Will the Sabres use their second buyout window?
Lance Lysowski: The Buffalo Sabres now have another buyout window that will be opening up. GM Jason Botterill usually doesn’t like to go that route, but thinks that forward Vladimir Sobotka could be a candidate this time around.
Boeser looking for $7 million a season?
TSN Radio Vancouver: Ben Kuzma said on TSN 1040 that Vancouver Canucks restricted free agent forward Brock Boeser is looking for $7 million a season.
- J.D. Burke: There are some who say the Canucks should be jumping all over this.”I get the impulse, but I’m not sure I’d fault the Canucks for trying to save every dollar possible. Especially considering their cap crunch.That said, it’s not often if ever that a team finds themselves in trouble paying star players a fair price, and Brock Boeser is absolutely a star.The problem is, they have to fight like hell here because of some, uh, less good contracts they didn’t fight hard enough on.”
The Blackhawks and Perlini not far apart
Scott Powers of The Athletic: The Chicago Blackhawks still need to reach a deal with 23-year old restricted free agent Brendan Perlini.
The Blackhawks currently have between $1.5 and $2.5 million salary cap space depending on how they fill out their roster. They would like to have a bit of in-season cap flexibility.
A source is saying that the Blackhawks are offering Perlini around $1 million. Perlini’s camp is believed to be looking for something closer to $1.5 million. Perlini’s career numbers do put him closer the $1.5 million than the Blackhawks offer.
GM Stan Bowman wouldn’t comment last week and Perlini’s agent Darren Ferris would only say that talks are ongoing.
“To be honest, I don’t really have too much to say about all that,” Perlini said. “You’re better off talking to my agent or Stan. It’s a process and all that stuff. Yeah, you guys probably know more than me honestly.
“I’m definitely not sitting by the phone every minute, ‘What’s going on? What’s going on?’ Like you’re going to drive yourself nuts. For me, I prepare and train and improve and get better every day to expect like I’m playing and everything. I fully prepare the same way and whatnot. It’s obviously my first experience going through this. It’s cool to learn some new stuff going through this. It’s pretty good so far.”