Buyout candidates, updates on the Sharks, Flames and more in today’s NHL rumor mill.
Buyout candidates.
Could the Kings buy out Dustin Brown this month?
SPORTSNET: Luke Fox lists Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jared Cowen, Chicago Blackhawks left wing Bryan Bickell, Dallas Stars goalies Kari Lehtonen or Antti Niemi, Edmonton Oilers blueliner Andrew Ference, Florida Panthers center Dave Bolland, Los Angeles Kings winger Dustin Brown, Minnesota Wild winger Thomas Vanek, Philadelphia Flyers forward R.J. Umberger, Vancouver Canucks right wing Alex Burrows and forward Chris Higgins, Nashville Predators forward Eric Nystrom, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Fedor Tyutin and Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman as possible buyout candidates.
Of these, Fox expects Cowen and Bickell are certainties to receive buyouts. He points out Ference and Bolland must pass medicals first or they cannot be bought out. Fox also notes Stars GM Jim Nill is expected to stick with his goaltending duo for another season but doesn’t rule out Nill exploring the possibility of an upgrade between the pipes.
The Wild could look to new head coach Bruce Boudreau to reinvigorate the struggling Vanek. The Predators will try to trade Nystrom first. Buying out Wideman could be an option for the Flames if they need to free up cap room to re-sign young stars such as Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan plus add a goaltender.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cowen, Bickell, Umberger, Burrows, Higgins and Nystrom are most likely to be bought out before the 5 pm ET deadline on June 30. Nill’s remarks about keeping his tandem intact makes it unlikely Lehtonen or Niemi are bought out. If Ference and Bolland are given clean bills of health, they’ll be bought out. I thought Vanek was a certainty to receive a buyout but their hiring of Boudreau could change things. Brown is simply too expensive for the Kings to buy out. I expect the Blue Jackets will push hard to trade Tyutin, even if it means holding part of his salary. The Flames will likely return with Wideman unless they can find a club willing to pick up the final season of his contract.
Will Thornton and Marleau return with the Sharks?
THE MERCURY NEWS: Jon Wilner reports long-time San Jose Sharks forwards Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau intend to return with the club next season. Both have a year left on their respective contracts and carry full no-movement clauses. “Marleau was the subject of trade rumors during the season, with Los Angeles, Anaheim and the New York Rangers identified as teams he would consider joining.”
CSN BAY AREA: Kevin Kurz also noted Marleau’s reported trade request last November, though the talk subsided over the course of the season. “Is it his first choice to be a Shark? “Yeah.” It was concise – not atypical for Marleau – but still not overly convincing,” writes Kurz, who noted the veteran forward at times didn’t appear to see eye-to-eye with head coach Peter DeBoer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thornton enjoyed a bounce-back performance this season so he’s not going anywhere. And if Marleau wants to return for another season, there’s nothing the Sharks can do about it.
Update on the Flames.
CALGARY SUN: Flames GM Brad Treliving said he’s narrowing down the field of choices to fill the vacant position of head coach. “Reports out of Vancouver’s TSN 1040 radio suggest that Treliving’s final three candidates were Canucks assistant coach Glen Gulutzan, Randy Carlyle, and Washington Capitals assistant Todd Reirden. However, Carlyle appears to be out of the running with reports Monday that the Anaheim Ducks were on the verge of hiring him.”
I don’t see any team picking up all of Wideman’s final season so unless the Flames are willing to absorb salary then he’s staying in Calgary.
Also, although much more likely to be moved in a trade or obviously the best option… Seidenberg could be a buyout candidate. Most writers around the team have said the current group of defenseman will have 1 less from the group, whether that be a trade or buyout. I see Seidenberg as the most likely candidate. Take back some salary and move the player, otherwise buyout and move on. I’d prefer the Bruins to have some spots open for youth, besides Trotman and Morrow… Maybe Colin Miller or another in the organization
Trotman will be a UFA on July 1st. The only way I see him retained is if Boston doesn’t get a top 3 Dman via UFA signing or trade.
I’d be shocked to see Seidenberg bought out. He is a willing hitter & shot blocker. Does his job & at 4 million it’s reasonable value for a 4/5 Dman. Ideally #5 but injuries, illness, what have you will mean some games played at #4. Due to his injury last season & the # of inexperienced players dressed in Boston last season I’m willing to give him a pass on some of his struggles last season. With no replacement for Hamilton brought in last season, K. Miller, Seideneberg & McQuad all played 1 spot higher than ideal.
I’m open to trading Seidneberg but not if it means eating salary.
Seidenberg hasn’t been the same player since he tore his ACL in 2013. He is a much slower skater and at times even looks hesitant to put too much weight on it alone even 2-3 years later. He is still a serviceable bottom pairing defenseman but he is far from living up to his contract. I don’t think there will be a team in the league that would take his contract on without the Bruins eating some of it. Maybe back to Carolina to give them some more depth or out to Arizona where they currently only have 2 defensemen under contract? Both locations would be able to absorb the entire contract, but you’re also limiting the return if you don’t retain some
Striker we agree, I think. I don’t think Boston will or should buy out Seidenberg. Trade him absolutely ideally with no salary retained. As Shawn says retain salary depending on the return. Personally I be fine with retaining $1m per season on a decent return meaning a good prospect. Otherwise hang onto him and see what happens at the trade deadline. Not a fan of a buyout because you should be able to move him for a lot less.
My thought right now is that the Bruins will be right around where they were this past season at the trade deadline in the upcoming season. Unless Sweeney could get a solid return in the offseason without having to retain more than $1M of Seidenberg’s contract, he should be held and flipped at the deadline. As long as his legs don’t give out before then, he can absolutely help a cup contender through the final weeks of the regular season and into the playoffs in a bottom pairing and penalty killing role. The return will probably be greater at that point to for a team that might only be one piece away than during the offseason where teams know you are just looking to dump salary
Shawn. It’s not that I disagree specifically I just don’t think it will happen. I would like to see him moved even if it means retaining some salary so Morrow & C. Miller can get more games & minutes but I try to assume what Sweeney or other GM’s or management teams will do. I agree with all your points. I watch these games as well & I have concerns but there are better times to potentially move this type of asset. Like at the trade deadline when teams are more willing to over spend.
Boston really needs to find out what they have in Morrow & C. Miller before the expansion draft & we can’t find that out if they don’t play regular minutes & far more games.
We are all on the same page. If eating salar,y even 1/2 were to bring back a decent prospect that has an NHL future as at least a 3rd line winger, even if he leans to solid defense, hitting & blocking shots I’m all in as long as it doesn’t cause protection issues come expansion draft time. Although I’m happy if we were to lose Seidenberg in expansion so if we lost the player it’s really a wash.
“I’m open to trading Seidneberg but not if it means eating salary.”
Well Striker get used to seeing Seidenberg in a B’s uniform cause he’s not being traded to another club at $4 million for 2 more seasons.
I’m not unhappy if Seidenberg stays. Given a choice I support moving him if the right option exists but have no issues with his role or salary. His & Cara’s contracts time out well with where the Bruins are at with their developing young D & potentially lossing a Dman in expansion.
I’m the 1 that defends Boston’s D & places their D deficiences accross the roster not just on the existing D & where the Bruins sit in this rebuild. Remove the 4 D everone keeps saying need to go & replace them with Morrow, C. Miller & potentially Trotman doesn’t make it better but worse, significantly so.
Boston will add a Dman this summer. Either via UFA signing or trade. Preferably as a UFA for me. My 1st choice is Yandle followed by Goligoski but I keep flip flopping on that choice. Ideally 1 of the 2 pushing K. Miller, Seidenberg & McQuad all down 1 spot on the depth chart. All of which they are better suited for. They all played higher last season than they are truly capable of.
Striker,
Trotman is a group 6 UFA… he could likely be retained for very little money. Even if the Bruins ended up getting more defenseman they could still end up reaching a contract through negotiations with him. He holds very little power if any when it comes to UFA. Teams will not be jumping to sign him for anything significant.
In an article in the Ottawa Sun on new GM Dorion, Garrioch writes “The Senators would like someone to play regularly with Mark Borowiecki. That may indeed be Chris Wideman and you have to think 2015 top pick Thomas Chabot is going to push for a spot in September so there’s no great sense of urgency here.”
Really? So the GM and coaching changes are essentially it insofar as Melnyk’s pronouncement “there will be changes” is concerned? Be still my heart. If anyone thinks Borowiecki is a valid candidate for regular duty in a 5/6 pairing they are dreaming. Both he and Wiercioch should be gone and a trade made to bring in a solid, veteran 5/6 D to mentor Chabot, because there is absolutely NOTHING to be gained by sending the kid back to Junior.
There is a lot to gain by sending the kid back to Junior. Chabot has great potential. He was asked by the Sens to work on his defensive game as Ottawa has failed time and time again to bring quality D up through their system. They don’t want to make the same mistake with Chabot. If Chabot spent another season in the minors improving the defensive aspect of his game there is no harm in that and everything to gain from it. When he does join the Sens he will be asked to play a full 200 foot game and he will be expected to do it and he will need to be ready to do it. Hopefully he is ready next season and earns a spot but jumping from the Q (Seadogs) to the NHL can be quite a leap.
And he won’t get that experience back with the Seadogs – sorry, but another year of junior will do NOTHING tot help his game develop. If he shows he is able he should be given a spot on the big team to bring him along in the 5/6 pairing – with release in December to join the national team for the World Juniors. THAT will help his development – not playing against a collection of juniors, some 95% of whom will never see a game in the NHL!
I guess I was thinking he could go up a level to the AHL not back to the Q.
I am just surprised at how Cowen has fallen. Maybe I overvalued his talent as well. A Dustin Brown buyout would be a heavy hit for the Kings.
Cowen has all the physical tools to be a quality D – size, strength and reasonable foot-speed (he is taking power-skating lessons in Ottawa). What he doesn’t have are instincts and the ability to make the correct decision, whether picking up his check or making the proper break-out pass. And no amount of teaching/coaching has been able to fix either. But the minutes he’s bought out some team will extend an invite and he will likely get another chance – at substantially lower than he was making. Same with Wiercioch.
Agreed on both comments George.
It would be nice to see Ottawa bring in 2 solid Dman, 4/5 & 5/6 types to allow for Wideman & Chabot to be integrated & sheltered as they learn the NHL game. There are some decent options. Demers, Hamhuis, Schenn, Polak, Quincey, etc, even if older on short term deals 1 or 2 years, Liles, .
Some NHL teams D’s are brutal & their dressing worse players than Wiercioch & Cowen. Both will get NHL contracts from someone but salary’s won’t exceed a million.
Also I think Ottawa likes Borowiecki’s physical skills. His 271 hits in 63 games ranked him 3rd for Dman; 5th overall in the entire league & had he played more games he would have easily finished 2nd to Matt Martin. Who should Ottawa sign as you’ve suggested previously with Neil as well would make Ottawa a team most teams wouldn’t enjoy playing.
Schenn would be good UFA signing to play in the 5/6 spots. As for Boro-Cop, yes he’s physical and doesn’t shy away from fixing it up when needed. But wen you watch him a lot you’ll see a D who is often out of position and who has hands of cement when handling the puck.
Ottawa seems like it alotta good young talent, several of which have not panned out. Cowen being one of them.
But I guess you could same the same of Luke schenn
No question George. I agree that his physical edge may not off set his liabilities. Part of being that physical pulls him out of position as his desire to hit out weighs his brains decision to hold his position. I don’t watch Ottawa play as often as I should, which is odd as I have Hoffman; in all 3 of my fantasy leagues, Zibanejad, Stone & Phaneuf all on the same team in 1 of those leagues. I’ll be dropping Phaneuf this season as 1 of my rookie Dman had to be activated; 40 NHL games, & protected now moving forward. Ristolainen from Buffalo.
I like how Polak has been upgraded to a 4/5 D after being considered a 6/7 D when on Toronto. I think we can call that the ‘Kessel effect.’
I thought Boro-cop improved considerably last year. Hopefully he continues and proves he deserves to remain. Cause if he does that is a quality player to have on your bottom pairing.
And you’re willing to risk yet another season with a Cowen-type D who has no clue how to pick up his check or handle the puck back of his own blue line. Melnyk must love fans like you.
Polak is a 5/6 for me.
Cowen was rated on size and strength and unfortunately that was all he was rated on. The only times he looked good to me was when he bulldozed his way through players but eventually he would get baited and lose position. Then he would get his reigns pulled in and he just looked like he didn’t know what to do. I never really thought much of him but I did want to him to prove me wrong. Too bad
As for Boro… oh man, I would just love someone who goes about his game quietly and can make a good first pass. As we’ve seen from these playoffs, that is seriously important lol. Just ask the Sharks D corps. I do not think Schenn would help. I’d prefer Demers but that would be an expensive 3rd line D. Stone from Arizona! The brothers of Stone!
I suppose Melnyk would love a fan like me. I can be patient. I understand the need for the Sens to develope their players and not rush them. Perhaps it causes me to have he fault of trying them out a bit to long. sometimes however it works out.
I don’t see Marleau going to the Rangers due to cap constraints and his age. I get the feeling the Rangers are gearing up for a younger roster.
Agreed.
McIlrath & Skjei will be NHL regulars next season replacing Boyle & Yandle. They join a group of young NYR forwards already cutting their teeth in the NHL in Miller, Kreider, Hayes, Fast & Lindberg. Factor in Stepan is only 26, McDonaugh 27, Brassard & Zuccarello 28 & NYR is already dressing significant youth.
With only 14 players signed for next season & about 17 million; at a cap of 73 million, in cap space to resign & replace 9 players something needs to give in NYR. Here’s hoping they can move Nash to get his cap hit off the books, bringing back 2 younger forwards & a Dman. These players don’t need to be studs just solid 3rd line forwards & a #5 Dman ideally younger, on ELC’s & or 2nd contracts. Easier said than done in this cap market & expansion looming.
With Kreider, Miller, Hayes & McIlrath all due raises, Kreider & Miller substantial 1’s, NYR has to get some salary off the books to get to the NHL’s 23 man roster limit & be cap compliant. I would also like to see NYR bring back Stalberg & Moore if they accept decent value contracts on 1 year deals to flush out the 4th line. Perhaps Hrivik is promoted to play a 4th line role & maybe 1/2 a season in the AHL might have Buchnevich ready for an NHL look.
They still need to move out Girardi or Staal contract to have some room to resign the forwards.
Is there a speedy prospect in the system we do not hear much about? bottom 6 could use a checker ala young Hags…
I think that player is Fast. As in the player Fast not being fast. Ha-ha!
Moving Girardi; 4 years remaining at 5.5, or Staal; 5 years remaining at 5.7, won’t be easy with their NMC’s before the expansion draft, with those cap hits & current levels of play. Both are currently overpaid based on how they have played last season & in the case of Staal even stretching back to late the previous season.
I can understand Girardi being overpaid. He signed his new 6 year contract in January of 2014; 94 cent Canadian dollar, in a different cap world when salaries were still running out of control especially for this type of Dman but Staal’s was signed in January of 2015. The writing was already on the wall about where the Canadian dollar & cap were headed. By January of 2015 the dollar was trading at 78 cents & in free fall. The NHL warned teams the dollar was in peril as did every reputable bond trader & currency house, some teams listened some didn’t. Those that didn’t will ow pay the price for their optimism.
A Wideman trade to Detroit would seem like an ideal fit. Calgary needs a goalie and the Wings need trade Howard. As taking 3 years of Howard’s salary for 1 of Wideman’s, I could see the Wings having to add either a decent draft pick or maybe someone like Pulkinen, but I think the trade would benefit both clubs.
Wideman will NOT be bought out, makes no sense. Flames have lots of cap space even if Monahan and Johnny get several mil on a long term deals. They might even accept a bridge.
Colborne needs to be signed for around $3 and add a starting goale $5-$6 and they still have at least $4 under the cap. It’s one of Reimer UFA or a trade with Pit’s for MAF or Det’s Howard for Wideman and maybe some fringe.
I believe the flames do have a little bit of a cap issue. y your numbers you have them spending 17mil at the least, I have them closer to the 20mil to get what you mentioned, Gaudreau and Monahan 8mil each and Colborne 3mil at least, thats 19mil right there. As per capfriendly.com if the cap stays as projected, if the players vote to esclate it, at 71.4mil then the flames have about 21.6mil caps space remaining. Which is do able, but would make it hard to sign their key UFA’s, goalies, and RFA’s to improve their team. Now if the players don’t vote to escalate the cap the it will be somewhere around 69mil and their cap space would be around 19mil and very hard for them to sign all they need to sign.
Now I do agree with you that Wideman will not get boughtout. The player that I believe will get bought out is Smid, if he passes his physical. Although he would only save the flames 833K this season and 1.33mil next season. Engelland is another candidate for a buyout, 1.83mil cap space this season and 900K next. I got all of these numbers from capfriendly.com
I don’t see either Monahan or Gaudreau getting 8 million each. You could make a case for Gaudreau at 7.5; Tarasenko money, which is essentially 8 but I can’t see Monahan getting any where near that. Who would you use as a comparable?
I see Calgary bridging both players on 2 or 3 year deals between 5 & 6.5. If you sign these players to long term 8 year deals now, they become UFA’s far to early for my liking. I use the Montreal model with Subban.
The players will approve the escalator they always do.The cap will be between 72 & 73 million.
Moving Wideman to a team like Detroit for Howard with Detroit eating 2 to 3 million over the remaining 3 years of his contract about a million per makes sense for both teams. It gets Calgary a soft #1 goalie swapping Wideman’s contract for his & it buys 3 years for Gillies to get NHL ready. If it doesn’t work Calgary exposes Howard in expansion & there is an above average possibility he would be their best player available & get selected. Especially if Detroit retaining salary.
Detroit is in serious need of help at D Calgary at G & both have cap issues. This contract shuffle helps both teams if Detroit gets Howard’s cap hit down to around 4 mil per over the final 2 seasons. Year 1 is a wash between the 2 players.
Maybe it’s the Oiler fan in me hoping that the flames pay them that much lol.
Howard has a modified NTC, do you think he would wave it to go to a rebuilding team in Calgary?
He can waive it or play 25 to 30 games a year as Detroit’s back up. Pride will get him to a starters role some where eventually. If not now then following expansion.
His NTC is quite restrictive as well. He only has to accept a trade to 10 teams. He can play for an existing team soon as their #1 or he can share the starters role in Las Vegas or possibly Quebec.
LA won’t buyout Dustin Brown, that’s a LONG term hit with 6 years left one that deal. Especially with all the stories about the cap being flat or possibly going down. Everyone said Toronto would never be able to get rid of Phaneuf or Clarkson. Both of those terrible contracts were moved. Never say never, but I think LA is just stuck with Brownie
In TO, it wasn’t so much Phaneuf’s play that made his contract look bad, but the insistence that he play 25-27 minutes a game, always against the opposition’s top lines, and that he was somehow captain material. The resulting media focus made it very difficult for him. He will do fine in the 3/4 role in Ottawa alongside Ceci.
And by the way, although they did manage to move both Clarkson and Phaneuf, it wasn’t without cost coming back in both cases.
Agreed George. Toronto took back significant salary this season & even after that trade last season to get Phaneuf off the books. Michelek will be paid 4 million this season, Greening 3.2. Cowen will be bought out costing about 750K for the next 2 years but in an odd CBA issue will provide Toronto with a 650K credit this season. Toronto’s cost for those 3 players post trade ran almost 3 million last year.
As we all know Toronto took Horton’s contract to get Clarkson off the books which can be put on LTIR but not until opening day. His roster spot on their 23 man roster & 5.3 count aginst the cap when submitting their 23 man roster as required the evening prior.
I agree he was over-used in Toronto George, and I honestly think he’ll do better there, but you have to admit that’s a lot of money for a second pairing defenceman. His contract still looks bad in Ottawa.
When you factor in the savings moving out those contracts to Toronto in that trade it works out to 4.6 per year for the remaining term of Phaneuf’s contract. That’s great value for a #2/3 Dman.
It’s far from ideal for a 3/4 D for sure – but in Ottawa’s case they can afford it thanks to dumping off Michalek, Greening and Cowen who would have cost that much and more and been liabilities to boot. Hell, they still have plenty of cap space left, although some of that will be gobbled up by whatever is given to RFAs Hoffman and Ceci.
Sure you’re saving money next year, but there’s still 4 years left after those contracts expire. Like I said, I think he’ll do well in Ottawa. But it’s still a bad contract unless he’s playing at his best on the first pair.
Phaneuf will play some top 2 shifts – and he’s NEVER had a partner at those spots with the talent of a Karlsson.
The savings shipping Michalek, Greening & Cowen out was 11 million; the money they need to be paid this season & what Toronto had to paythem after the trade last season, 12.5 when Cowen’s bought out this summer. Spread that 12.5 out over the remaining term for Phaneuf 5 years that’s a 2.5 mil savings per season bringing Phaneuf’s cap hit to Ottawa at 4.5 per for the next 5 years. Great value for a 2/3 guy.
You can’t spread the difference of 1 year over 5 years Striker, that’s not how math works.
phaneuf was a good deal.
if he plays good (karlson/beter team) its a steal.
factor in his stats & look around league.
good luck getting anyone similar
that said hes not a great shut down, which is why I said good not great deal
I think they should buy him out. Yes its a hit of negative impact from 2022 til 2028 but the savings now would make it worth it. the hit of 1.8 in the above mentioned years is doable as they get over 5 mil cap relief this year. It goes down slowly to the negative impact and hopefully by then the Kinga are better managers of the cap.
my 1st choice would of course be to trade him but they would have to eat over 2 mil a year I believe. Better by far then a buyout but who is going to want Brown.I know Clarkson etc have been moved but JK should have been fired for that one.
Umberger buy out is a no brainer-first of all he is terrible and an anchor for this years cap. Secondly with his NMC he would have to be protected in the expansion draft
Couple of questions here;
The leafs are obviously conceding this season and with Cowen only having one year left on his term why do the Leafs buy him out? Wouldn’t he buy out count against the cap for more years?
Horton has a NMC, does that mean he has to be protected at the expansion draft?
@Tazi-excellent question on Horton’s NMC. I have not seen an opinion for any Insiders either way. If they do have to protect him-“ouch” the David Clarkson signing gets better and better!
Good point Tazi – there is no reason to buy out Cowen. It actually hurts their cap in the season after this coming one, which matters more.
Cowen gets bought out a 1/3 of his actual salary. Due to an odd CBA clause his buy out will provide Toronto a 650K cap credit next season even though they will actually pay him 750K per for the next 2 years.
In the rules leaked the other day injured players that will never play again with NMC’s will be granted an exemption from having to be protected. Savard, Horton, Pronger etc. We will have the official expansion rules very soon, with in the next 8 days
thanks for the responses guys.
Thinking about quitting my job and abandoning my wife to spend all my time on understanding the CBA & expansion rules once they come out
I have a sign my wife gave me that hangs in my home office that reads.
“We postpone this marrage for hockey season.”
I don’t have the heart to tell her hockey for me is essentially 365. Thankfully I’m away a ton.
Scott,
It’s been reported players with NMC, that are essentially done playing in the NHL ( Horton,Clowe,etc) will not have to be protected by a team , for the expansion draft.
don’t think Horton has officially retired. We all know he isn’t coming back but nothing is official. It is a curious case, Lyle, any input on this one?
None of them ever officially retire. Pronger, Savard, Horton. I believe the reason is they would be voiding their contract. But I could be wrong.
Many of these contracts weren’t insurable so the teams are paying them. If the players were to actually retire there contracts are terminated meaning legally the teams wouldn’t need to pay them. Subsequently they stay on the rosters get paid & are subject to all other CBA rules.
The NHL & NHLPA have apparently compromised on these players for expansion or it’s being reported as such. Again we will know the real & full details soon.
I’m hoping Chicago buys out Bickell, I would love for the Flyers to sign him to an inexpensive 1, 2 year deal as a bridge to the younger players coming through the system. The Flyers are ahead of the rebuild a bit but spending big on anyone right now (insert Lucic or Eriksson here) would be a mistake. I also think the Flyers will trade into a top#5 slot and land P.L.Dubois or Tkachuk as the top LW of the future while Bickell holds down the left side along side G and J.V or Simmonds. Just the opinion of a diehard Flyers fan, the how the get into the top#5 I don’t know, just think Hexy will get it done and believe he’s looking too.
@Kenn-I was thinking the same thing-flyers trading up. Since they have a lot of grade A prospects on D and are short of Grade A prospects up front (with the exception of Konechny), I can see a trade involving a Sanheim as part of a package to Edmonton (as Provorov being untouchable).
For sure, Ivan goes nowhere. Sanheim for sure gets Edmonton’s attention and the Flyers are in such a great position of strength! It’s funny, just a few seasons ago and for years it seems; the Flyers D was also brutal and such a problem now it’s in a position to be one of the best in the league in the next 2-4 years. I’ve heard and I’m hoping that Edmonton may actually be targeting Morin, he’s a tough call…some think he’ll be Pronger like which is probably why the Oilers want him; he played 1 season there and they went to the cup but flip side, do the Flyers want to move a Pronger type dman?. Long run, I think a #1 LW is needed so much more and to do it without dumping huge $ and terms in free agency would be the best direction.
One thing that would make the oilers want Sam Morin-is that he is probably 1 or 2 years ahead of Sanheim in terms of being NHL ready. But I think with Sanheims Offensive skills he has more upside.
@scott…agreed Sam’s the huge, shut down guy and Travis is the offensive guy.
Hextall is no doubt looking. The problem is, so are Montreal, Colorado, N.J., Ottawa, Carolina, Boston, Minnesota, Detroit and Nashville – all of whom have better draft positions to swap. It will all boil down to who has the better commodities, along with their draft slot, to offer a team at 4 and 5 and whether or not they are prepared to give them up.
Do you think C Bus will bite if Colorado offers up Duschene ? He is in the rumor mill ?
I agree, lots of teams trying to move up but I heard a quote from Benning (Canucks GM) that he’d explore trading the #5 as was quoted as saying if I can get a top 6 player and a second, I have to look at it; or something very similar to that. That caught my attention, the Flyers don’t have to include the #18 pick? I’d think Hexy dangles Schenn (even though he broke out, he’s not viewed as a top line LW option, and I don’t think he’s eager to pay him $5+ a year he’s gonna want as an RFA). They also have 2 2nd rounders to work with, I think that’s the target cause it also leaves them with all of their D prospects to go forward with or line up another deal at some point.
@YankeeFan…Duchesne is a great player, I could see CBJ consider it for sure. A draft pick is just that, you never know for sure how they will transition into NHL while Duchesne is a proven, high end 2 way player. I think the only concern for them in his rising salary with so much cap uncertainty. People may wonder why trade out Johansson and end up back here?, cause Jones is a future #1 stud dman, Johansson was a unmotivated player who’d also pull down a heavy contract. Columbus has a bunch of young talent coming, Erie just won the AHL title but you still need the right vet talent to be an example and Duchesne seems to be that type of guy.
Kenn, if you and Hextall don’t think Schenn is a top line LW, why do you think the Canucks will see him as an answer to their needs?
Question off topic but I am curious.
Why would the playes vote to escalate the cap?
Why would they vote not to escalate the cap?
What is the decisions to be made, how does it effect their future earnings? Anyone here smart enough to spell it out for me?
Here’s my in no way am I smart enough to know the full info you want answer….but it’s a simple as the free agent class will pressure the players to do so cause if the cap falls there’s less money out there to be spent this summer and beyond that, roster movement in genreal cause several teams are tight as is, worse off if the cap drops instead of increasing since must teams went on the mid season assumption that it was going up to $74.
I think Schenn is solid player, he had a real solid season I just think Hextall has his “plan” and Schenn doesn’t seem to be a guy that Hextall wants to invest in long term. He handed Coots an extension and left it at Brayden needs to prove himself before the 2016-16 season started, just feel like he fits into Hexy’s mould. Saying that, he’s only 26 I think, scored 26 goals, had career highs in goals and points and after Jan 1st averaged almost a point a game, all solid things. Sometimes, certain players just don’t mesh with GM’s, coaches whatever it may be. Vancouver has not much of anything beyond the Sedins currently and they won’t be around for much longer, young players should be what they are thinking which I’m sure you’ll say should keep them at the #5 pick, I’m just resaying what J.B. said himself, and as a Flyers fan I see it as a spot Hextall could sneak into.
Jeff, I could use some clarification on this too.
Think the players vote for the escalator to have a higher cap at the begging on the season, this offers richer and greater contracts to the FAs.
Some of the salary from each player however are kept in an escrow fund(?) and released to the player if revenue goals are met. In case they are then the salary is paid in full, failure to meet the revenue goals will mean that the players would have to surrender the funds.
So essentially the players have to take a collective decision if they wish to take the risk of making escrow payments.
I could be way off here but that is my understanding
Jeff I’m certainly not smart enough to explain why they really do. That’s why the NHL & NHLPA have so many lawyers.
All I have are assumptions & reasoning abilities that help me wrap my head around but that doesn’t make them right or necessarily even sound arguments but it works for me. There are 2 primary motivators in life, fear & greed. Both come into play here.
The players are afraid that if the vote down the escaltor players will be bought out & some of them will see there careers end being replaced by younger cheaper versions. If the cap went down below 69 milllion this is a given. Fear.
The players & the league are growing, numerous new revenue streams are expanding & the sport is growing at the grass routes level substantially which will bare fruit long term. No major league sport has the growth potential of the NHL. If not for the Canadian dollar we would still be seeing 4 to 5 million dollar gains annually & all belive this is just a hiccup in the excelleration. The escaltor allows teams to keep over spending on players. Greed both by clubs & players.
Finally some logic enters the equation. Escrow is actually fair for all players. Everyone pays an equal % of income into escrow & once the final league revenue is agreed to between the NHL & NHLPA the accounting of monies is again settled equally.
There are other factors as well but for me that’s the meat & potatoes of it.
more money
less money
come on guys read between the lines, dont just rely on stiker 😛
no wonder why your an ottawa fan doh! :p :p
Understanding why thé players Would vote to increase the cap was easy. It creates a larger pool of money to spend on player salaries. After all the cap floor rises with the cap ceiling. Why the players would not vote to increase the cap was a bit baffling to me. So from your fine answers I take it that they would vote to not boost the cap to insure by season’s end the revenue share between the players and owners is as even as possible to prevent any of the player salaries dollars held in escrow from being lost. Or in other words to insure the highest percentage of held dollars in escrow are paid out.
Is that it?
Cowan has a big anchor to carry now that both the Sens and Leafs have essentially said that he wasn’t good enough. I know that Toronto refused to play him because if he were injured, a buy-out would not be allowed, but they are a team that could really use another big skilled dman his age…so there must have been something pretty bad to make them simply get him to buy him out.
Wideman would make a great addition to any team at half his salary, but for Calgary to eat half that salary makes him not worth dumping. I think he stays in Calgary unless the Flames are only asked to eat $1 million or less.
Polak, the guy plays hard and physical and smart, but will never have the stats to impress people on offense. BUT as Babcock and the Sharks have shown, putting Polak on the ice lets your more offensively gifted players play their game. Lots of teams will want him.
Too bad he wont be back to the leafs
i would have put him in net and said anyone comes near the blue ice = attack
Hats off to thorton, Marleau and the SJS for carrying the team to their best run ever and when everyone else wrote them off because of their ages.
Just goes to show ya what 1 goalie can do to a team and that rebuilding doesnt mean squat
Same could be said for the pens (but they won a cup & have better younger players) and phil the thrill also congrats well deserved
so toronto gave up 2nd & 10th overall (which was 1 cup seguin) and then traded Phil (another cup) for 20th (kaspanin)
ouch
If the Leafs were smart, they’d do a deal for Pickard from the Avalanche. The kid is very underrated and is much cheaper and younger than other options. Huge upside. They also should trade for a future Martin Hanzal big guy type center in Oskar Sundqvist.
I think TO should bring back Reimer and Polack then let the goaltending evolve and if Bernier does not claim the #1 trade him at the deadline for whatever they can get. Polack gives 100% and does not back down from anyone.
Greening showed he could be a solid third line player and Michalik has shown at least that but can spend time on the second line if needed. Cowan has all the physical tools which teases teams but the Leafs have better prospects that can move the puck.
Calgary has a good prospect goaltender that needs a year or two in the AHL so signing someone like Reimer makes the most sense.
There are lots of teams in cap trouble so the draft will be interesting.
Idk why a BO for Burrows & Higgins.
Waive & send to the AHL or if picked up great.
Saves 1 yr of cap hit as well as we need 1yr min to get shaped up. Only thing is cash is saved. If Green is hired in the NHL ask Burrows to be assistant coach/player in Utica unless he believes he has something left to prove.