Top RFAs holding up the free agent market
Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago Blackhawks Brendan Perlini is just one of many unsigned restricted free agents.
The big named RFAs are holding up the market, and it’s trickled down to some UFAs. There are 14 teams that have over $7 million in salary cap space. UFAs like Jake Gardiner, Derick Brassard, and Patrick Maroon remain unsigned.
The Blackhawks still plan on re-signing Perlini.
Avs prefer a long-term deal with Rantanen, but okay with anything
Rick Sadowski of NHL.com: Colorado Avalanche GM Joe Sakic has said they would prefer to a long-term deal with RFA Mikko Rantanen but would do a short-term deal if need be.
“We prefer long term,” Sakic said. “If it has to be short term, it has to be short term. We want to make sure we have him signed. There’s a lot of players (in the NHL) in that same situation, a lot of great hockey players that are coming up. We’ll just see how all the players and agents handle that. There are comparable numbers that are starting to come in. We’re open to different possibilities.”
Trading Krejci doesn’t really make sense
Joe Haggerty of NBC Sports: Boston Bruins center David Krejci carries a $7.25 million salary cap hit and trade talks seem to follow him around. He does carry some trade protection.
If the Bruins were to trade the 33-year-old, they would have a big hole on their second line. Charlie Coyle may not offensively fit at No. 2 and prospects like Jack Studnicka and Trent Frederic are not ready.
Bruins President Cam Neely has said that it doesn’t make a lot of sense for them to trade Krejci even if it would help their salary cap situation.
“I thought David had a fantastic year. He had a really strong year. I think he’s a guy that’s generally been a playoff performer, and wants to be known as a playoff player…not just a regular-season player,” said Bruins President Cam Neely in an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Boston. “To your point, I think we’ve got some centermen in our pipeline. But to step up to be a No. 2 in the National Hockey League, they are not quite there yet. And David is filling that role quite nicely for us.”