Scoring is hard to find & if you don’t have it you’ll role the dice. Worst case scenario you waive him & eat a significant portion of his cap hit for 1 year. Ton’s of teams that can afford that scenario.
… just something about these Russian players lol
With Radulov it’s not so much the cost – as you point out “it’s only cash” – but rather, what he might do to team morale. He’s a flake with a bad reputation for being a “me first” type. His coaches in the KHL obviously didn’t like him – did you see that video of him whacking his coach with his stick on the bench? He’s a wing-nut.
Garth Snow needs to lighten up on the “getting a comparable defenseman for Hamonic” notion. Hamonic has a very team friendly contract and based on age, skill set, defense pairing… there really isn’t many viable options out there. I would think Snow know’s this unless the Islanders are interested in taking back a defenseman with a bigger contract or a defenseman who’s set to be an RFA and will need to be signed to a contract. I’m assuming when he says a comparable defenseman he’s also focused on the contract as well and not just the talent end… reason being is that it wouldn’t make much sense swapping out Hamonic for a defenseman with a much larger contract (at least not for the Islanders), makes perfect sense for any other team getting a similar player and dumping money. Hamonic lacks any NTC or NMC and he’s under contract. As much as I feel for the player and his family situation, the NHL is a business like any and I don’t blame Snow taking his time… but I do believe he should be more open to other types of moves such as a getting a scoring winger.
Hamonic is not bringing Draisaitl back that is for sure. If the Iles are offered Leon for Travis Hamonic they should take it and run. That’s almost Erat for Forsberg one sided. Eberle for Hamonic and a second is almost fair. Draisaitl reminds me of a young Malkin.
NYI isn’t trading Hamonic for Eberle straight up never mind adding a 2nd. Given a choice of Hamonic or Eberle I take Hamonic with out slightest hesitation. Eberle is an over paid 1 dimensional player who hits UFA status 1 year earlier than Hamonic. Factor in the 2+ million per year more Eberle makes & not a hope in hell. Now if Edmonton adds Daviddson & a pick & eats a mil of Eberle’s contract maybe.
Snow is cheap, he has to be. NYI lost 14 mil last year & even the move to the Barkley center will only help nominally.
Striker….. So a discounted Eberle, an emerging top 4 defense, on a value contract, Davidson,and a pick for a potential top pairing, but right now 2nd pairing defenseman.
I think the Oilers could do better than that.
You guys are all treating Hamonic like a #1-2 when he is really a #3-4? Have any of you guys watched this guy play alot lately cause this what your going to get with not that much upside.More of a stay at home d man with limitations.He wants a trade and has a decent contract, hence all the talk.
I really think his position was based on trading Hamonic during the season. I doubt that demand is exactly the same in the offseason where Snow has the opportunity to try to replace Hammer with a free agent and/of trade him to patch up another area of need. I think Snow would be content to swap Hammer for a scoring winger and a D prospect. Not sure which, if any, Western Canadian teams would offer that deal, but given the rumored interest the Oilers have they may be able to work that out
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun with a bit of clarity… that’s a refreshing change! The pick isn’t moving and it makes more sense for the Maple Leafs to keep it but I feel it has more to do with the package that would come back in return. I don’t feel the fanbase would be 100% sold on the return and thus it would create a lot of tension between the faithfuls. It’s much easier to just retain the pick, draft Matthews, and move on forward with the rebuild.
Way to go Chad!!! That’s whats should and will happen!! I will say this though, with an owner as President of hockey ops, a coach who has personnel say as VP, and a GM who is younger than 13 or so of the players, i would have Arizona on speed dial , disaster waiting to happen
No Matthews deal for Yotes but who knows what other deals u could swing with that management crew!!!
Tavares needs a dance partner badly.
Mike Hoffman?
I sure hope not George. I would like to see Hoffman stay in Ottawa, continue to develop & improve & be a star scoring LW for the next 5 to 8 years.
We clearly don’t share the same opinion of Hoffman. Yes, he can score goals but I don’t see him as a “team first” type of guy. I sincerely hope I’m wrong on this one (wouldn’t be a first by a long shot) but I get the feeling he and his agent are going to him and haw when contract talks roll around with Dorion/Lee knowing they can test the UFA waters this time next year. And I suppose from a purely mercenary viewpoint you can’t blame him. But I don’t want to see him only agreeing to another 1 year deal this time around and have the team headed into the last third of the season with the prospect of either dealing him at the deadline, or losing him for nothing, depending on where they are in the standings at that time. That can’t be good for team morale. I’m NOT saying trade him away now for what amounts to “prospects” – but if the right deal is there and it addresses one of their needs (i.e., a solid stay-at-home D – then I say go for it IF he and his agent are hedging on any long-term contract offer. There are LW available on the UFA heap that can fill in for next season in that event and there’s always the hope that MacArthur can bounce back.
Hoffman has been seriously mishandled by Ottawa. I think he should stick it to them. Hahahaha
I’m with George. I think Hoffman is replacable and a good trade chip to shore up the D. Harmonic would be a nice pick up. However which hand does he shoot cause I’d like a lefty to go along side Karlsson and give Methot a bit of a break. It would create insulation he Methot gets injured yet again.
Hamonic shoots right. I’m not sure how replaceable Hoffman is. Scoring 29 goals is a commodity today. Unless Hamonic comes from the isles and somehow the Sens trade Ceci+ for Drouin… for some reason I feel that Yzerman would prefer keeping him though. With Boudreau singing with the Wild I don’t really know who I want as the coach
:(.
How about this though:
Ceci and Hoffman
for
Hamonic and Strome
Ages and NHL experience are comparable. Hoffman would replace Okposo with Tavaras and get probably 5-5.5 mil, Ceci would cost less than Hamonic’s contract with a 2-3 term. Strome had a bit of a fall back year but the Sens would love his potential. He would get 2.75 over 2 seasons. They could live with trading Strome b/c Dal Colle, Ho-Sang, Barzal and Beauvillier are coming soon. Plus the Isle owe us one for Prince lol. Maybe Sens add a pick but if Hamonic was ok with being in Canada just not western, I think it could work. Leddy is an option too, higher cap hit though.
Ceci isn’t going to get less money than what Hamonic is making. Ceci will cost at least 4.5 to sign even if bridged.
If you are one of those who think stamkos is going to Toronto cause he is a homeboy, or Mathews is going to Arizona for the same reason there is no way you can think Ceci will leave Ottawa. Not only is he a homeboy he has only ever played for Ottawa based teams and franchise.
Heck Ceci probably still lives at his mom’s haha
Peter Chiarelli will likely move the pick, I believe that as well. Whether or not they trade down or package for an established player/immediate help remains to be seen. I’d think the plan would look something like A). Package pick with asset on team, move for high end defenseman B). Trade back in the draft, take a defenseman, while gaining an additional asset
The list of RFA defenseman according to spotrac.com is quite appealing. Now, it doesn’t have to be an RFA defenseman that the Oilers trade for but a lot of younger, higher ceiling talent is there this off season. Names like: Barrie, Krug, Ristolainen, Vatanen, Stone, Jones, Orlov, Lindholm, Ceci, Dumba, Murray, DeKeyser, Trouba, and I’m probably forgetting some others as well.
If the Oilers are looking to trade back as a plan B… how about this idea for a trade partner, Arizona? Oilers want to be able to take one of the top defenseman in the draft… the best available are all ranked to go around #7-10. What would it take to move the pick? Arizona 7th and a prospect… there are options around the 7-10 for trade partners. Buffalo and Montreal as well. I could see the Oilers trading with any of those 3 teams.
Arizona won’t be trading up. They need defensive prospects as bad as any team in the NHL. Arizona may have the best prospect pool in the NHL according to THN Future Watch but there all forwards. The #7 spot is perfect for their needs.
Arizona might actually be better served to trade down into the 15th to 20th range & secure additional assets. There isn’t a ton separating the top 5 D available in this draft. & their sprinkled from 7th to 19th on ISS ranking.
Striker,
Good point! When I saw on hockey’s future that they held the #1 rank in terms of prospects as a whole… I didn’t notice below it stated weakness: Goaltending and defense. In that case you may be on to something with the Coyotes trading down. Might be a nice opportunity for the Bruins to trade the 14th overall pick. The Bruins could package one of their defensive prospects/goaltending prospects and the pick to move up. Not sure what it would take to get it done… likely a lot because you’re moving up 7 spots
Boston’s in a tough spot to trade up as they don’t have their 2nd this season; TB, Connolly trade, they do have the Islanders though & don’t have 1 in 2017 either.
I would assume the coast would be Arizona’s 1st 7th overall for the Bruins 1st; 14th overall & another decent 2nd. Arz might except NYI’s 2nd from Boston & another asset of some nature.
Not certain Boston is in the best position to do so with Arizona but I can see Arizona trading back but they may just stand pat.
Striker,
Looks like the Bruins don’t have a 3rd or 4th either in this draft… You think it would only take a package of that to move up 7 spots? I’m curious as to what went on at the Bruins draft table last year when they tried to move up into the top 10 and couldn’t. They had 3 first round picks and 3 second round picks… I would’ve thought something could’ve happened there but didn’t. Some reports said they were open to offering all 3 first round picks. Not entirely sure that’s accurate but if it is then I would think it would take a lot more than the 14th overall and a 2nd, or additional asset to do get the 7th.
If you look at trades where teams trade up, there appears to be a common cost. Wikipedia in their NHL entry draft page for any given year has all trades listed following each draft round & is a great reference source for this sort of data. Very clean & concise in it’s presentation.
Peter Chiarelli will likely want to move the pick. Moves like that are easier said than done. The oiler management has been hesitant to pull the trigger in the past. One good thing about hiring Chiarelli is he has proven he isn’t gun shy about making a gutsy move.
Can’t argue with that point! Chiarelli will pull the tougher moves… Sometimes when he was with Bruins I felt there were moves to be made or better ones for that matter than were executed and he didn’t. We shall see. Better chance than not he moves the pick though IMO
To Habs. .Oilers 4th.rnh.fayne. yak.. to Oilers. Suban. Habs 1st
Gallagher. Habs 2nd
LOL. Not a chance!!! That offer is just silly
The islanders have done a wonderful job of drafting in the last few years, I expect Dal Colle to step into the lineup next season and shine. No need to blow your brains out on a trade.
I don’t know if Edmonton would want to fall all the way to the 9 spot but it’s worth noting Montreal has two second rounders, and if the Habs trade up it’ll guarantee they get Dubois. He’s a centre from Quebec and he tore up the Q this year. I can see Montreal wanting him pretty bad. Edmonton won’t get the best available defenceman at 9 so the Habs might have to make it worth their while.
Getting the best Dman at #9 is quite possible. If you look at ISS; the 1st D appears at 8th, CSS; separates NS & Euro but 7th, I assume we all agree the 3 Euro’s all go 1; Matthews, 2; Laine, 3; Puljujarvi & TSN; 7th.
At 9 your getting 1 of the top 3 D who are all essentially bunched together, if not the best.
Although on draft day sometimes weird things happen. Fowler dropping to 12th being the last serious oddity but even Jones dropping to 4th was some what surprising.
Ya most scouting reports I’ve seen have Chychrun, Juolevi and Sergachyov all bunched in from 5-10, but as you mentioned surprises happen. I heard Jim Benning say at the Cherry/Orr prospects game that he’s looking to draft the best available player, but prefers a defenceman. And if Edmonton doesn’t trade down they (should anyway) also draft a defenceman. So I’m not entirely sold on only forwards being taken 1-5.
I can see something like,
1)Toronto-Mathews
2)Winnipeg-Laine
3)Columbus-Puljujarvi
4)Montreal-Dubois
*trading up from 9*
5)Vancouver-Chychrun
Or Edmonton just taking the best available defenceman at 4 regardless of where scouts rank him.
I don’t see Vancouver passing on Tkachuk or Nylander if still on the board at 5. Even Brown’s a possibility.
Thats possible. I like Nylander, but I’m not sold on Tkachuk. He plays on a stacked line with Dvorak and Marner. I like his physical play…he’s gritty, but I think his stats are inflated. If he played on any other junior team I could see him being a mid first rounder like Lawson Crouse.
Very similar players agreed Durt
Chiarelli has two areas of weakness that he wants to address. Top pairing D and forwards with size. The Oilers have virtually no F prospects not on the NHL roster and several D prospects – Reinhart, Osterle, Simpson, Musil. The #4 pick will not get them a D that will play top pair at the NHL level in the next two years so it is not a sure thing that he picks a D man particularly when there are a few F with size & skill projected to be available.
Identifying size as an issue with the forward group also means that he is very unlikely to trade Draisaitl.
There’s still a few of the top defenseman at 9 though – Bean and Sergachyov
Chychrun, Sergachev, Juolevi, are the top 3 on ISS & TSN appearing the highest at 7th on TSN & CSB & 8th on ISS for Chychrun as the best on all, McAvoy bumps Sergachev on CSS out of the top 3 but on ISS, Segachev ranks higher than Juolevi, bla bla bla. Hahaha.
This tells me Chychrun is the consensus #1 Dman available but after that very little if anything separates any of them & will any be better than Bean, Fabbro or Stanley?
Who knows but paying a significant asset to trade up to draft any of them makes little sense as so little separates all of them. It’s a bit of an odd year for D prospects. No stud like in most years as a guaranteed top 5 pick.
Having Tkachuk & Virtanen on the same team works for me.
Hockey in the Pacific is very physical & having these 2 players would make playing the Canucks unpleasant but both have offensive abilities that should have them as #2 wingers eventually, possibly even #1’s but that’s a little lofty.
For crying out loud draisatl isn’t being traded. He’s worth more than islanders can give. Hamonic is overrated. He’s not a top pairing dman. Second pairing top 4 maybe but he’s so overvalued it’s not funny. Even trading eberle is over payment for hamonic which seems to be floating around and being mentioned. You trade eberle to islanders you could be looking at eberle putting up 70 plus points. Better be hamonic plus going to oilers.
Yeah sure what ever you say. Top 4 Dman. Hahahahaaa
Let’s see. He leads NYI in TOI/GP for D, 24th overall in the entire league for Dman. He is 2nd for penalty killing TOI/GP time by 4 seconds per game to Boychuk in NYI. He does all the heavy lifting defensively & see’s virtually no power play time; 0:49 per game, good for 15th overall, as he’s to valuable to expend there but has shown when given the opportunity he can produce. Fabulous skater, positional sound, hits, blocks shots & has shown he has a ton of character not forcing his trade request down Snow’s throats like many players do by with holding services to get their way. He can line up against the best offensive players the NHL & contain them & he has the 2nd best contract of any Dman in the NHL. Ellis is #1 at 2.5 mil per for 3 more years.
He’s a defense 1st #2 Dman in the NHL. Good teams don’t necessarily play their 2 best D on the same pairing regardless. See Anh, Cal, Chi, Min & StL. Most teams don’t have the luxury of having 2 top flight Dman so those listed are in pretty elite company. Including NYI who with Hamomic, Boychuk & Leddy have an exceptional top 3.
if draisatl was offered for hamonic islanders would jump all over that!! hamonic is not worth draisatl striker unless your playing ps4 hockey
You need to watch Hamonic play. You really dont know much about him. The only ones being overrated are your oiler players. Too late now though. You can’t have him anymore. Lol
I also think the oilers are better off keeping their 1st round pick regardless if a deal is made to move back few spots they should take the Russian d man mikhail sergachev OHL d man of the year. Has all the qualities of future top d man. They shouldn’t just throw the pick away in a deal unless it’s one heck of current young top pairing d man. Throwing away RNH first line 2 way Center and one of those top players in the draft is quite the deal if another team pulls that off
I wonder if the 4th (tkachuk) and eberle is enough to get oliver eckman larson out of Arizona. Remember what dad did for the organization? He will put bums in the seats in Arizona which is what they need
Not happening. Teams don’t trade #1 Dman unless they have absolutely no choice or the Dman is at the end of the line age wise.
Name 1 in the last 20 years that wasn’t moved due to age, salary demands or some other odd extenuating circumstance; wife demanding they move or she was by herself.
Winning puts bums in seats, entertaining hockey puts bums in seats, having your leaseholder stop breaking it’s contractual agreements allowing for some long needed stability would help put some bums seats. Neither Tkachuk or Matthews is going to change that.
Arizona has drawn essentially 13,000 + in average attendance for the last 5 years & considering they have had 1 foot out the door for all that time that’s pretty impressive.
Arizona has the best stable of prospects in the NHL according to THN Future watch & that doesn’t count the numerous 1’s that are already playing in the NHL now, which is making for an exciting game to watch in Arizona. Domi, Duclair, Murpy, Reider, Martinook & Stone. Next season they will be joined by Strome, Dvorak, Samuelsson & possibly Perlini or MacInnis. I assume Merkley will be sent back to Major JR & it wouldn’t shock me completely; although I would be surprised, if they choose to do the same with Strome as they did so with Domi even though he was ready.
Arizona is just completing year 4 of their rebuild & might be better served to wait for 1 more season & the expansion draft, before going all in to try & be a serious playoff contender. Another year straddling the fence would allow for the continued development of all that youth.
Bruins don’t need a bunch of picks they have a pile of kids ready for the next step. If I were them I would trade both first,s for a higher pick and I think they also have the Oilers 2nd this year or next season because of the Peter signing.
You are correct. When signing Chiarelli Edm had to surrender a 2rd round pick with in the next 3 seasons. They didn’t give it up last year so they have to give in up in 2016 or 2017. I think it’s pretty obvious Edm won’t be giving it up this season, as I assume they think they will be better next season & you would assume they should be but they have been saying that for about 5 years now.
I prefer Boston just retain their picks & use them, unless they can’t get a solid #2 Dman like a Goligoski or even the more 1 dimensional Yandle as a UFA, in which case trading for 1 & sending a pick or picks with whatever may be required to trade for 1 makes sense to me.
The difference in the draft after the top 3 is blurry when looking at say next group of 10 & so on. It’s not a really strong draft by quality although some say the over depth is fairly good. Time will tell.
the bruins have a lot of hopefuls I wouldn’t say they have a pile of kids ready to step up! huge difference from the ahl to the nhl vitrano is a good example of that
Tavares could sure use Eberle
tavarres + stamkos + matthews plan the parade
I heard from a source close to both teams and embedded in the Pitts/wash series that Ovie and Crosby have been talking and both are making moves to join the Leafs next year. EK9999999999.128376 out
I hear its an L3 lol
lol
i heard the sens want the fourth pick and will give up ek ceci and phanuef
Ottawa signed Boucher. Reports coming out that Ottawa had over Boudreau a contract but Minni up’d the price and Ottawa didn’t match or that Minni already offered a contract and Boudreau asked for 4 years but Ottawa was only willing to go to 3 and let him go. In either case Melnyk’s spin that Boucher is their top choice seems skeptical. It appears the budget he sticks to prevented him from obtaining the consensus best man for the job and apparently Ottawa’s first choice as it both reports seem to indicate Ottawa wanted him but bulked at either the price, term or both?
Why would Melnyk “balk” at paying a coach what they think he’s worth? He’s already paying two coaches NOT to coach and their combined salaries are over $4 mil! Apparently they told Boudreau at the interview to take the Minny offer since they had already decided Boucher was the guy they wanted. Hence the almost instant announcement of the Minny deal after he flew out of Ottawa.
Tkachuk just went up 4 positions after last game
kids just like his dad