On the Detroit Red Wings …
Ansar Khan of MLive: Red Wings GM Ken Holland expects trade talk to pick up this week at the scouting combine. They would like to trade one of Jimmy Howard or Petr Mrazek before they have to submit their protected list for the expansion draft.
Holland denied saying in a radio interview ‘off air’ that he was trying to trade Mrazek.
“When the radio interview ended, he said to me, ‘I’m hearing a rumor you’re trying to trade Petr Mrazek,’ ” Holland said. “I didn’t say anything. I didn’t respond.”
Radio announcer Bob Kaser confirmed that Holland didn’t answer the question.
Mrazek may get more interest than Howard due to being eight years younger and having one-year left at $4 million as opposed to two years at a $5.3 million cap hit for Howard.
Protecting Mrazek over Howard for the expansion draft makes sense.
On teams feeling the salary cap crunch …
Luke Fox of Sportsnet: Looking at five teams that are feeling the salary cap cruch.
Chicago Blackhawks – Already $4.5 million over the cap. Tomas Jurco needs a new contract, with Johnny Oduya and Brian Campbell likely on their way out as UFAs. Could they be able to move Marcus Kruger (27 at more than $3 million), Brent Seabrook (32 at a $6.875 million cap hit and a NMC) or Marian Hossa (38 with a $5.275 million cap hit for four years – only $1 million salary each year)
New York Islanders – Have just over $2 million in projected cap space. Calvin de Haan is a RFA and Jean-Francois Berube is a UFA. They’ve tried trading Jaroslav Halak for months. The Islanders would need to clear out salary if they wanted to bring in someone like Ilya Kovalchuk.
Anaheim Ducks – $2.3 million in projected cap space. They need to sign a backup goalie and may want to bring back Patrick Eaves. The Ducks have six defenseman making between $3.35 million and $5.21 million and they could move one or two of them.
Columbus Blue Jackets – Have just under $3 million in cap space but there GM isn’t concerned though. They could trade or buyout Scott Hartnell ($4.75 cap hit for two years). Maybe they could convince the Golden Knights to take Jack Johnson‘s $4.36 million cap hit.
St. Louis Blues – Just under $4.5 million in cap space. Colton Parayko needs a new deal, with Scottie Upshall, Nail Yakupov and Magnus Paajarvi also free agents. The Blues are looking for scoring and have been tied to Jonathan Drouin and Jordan Eberle. Could gain some cap space by moving Jori Lehtera, David Perron or Carl Gunnarsson in a trade or through the expansion draft.