- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Martin Brodeur’s new agent Pat Brisson to ESPN:
“He will be testing free agency if a deal is not in place by Sunday,” Brisson told ESPN.com via email Friday.
Options for Brodeur if he doesn’t re-sign with the Devils. 1. Toronto Maple Leafs – Brodeur would be a nice mentor for James Reimer and wouldn’t cost the assets or contract that Luongo would. 2. Florida Panthers – Jacob Markstrom could learn lots for Brodeur. Could gamble on Brodeur rather than go the Luongo route. 3. Tampa Bay Lightning – Anders Lindback learned from Pekka Rinne in Nashville, but insurance with Brodeur makes sense for TBay. 4. Chicago Blackhawks – Corey Crawford struggled last year, and what better tonic than his hero Brodeur.
- Steve Simmons via twitter: The Kings won’t trade Jonathan Bernier unless they are blown away by an offer. They like the security of having 2 goalies.
- Rob Rossi via twitter: Rossi heard this morning that the Penguins long-range cap plan is to have Sidney Crosby at $8.7 million and up to $9.5 million with Malkin (pending CBA) and room for an $8 million addition. The Penguins also view adding an impact forward as insurance for Crosby. Even if he can’t play, they have players to help Malkin and Neal. Don’t expect a 10 or more years on a Malkin deal even if the CBA allows those deals.
- Chuck Gormley of CSN Washington: The Capitals will have $20.8 million in cap space if they let Alexander Semin walk.
“I think we’re in pretty good shape,” McPhee said. “We have good young goalies, the dee is complete, we added a skill guy. We’ll get into like everybody else does, but if we don’t do anything I wouldn’t be disappointed. And if there’s something there that makes sense at the right price, then we’ll do it.”
Despite having all that space, they may not use all of it now,
“But it doesn’t mean you have to use it all now,” he says. “You can use it during the season or at the deadline.
“It’s expensive to use it now. If you do something, it’s always more than the guy’s worth. The question is how much more and are you trying to trade him by November because he cost too much.”
Parise and Suter will likely be too expensive. Goal scoring forwards like Shane Doan, P.A. Parenteau, Dustin Penner, Ray Whitney and Lee Stempniak would be a nice fit. A solid defenseman like Matt Carle, Jason Garrison, Michal Roszival, Bryan Allen and Bryce Salvadore would be nice as well.
- Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: Dater thinks the Avalanche should, and will make an offer to UFA winger P.A. Parenteau.
- Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: When asked if they Avs will be “active” on Sunday for the start of free agency:
“As always we are looking for ways to improve our roster, and to that end, Sunday we will be in discussion with several players’ agents.
“Lately we have agreed to terms with several of our own players and we will continue to have discussions with our own RFA’s.”Dater thinks the Avs will try to sign 1, 2 or 3 free agents. Ryan O’Reilly deal will happen in time, they are not in a rush. Dater thinks the Avs make take a run at a Zach Parise, Ryan Suter or Alex Semin.
- Bob McKenzie via twitter: The Avalanche have signed Steve Downie to a 2 year deal worth $5.3 million, $2.55 million next year and $2.75 the following year.
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: The Stars have bought out Eric Godard. He’ll have a $258,333 and $233,333 cap hit on the Stars books for the next 2 years.