Notes on Barrie, Tanev and Labanc
Luke Fox of Sportsnet: Now Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Tyson Barrie could be looking for $8 million per season on his next deal. The Colorado Avalanche weren’t going to go that high for him. Barrie is sixth overall in scoring for defensemen the past two seasons.
The Maple Leafs may look to see how their blue line plays this season before making any decision. Morgan Reilly is the only Leafs defenseman that is signed beyond this season as Barrie, Cody Ceci and Jake Muzzin are all free agents.
Not many free agents are getting term through the first two weeks of free agency. Brandon Tanev got six years from the Penguins. The 27-year old has never had a 30 point season and has only played over 61 games once in his NHL career.
“It’s the way things work on July 1. You either give the player close to what he wants, or you don’t get the player,” Rutherford said. “With Tanev’s age , the way he trains, I don’t have any issue with the term.”
The San Jose Sharks got a steal of a deal with Kevin Labanc at $1 million for next season. Next offseason the Sharks have 10 free agents and more room for a bigger deal for Labanc.
Kadri explains why he nixed a Flames trade
Sportsnet: Nazem Kadri on 31 Thoughts: The Podcast on why he wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause to go to the Calgary Flames in the proposed Kadri and Connor Brown for T.J. Brodie and Mark Jankowski.
“So what happened is they had a deal in place and they wanted me to move my no-trade clause,” Kadri told co-hosts Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek. “But you know, obviously, for me, it was no disrespect to Calgary or the Flames organization. I love their team and I love the direction they’re headed. I just figured that had I declined, I would have had a better opportunity of being a Maple Leaf next year and that’s really what it came down to. I wanted to play for the Leafs next year. I wanted to be a part of that. In declining that trade I had aspirations of being a Leaf and we know clearly that didn’t happen.
“They had other plans,” Kadri continued. “I’m just happy to be moving to a great city with a great team, a great group of guys. I’ve talked to everybody in the (Colorado) organization and they’re ecstatic to have me so it’s nice to be wanted.”