On the Detroit Red Wings …
- Ansar Khan of MLive: (mailbag) Petr Mrazek is the Red Wings No. 1 goalie now and in the future, and he’s going to need a raise. The Wings can’t have a $5.3 million cap hit as a backup next season, and Jimmy Howard probably doesn’t want to be a backup either.It’s not going to be easy to trade Howard who has three years left and $16 million owing. The Red Wings will likely have to retain some salary or at least take on a bad contract. The contract would have to be less than Howard’s $5.3 million. The Flames, Sabres and Jets might be on the short list of teams that would be interested in Howard.
The Red Wings could use another big bodied, physical forward. Due to their cap situation, they will likely have to go with what they have though.
On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
- Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star: The trade deadline is three weeks away, and Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello has been talking to teams and letting them know the costs for some Leafs that are available.
“You never know,” Lamoriello said. “In your mind you have something you’d like to see transpire. Then you just have to see where it goes from there. If there was anything imminent, it would be done. That’s the best way to approach it. It’s no different for anybody. It just depends on the guys somebody is looking for.”
Available players could include James Reimer, Roman Polak, P.A. Parenteau, Shawn Matthias, Michael Grabner, Brad Boyes and Nick Spaling.
The Leafs are two contracts under the 50 limit and are able to take on some salary. So, they can take on a bad contract if it comes with a pick or prospect.
“The whole key is how do you get better,” Lamoriello said. “How quick do you get better? Things evolve, and that usually makes decisions for you. It depends on what can or cannot happen. Then you have to make a judgment call whether that’s the right decision for what you have to do.”
