Flames changing their tune on Hamonic?
@Prospects_Watch: Darren Dreger was on TSN 690 and said there is the rumor that the Calgary Flames are considering moving defenseman T.J. Brodie or Travis Hamonic. The Flames may be now thinking to hold on to Hamonic and looking to extend him. Brodie name is still in the rumor mill.
Hayes in Philly
Jason Myrtetus: Source saying that Kevin Hayes and his agent were in Philadelphia yesterday to meet with the Flyers.
Contract talks have kicked in considerably as the Flyers look to get a deal done in advance of the draft.
Rangers haven’t ruled out a buyout … Notes on Kreider and Hayes
Larry Brooks of the NY Post: The first NHL buyout period opens on Saturday and runs through June 30th, and the New York Rangers aren’t ruling it out.
“In all honesty, we haven’t ruled it out,” general manager Jeff Gorton told The Post on Tuesday when asked if the club intends to go that route. “It’s on the table. And regardless of what we do with this buyout window, we’d certainly look at the second one, too, depending on what comes up over the next few weeks. A lot can happen.”
Potential buyout candidates for the Rangers.
Brendan Smith – two years left at $4.35 million. A buyout would save them $3.379 million this year and $1.204 next year. A cap hit of $1.146 million for the final two years.
Kevin Shattenkirk – two years left at $6.65 million. A buyout would save them $5.167 million this year and $567,000 next year. A cap hit of $1.433 million for the final two years.
Even retaining 50 percent of their contracts, the Rangers have found little trade interest in either. They could take back a bad contract for Shattenkirk, but it doesn’t seem like they want to go that route.
The Rangers could have enough salary cap space to take run at a big free agent, but GM Jeff Gorton cautioned about the idea.
Forward Chris Kreider has a year left on his deal and GM Gorton plans on checking in with his agent before he leaves for the draft in Vancouver. Four options for the Rangers with Kreider.
1) Sign him to an extension over the summer;
2) Trade him as part of a draft deal to snag another first-rounder and prospects;
3) Trade him as part of deal in exchange for a legit top-pair righty defenseman;
4) Allow him to play out the final season of his deal so he becomes rental fodder at the deadline.
If Kevin Hayes doesn’t sign with the Philadelphia Flyers, the Rangers could check in on him.