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I would also be very surprised if the NY Rangerstraded Del Zotto. They need him! He has his faults but is pretty good puck-moving PP D
— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) January 10, 2013
Subban Wants Doughty Type Money?
Before a deal can get done, the first agreement is yourself and your agent have to agree on the same things and I think we clarified everything (Monday). We know where we both stand,” said Subban, who is represented by Don Meehan of Newport Sports. “Now it’s his job to go and relay that Montreal and take it from there.
“We had a long summer to try and get things done and it didn’t happen so as far as I’m concerned, it’s out of my control. I can’t offer myself a contract. At this point now, I’m just waiting and making sure I keep myself in shape so that once I get to training camp, I’m ready to go. I’ve made it clear I want to play there and play there for a long time. My interest is nowhere but in Montreal. That’s never, ever changed and it’s never been a question. If anybody says anything different, they don’t know what they’re talking about.”
Will the Avs trade O’Reilly
Will standout young center Ryan O’Reilly be under contract and available to play in the Jan. 19 season opener?
The Avalanche locker room just isn’t the same without the hardworking “Factor,” a 21-year-old unrestricted free agent who is still playing in Russia.
Several translations of German web sites this morning say #sabres have signed Jochen Hecht to a 1-year deal. (Don’t shoot the messenger)
— Mike Harrington (@BNHarrington) January 11, 2013
Four reasons why Flyers would consider Luongo
Ilya Kovalcuk expresses desire to stay in Russia, but says it will be hard to break contract with Devils
While his Devils teammates are expecting him to return from Russia at some point soon for the start of the lockout-shortened NHL season, star left wing Ilya Kovalchuk continued to let them twist in the wind after playing in another game in the Kontinental Hockey League.
After notching an assist Thursday in SKA St. Petersburg’s 4-2 win over Salavat Yulaev in Ufa, Russia, Kovalchuk expressed a desire to remain in the KHL for the remainder of the season, but also acknowledged his commitment to the Devils.
“I want to stay in St. Petersburg, but I have contractual obligations in the NHL, which will be hard to break,” Kovalchuk told Sport-Express in Russia, according to the sports daily’s U.S. correspondent, Slava Malamud.
Interesting Flyers in Luongo rumors now. Reliable source told me prior to Burke firing they would be 3rd team in a 3-way trade for Lou to TO
— Jimmy Murphy (@MurphysLaw74) January 10, 2013
Will the Buffalo Sabres Look to Reunite Tyler Myers and Sam Gagner?
When the lockout put the league’s general managers in a deep freeze in September, one of the more prominent rumors floating around was a trade between the Buffalo Sabres and the Edmonton Oilers.
Most talk about the trade was entirely speculative, so no names could be discussed with any sort of authority, but the lockout may have given some clarity as to the situation if it were to play out.
To rehash what was said this summer, the Oilers need defenseman. Justin Schultz has blown the top off of the AHL in Oklahoma City during the lockout, but he’s not going to be the three-zone guy that the Oilers sorely need. His success would certainly go a long way, but the Oilers are likely going to need more.
Blues appear less likely to acquire defenseman
A lefthanded shooting defenseman, perhaps a veteran, maybe even somebody who could play with Alex Pietrangelo, was atop the Blues’ wish list last offseason.
General manager Doug Armstrong gauged the trade market in June and made free-agent inquiries in July but came away empty-handed. Perhaps Armstrong wasn’t offering enough to other teams in trade talks, or enough dollars to free agents. But there was another factor at play: the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement was set to expire Sept. 15.
“Obviously we had talked with quite a few teams at the entry draft, quite a few teams over the summer,” Armstrong said. “A lot of people wanted to see how this (new) CBA was going to affect their franchise.”
Reasons why Burke was fired.
The guess here is Burke was fired for one of two reasons.
One, at least half of the new MLSE ownership team, Bell, was seemingly prepared to fire Burke during the summer. The boss there, George Cope, reportedly disliked Burke’s management style and brash public comments, and thought he was “bad for the brand.”
Two, both Bell and Rogers are keen on a deal for Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo and Burke was resisting such a move. He said repeatedly of late that he was “90 per cent” certain he wanted to go with the combination of James Reimer and Ben Scrivens in net and had talked several times about his frustrations of dealing with Vancouver GM Mike Gillis, particularly since he wasn’t sure dealing for Luongo was the right move.
Jake Gardiner has passed his baseline test, but still has some concussion related symptoms. Getting better, but no time-frame for return.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) January 10, 2013
Ex-Caps right wing Mike Knuble should get NHL contract
Mike Knuble is an unrestricted free agent who needs a home. And it’s a good bet that the ex-Washington Capitals right wing will find it before the shortened 2013 NHL season begins.
Knuble, 40, experienced a down year in 2011-12, but he scored 20-plus goals in the previous eight seasons. Right now, he’s waiting for the new CBA to be official.
“You hear dates of when camps are going to open, are they going bring guys to the camps on tryouts? Are they going have to sign everybody?” Knuble said. “Who knows what’s going to happen here.”
Told Burke was absolutely shocked by news. Burke responded to a text saying he can’t talk at this point.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) January 9, 2013
FLYERS THE LATEST TEAM TO ASK ABOUT LUONGO’S AVAILABILITY
It appears that there’s another team in the Roberto Luongo sweepstakes.
According to Adrian Dater of the Denver Post, hockey analyst and former NHL player Enrico Ciccone of TVA Sports, and confirmed by TSN’s James Duthie on Twitter, the Philadelphia Flyers are interested in acquiring the services of the veteran goaltender.
Duthie tweeted that the Flyers have inquired about the Canucks goalie, and are in a position where they could buy out current netminder Ilya Bryzgalov in June.
Trade rumours surrounding Luongo have been front and centre with this week’s announcement of a new CBA for the NHL and its players. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers have been the two teams tied most closely to potentially acquiring Luongo.
Nonis will ABSOLUTELY make a strong push to get Roberto Luongo from Vancouver. Take that to the bank.
— Damien Cox (@DamoSpin) January 9, 2013
Ok … Leaf fans. The question from HTR is … Do you really want Luongo? What would you give up to get him?
Bob McCown on #Sportsnet: Burke didn’t want to deal Kadri & Gardiner for Luongo. Felt it wasn’t the right deal to make. #Leafs #MapleLeafs
— Alex Seixeiro (@alexfan590) January 9, 2013
Maple Leafs Fire Brian Burke ?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have apparently fired general manager Brian Burke according to TSN hockey insider Bob McKenzie.
Trades, cheat deals and more CBA details
RETAINING SALARY IN TRADES
This was Brian Burke’s baby, an idea he pushed for years at GM meetings. Under the old CBA, teams could not absorb any part of a salary from a player they were trading — unlike baseball for example.
But in this new agreement, teams will be able to do that.
Here are the main parameters of the rule: A club cannot absorb more than 50 percent of the players’ annual cap hit/salary in any trade. Any NHL club can only have up to three contracts on their payroll in which the contract was traded away under the retaining salary proviso. Also, only up to 15 percent of your upper limit cap amount can be used up by the money you have retained in trades.
For example, let’s say the Maple Leafs want to trade little-used blueliner Mike Komisarek and his $4.5-million cap hit ($3.5 million salary this year) to the New York Islanders (hypothetically). The Leafs could retain half the cap hit — $2.25 million — and half the salary — $1.75 million — in order to facilitate the deal. The Islanders would pay him the other half. This should facilitate more trades around the league, no question.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/21219/trades-cheat-deals-and-more-cba-details
Ottawa Senators hunting for help for depleted blueline
The Senators are trying to find help for their thin blueline.
With defenceman Jared Cowen gone for the season after hip surgery and utility blueliner Mike Lundin out with a broken thumb he suffered in Europe for a month, Senators GM Bryan Murray and assistant Tim Murray are looking for help.
Though agents for five or six free UFA’s — including Chris Campoli, Colin White and Milan Jurcina — have contacted the Senators to see if they have any interest, Bryan Murray may opt to go the trade route before camp opens.
Vandermeer, Barker could provide blueline depth for Canucks
Jim Vandermeer and Cam Barker played for the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2006-07 season. Now the unrestricted free agents are playing a waiting game.
Barker is trying to play his way back into the NHL via a professional tryout with the Vancouver Canucks and Vandermeer is hoping the Presidents’ Trophy winners see him as a depth defenceman. With a back end that consists of Dan Hamhuis, Kevin Bieksa, Alex Edler, Jason Garrison, Keith Ballard, Chris Tanev and Andrew Alberts, there’s a real need for a dependable No. 8 because a condensed 48-game season will expose everyone to a heightened risk of injury in a sprint toward the playoffs.
