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Report: Isles Interested in Los Angeles’ Bernier
The Islanders may not be content to sit tight with some combination of Evgeni Nabokov, Kevin Poulin and Anders Nilsson in goal next year — and they shouldn’t be. According to Newsday, the Islanders are “in the mix” for Los Angeles Kings goalie Jon Bernier. According to TSN, the Kings have been actively shopping Bernier around the NHL for the past week or so.
You play Wild GM: Trades, free agency, buyouts, depth chart info
So, just do the math. Not only does the Wild not have a No. 1 goalie yet, it hasn’t re-signed restricted free agents Cal Clutterbuck, Jared Spurgeon and maybe Justin Falk.
So the reality is Fletcher will have to create some cap flexibility. Not everybody can come back. There will be trades, potential buyouts, etc.
(Remember, you can surpass the salary-cap ceiling by 10 percent during the offseason as long as you get cap compliant by opening night).
Oilers likely to move their top pick
For example, EDM’s No. 7 overall pick, as well as players, are available. While it’s possible EDM drafts at 7, my guess is it gets dealt.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 8, 2013
Pens’ chairman Lemieux may order ouster of coach Bylsma
The call on Dan Bylsma’s future behind the Penguins’ bench may not be Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero’s to make.
Several individuals within the industry have told Slap Shots Penguins chairman Mario Lemieux, distressed by his team’s fourth straight failure to get out of the Eastern Conference after consecutive trips to the Finals in 2008 and 2009, the latter culminating with a Stanley Cup victory, may instruct Shero to dismiss the coach.
Malkin could command $15 mil per year tax free in KHL.
Ongoing speculation suggests Malkin could command $15 mil per year tax free in KHL. @bruce_arthur. Not saying he takes it, but it’s there.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 6, 2013
Carolina will entertain offers for its 5th-overall pick
Carolina will entertain offers for its 5th-overall pick in hopes of landing a top-4 D-man, GM Jim Rutherford told @theteam1260 Tuesday.
— Dylan Howlett (@DylanHowlett) June 6, 2013
OILERS’ MACTAVISH: HORCOFF AND HEMSKY COULD BE MOVING ON
Craig MacTavish promised to make changes to the Edmonton Oilers over the offseason and it may start with two of the team’s long-standing veterans.
In an interview with Team 1260 Radio in Edmonton on Thursday, the new general manager suggested that captain Shawn Horcoff and winger Ales Hemsky could be done with the club.
Could the Flyers and Blues swing a deal?
Flyers were involved in trade talks prior to offer sheeting Shea Weber. I think things could heat up with St. Louis this summer.
— Dustin Leed (@D_LEED) June 4, 2013
Maple Leafs could thrive with compliance buyouts
It will be a list of all-stars and pluggers, of first-liners and goalies, even potential Hall of Famers.
Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis — like the rest of his NHL brethren — will be watching and guessing who’ll be on the list of this summer’s new wrinkle to the collective bargaining agreement: the compliance buyout.
“We all speculate and say this guy is an automatic buyout,” said Tampa GM Steve Yzerman. “But teams don’t share that information; you don’t know their financial situation, what they’re doing with trades, or guys in the minors, what they’re planning to spend.
Florida Panthers willing to trade second overall pick, but don’t expect Edmonton Oilers to land it
Panthers general manager Dale Tallon made it clear he was willing to talk about trading the second overall pick in an interview at the NHL draft combine on Friday. Despite his comments, it’s extremely unlikely that a team as far down as the Edmonton Oilers (seventh overall) will be able to make a pitch that sways Florida into a deal.
Report: Tim Thomas may attempt comeback next season
It looks like Tim Thomas‘ unique and interesting hockey career might not be over.
Although his agent said that everything is status quo with Thomas, it wouldn’t be surprising if he attempted a comeback in 2013-14, according to CBC’s Elliotte Friedman.
Nashville Predators will listen to offers for No. 4 pick
Two teams with top-five picks in the NHL Draft have dangled their picks as potential trade bait in recent days. First, new Colorado coach Patrick Roy said the Avalanche would be open to dealing the No. 1 pick. Then Florida general manager Dale Tallon encouraged teams to offer packages for the No. 2. The Predators, who are slated to pick fourth, have not said they will trade the pick.
Roy has a big job
Patrick Roy, new man behind the bench in Colorado, told the Denver media Tuesday that “my No. 1 quality is that I am not afraid to put in the time.’’ If only coaching were a time-in/results-out business. The NFL is full of coaches who sleep and eat in their offices, but performance does not necessarily correlate with the punching of the time card. St. Patrick went a formidable 348-196 and won a Memorial Cup (2006) in his time directing the Quebec Remparts.
Ryder not part of Canadiens’ offseason plans
Ryder’s agent Thane Campbell told Le Journal de Montreal this week that the 33-year-old forward is not part of Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin’s offseason plans.
Yzerman said he doesn’t expect to move up from No. 3.
Yzerman said he doesn’t expect to move up from No. 3. Said he doesn’t have ammunition to pry No. 1 pick from Avs.
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) May 30, 2013
Messier and Gretzky want to coach Rangers
Two legends, and both of them want the reins.
Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky both are interested as taking over for John Tortorella as the next coach of the Rangers, The Post has confirmed. After Tortorella was fired on Wednesday, a slew of possible candidates arose from both inside and outside the organization. Messier was the one name being mentioned that didn’t have a day of professional head coaching experience, while Gretzky hasn’t coached since he was behind the Coyotes’ bench in 2009.
Valtteri Filppula on leaving Red Wings: ‘It could happen’
He admits it would be strange but wearing a new jersey is something Valtteri Filppula could be doing next season.
The unrestricted free agent forward, nursing a severely sprained ankle suffered in Game 7, doesn’t know what his future holds.
“I don’t know, it’s too early to say right now,” said Filppula. “It’s been the only team I’ve played with. There’s nothing but positive things to say (about the organization), and it’s a great place to be.
Ottawa Senators should make a pitch for former Ottawa 67′s winger Bryan Bickell
The month of June is going to be a very important one for the Senators.
Owner Eugene Melnyk has to decide if and by how much he is going to increase his team’s hockey budget. If the verdict is as it should be, GM Bryan Murray has to figure out how he’s going to gamble the extra cash.
And yes, both the free agency period that begins in July and any trade for a much-needed scoring winger is a huge gamble — especially for the Senators, who unlike the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs, are a small market team that depends largely on scouting and wise choices for their success.
A popular opinion is that, because offers for free agents are once again going to be outrageous, swinging a trade is the best route for Murray to take. And of course a guy like Anaheim’s Bobby Ryan is an enticing option. He’s only 26 and is a four-time, 30-plus goal scorer.
Skating with a playmaker like Jason Spezza, he could get 50.
But along with the $5.1-million salary cap hit for the next two years, what’s he going to cost the Senators? As my friend Bruce likes to say, they’re not going to give him away.
The Ducks, who once built a Stanley Cup winner around a strong defence, would probably ask for Jared Cowen. Murray, who was beaten by that Anaheim team, would have to say no to that.
http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/05/31/ottawa-senators-should-make-a-pitch-for-former-ottawa-67s-winger-bryan-bickell
Should the Avs really trade the No. 1 pick, or try to trade so they get the top two?
An awful lot of speculation going on right now about what the Avs might/should do with their No. 1 pick in the draft next month.
Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic both definitely started a mini-frenzy but strongly hinting they might be open to make a deal with someone involving their top pick in what is considered the deepest NHL draft in years. You trade the No. 1 pick for more established veteran help PLUS Florida’s or Tampa Bay’s pick, and just take whatever is left of the top 3. Win-win. Or maybe not.
Let’s look at some of the potential scenarios. I have now just nestled my GM hat nicely onto my dome:
