On the Colorado Avalanche …
Adrian Dater of BSN Denver: Avalanche defenseman Francois Beauchemin has a year left on his three-year, $13.5 million deal, which also contains a no-movement clause. The odds of the Avalanche buying him out are high.
If they were to buy him out, they wouldn’t get any salary cap relief as he signed a 35+ deal. They would get an actual cash savings of $1.5 million.
The biggest reason to buy him out is that they wouldn’t have to protect him for the expansion draft. wonders if Beauchemin would go to the Avs and say he’d waive his no-movement clause for the expansion draft if they promised not to buy him out.
On the Dallas Stars …
Sean Shapiro: Stars GM Jim Nill said that he’s had some talks with teams about players they my have exposed for the expansion draft.
Sean Shapiro of NHL.com: Stars GM Jim Nill said they’d consider trading the third overall pick in the 2017 draft for the right price.
“I have talked to other teams already about possibly moving that pick, getting an established player back,” Nill told SiriusXM’s NHL Network Radio. “It gives us lot of options. I think this will heat up more as we go.”
Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier are expected to be the top two picks in the draft.
“Probably a group of another 10 players, and that’s when it comes down to team’s personal preference,” Nill said. “Are you looking for a big strong centerman? Are you looking for a scoring winger? Are you looking for a power forward? There is lot of different options there.”
Teams have to have their protected lists for the expansion draft submitted by July 17th, and the Stars still have some difficult decisions to make.
“I’ve got some pretty good players that are going to be exposed,” Nill said. “Do I talk to George , and do we need to do something? Or do I say, ‘he’s going to pick one of these four or five guys’ and go from there?
“I think early June will be an exciting time for player movement.”