Morning Hits: Maple Leafs, Sharks, Callahan, Seattle Expansion and Palffy

Mark Easson

11 years ago

David Alter: Two days until the start of the non-compliance buyout period, August 2nd to 4th. There will be a 48 hour span where the Maple Leafs could buyout John-Michael Liles if they wish. If the Leafs bought out Liles, he would count against their cap for the next six years. It would give them an extra $2,583,333 this season.

David Alter of SportsNet: The Maple Leafs now have only $4.6 million left to sign RFAs Cody Franson and Nazem Kadri. Alter notes that Franson’s agent could use Zach Bogosian’s seven-year, $36 million as a comparable. That Bogosian and Franson played similar roles, with Bogosian playing over four minutes per game more, but 12 less total games. If the Leafs are able to get Franson and Kadri for around $3 million per season, they will have to make a move or two to free up some salary cap space. They could be get a decent return for Franson if they decide to move him. A Liles buyout would be a $1,291,666.67 for the next seasons if they went that route. They could try to trade while retaining some salary.

Kevin Kurz: Sources say that Joe Pavelski’s deal (5 years, $30 million) includes a very limited no-trade clause that is similar to Logan Couture’s.

Kevin Kurz: Sharks GM Doug Wilson said that there have been conversations with the agents for Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dan Boyle.

Dan Rosen of NHL.com: Rangers captain Ryan Callahan is on schedule after his shoulder surgery, but may not be ready for the start of the season.

“As the schedule goes, it’s going to dip into training camp and it’s possible it could dip into the regular season, too,” Callahan said. “The biggest thing with this is the contact. I should be able to be fully skating and shooting in training camp, but it’s when you can take contact and I don’t think you know that until you get further on and they evaluate it and check it out. As of now, how the rehab is going, I’m right on schedule.”

Callahan hasn’t had any talks with the Rangers about a contract extension. He’s entering the last year of his deal.

Joe Yerdon of Pro Hockey Talk: Seattle sports-talk radio host, Mitch Levy, said that Gary Bettman is pushing the Board of Governors for expansion and to include Seattle. The team would begin play in 2014-15 and would cost $275 million. Seattle would need to build a new arena. Bill Daly recently said that the Pacific Northwest was getting “serious consideration” for expansion or relocation. This would put the NHL at 31 teams, so another addition may follow with the usual suspects: Quebec City, Toronto, Portland, Kansas City, and Las Vegas.