Ducks have a deal with Miller? Interest in Johnson?
Eric Stephens of The Athletic: (mailbag) Though they continue to say there is no handshake deal between the Anaheim Ducks and Ryan Miller, the longer he remains unsigned, the more thinks there they have something worked out to help them get around the salary cap. The Ducks don’t really want to go over the ceiling during the offseason. If for whatever reason they don’t re-sign Miller, Anthony Stolarz should be the backup.
Believe the Ducks do like Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Johnson but not at $5 million for another four seasons. Could only see the Ducks taking on Johnson would be if the Lightning retained 50 percent of his salary, and the Ducks being able to move out some salary to balance out the $2.5 million.
Danton Heinen may appeal more to the Lightning than Carter Rowney, but one-year left at $2.8 million would be an issue. Johnson can play both right wing and center, and the money owed is less than this cap hit. Ryan Kesler (being able to LTIR him) and another salary related contract for Johnson could work. The Ducks could also keep Kesler and LTIR him.
Bridge deals for Pettersson and Hughes?
TSN Radio Vancouver: Thomas Drance on Vancouver Canucks Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, who are both a year away from being restricted free agents.
** NHLrumors.com transcription
“I do think that one of these pandemic legacies might be an increased frequency of bridge deals for elite players. We’ll learn more I think in the coming weeks with a potential Barzal deal. Although that one does seem like it could go down to the wire.
And then with Pettersson and Hughes, I do think bridge contracts. Which I would have said are, you know, probably not my expectation if you’d asked me before March of 2020. I know do think that they are high likelihood outcomes for negotiations with both of those players based on where the market has gone, the uncertainty introduced, and what, just empathitzing with their representatives, I’d be advising them to do in a flat cap world and in a system that looks the way it does for the foreseable future. “