On the Arizona Coyotes and Radim Vrbata …
Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports: The 35-year old Radim Vrbata isn’t worrying where he’ll be playing next season. Vrbata knows the Coyotes could trade him before the deadline.
“There’s no protection in my contract so you have to expect everything,” he said Tuesday. “You have no control over it.”
He’s a pending UFA who has 11 goals, assists in games so far this season. He has a base salary of $1 million and has earned a $500,000 bonus for playing 30 games. He’ll get anther $500,000 at 20 goals or 40 points, and up to $1.25 in playoff bonuses (for each playoff round).
A normal trade market could see the Coyotes getting a mid-round pick for him, but with only two teams being sellers at the moment, the cost could be higher.
If the Coyotes trade him at the deadline, he could also sign back with them in the offseason for his fourth stint with the team.
On the Montreal Canadiens …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 talking about the Tampa Bay Lightning – Montreal Canadiens trade, and if it could spark other moves.
The Nikita Nesterov acquisition could also spark other moves for the Canadiens.
“I’m curious about the chain reaction, as you said. I think there’s a chance… I know the guys in Montreal – I’m talking about the media – believe this could mean a guy like Nathan Beaulieu becomes available.”
Eric Engels of Sportsnet: Engels wonders if the Canadiens would now consider trading defenseman Nathan Beaulieu in a package for a top-six forward at the deadline.
Beaulieu will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. GM Marc Bergevin may be more inclined to move him now, especially if he could acquire a long-term forward like Matt Duchene or Gabriel Landeskog.
The future salary could be another consideration that makes Beaulieu available. After the season they have to give Alex Galchenyuk a big raise. Alex Radulov is a UFA and Andrei Markov may get another deal. Beaulieu’s bridge deal expires at the end of the season.