On the Los Angeles Kings …
Dennis Bernstein: The LA Kings tried to trade Marian Gaborik for months, and a buyout could be painful.
On the Colorado Avalanche …
Adrian Dater of BSN Denver: Dater thinks that the Avalanche should keep Gabriel Landeskog. He’s been working hard every night since trade deadline where some are just going through the motions.
spoke with Landeskog and it sounds like he really wants to stay and help turn things around.
Adrian Dater of BSN Denver: Goaltender Calvin Pickard has a year left on his deal at a $1 million. The Avs will have to decide if they’d rather protect Pickard or Semyon Varlamov. Pickard’s play for the remainder of the season will help dictate who to protect.
Varlamov is only 28 year old and has been a Vezina finalist. He does carry a $5.9 million cap hit and is coming off major surgery.
When asked if he and Varlamov have talked about the expansion draft.
“No, no, we don’t talk about that. We honestly haven’t seen each other that much lately. He’s been doing his rehab and stuff.”
On the Dallas Stars …
Sean Shapiro of Wrong Side of the Redline: (mailbag) projecting the Stars protected list for the expansion draft.
Forwards: Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, Radek Faksa, Cody Eakin, Valeri Nichushkin, Brett Ritchie. The first six are a lock, with the last spot down to Ritchie and Antoine Roussel.
Defesense: John Klingberg, Esa Lindell and either Stephen Johns or Jamie Oleksiak.
Goaltender: Doesn’t really matter as Vegas won’t be selecting one from the Stars.
Buying out Antti Niemi would cost the Stars $1.5 million in each of the next two seasons. Buying out Kari Lehtonen would cost the Stars $2,566,667 next year and $1,666,667 the following year. If they bought out both goalies, signed a starter like Scott Darling for $4 million and added a $2 million back up (from question/scenario), it would be slightly less than the $10 million they are spending this season.
thinks the Stars would like to bring Ales Hemsky back next year, but not at $4 million – may be in the $2 million range.