- Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago: With the Blackhawks being $1.3 million over the salary cap, they will have to trade at least one player, and the players are aware of the teams situation.
“Yeah, I know,” Blackhawks winger Bryan Bickell said about someone having to go before the season. “I haven’t really looked too much into it. There’s a couple adjustments that need to take part to get through this cap thing, but I’m not hearing anything, which is good. It’s going to work out the way it is, and, hopefully, it will work for the best.”
Johnny Oduya has one year left at $3.375 million and has been rumored as a potential player to be moved.
“I wouldn’t say nervous, but you know the reality of the business,” Oduya said. “And I’ve been around it for a couple of these situations where you might be a little bit over. Or, on the other hand, you’re the cheaper player and you can fit in in a different way. It’s not really much you can do but realize the situation and you prepare for the season the same way.”
Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman on their cap situation.
“We certainly have to be ready to go by October,” Bowman said. “That’s the goal. A lot of things change between now and then. You have to display some patience.
“Like I said all along, we have some ideas of what we’re going to do. A lot of things happen once camps open both for us and for other teams, in terms of players maybe you expect to meet expectations don’t quite do it and certain teams are looking around trying to find players. I always think you’re always in a good position when you have a lot of established players. I think that’s better than the other way around.”
- Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago: Blackhawks defenseman Johnny Oduya broke his foot in Game 7 of the Western Conference Final and likely wouldn’t have been able to play if they had advanced. He should be ready for the start of training camp, if he’s still with the team. The Blackhawks are around $2 million over the cap and need to shed some salary by the start of the season. Oduya’s name has been in the rumor mill, but he hasn’t heard anything from the Blackhawks.
“We’ll see what happens,” he said. “I’m very, very happy to be here. This is the place where I really enjoy playing hockey, I’ve loved it here so far and I think I’ll like it in the future, too. If that’s not the case, I’ll go somewhere else.”
- Mark Lazerus: Patrick Sharp: “If you start worrying about it, start paying attention to the rumors, you’re going to drive yourself crazy.” … “There’s going to be talk, discussion, rumors. It’s part of the business. I think what my agent said was pretty self-explanatory.”
