On the Colorado Avalanche and Tyson Barrie …
Mike Chamber of the Denver Post: Colorado Avalanche GM Joe Sakic shot down speculation from Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger that RFA Tyson Barrie could be traded.
Sakic said that he is schedule to meet with Barrie’s agent at the draft. Sakic hopes to work on a long-term deal.
“I’d like to do a long-term deal with Tyson. If that doesn’t work out, it’s expected he’ll go to arbitration,” Sakic said. “Either way, he’ll be here.”
Sakic also has to re-sign RFA Nathan MacKinnon and he isn’t sure if it will be a long-term or a bridge deal.
“Whatever the two parties decide,” Sakic said. “We had initial talks. Not much lately but I’m sure it’s going to heat up in the summer and I’m sure we’ll have it done by training camp.”
Sakic thinks they will most likely remain at No. 10, and will take the best player available on their board.
Calvin Pickard will get a new contract. Andreas Martinsen, Duncan Siemens, and Brandon Gormley will get qualifying offers.
Shawn Matthias and Mikkel Boedker will test the open market, but the Avs are still interested. Sakic has spoken with their agents and would like to bring at least one back.
On the Philadelphia Flyers …
Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post: The Philadelphia Flyers will be buying out R.J. Umberger.
“You don’t want to make rash decisions at the end of the season but that’s the way we were leaning,” Hextall said. “We need the space and I think it is probably better for R.J and for us.”
Umberger had one year left on his deal, but will now carry a $1.6 million cap hit next year, $1.5 million in 2017-18. The move will save them $3 million next year.
“There were two parts to the trade essentially,” Hextall explained. “The one was the space. I felt like two or three years from then it was going to be good for us, and I feel the same way now. Hartsy’s been a good player in Columbus and R.J. didn’t play as well as we hoped and certainly didn’t play as well as he hoped. There were some health issues there as well, so in terms of the deal right now I feel like it’s a benefit for us. We need space, we’ve got guys that are coming up like (Shayne Gostisbehere) and (Brayden) Schenn and (Radko) Gudas. We need space.”
If Vincent Lecavalier doesn’t retire by July 1st, the Flyers will be responsible for half of his $500,000 bonus.
Flyers GM Ron Hextall has made an offer to Ryan White and is awaiting a response.
Contract talks with RFA Radko Gudas are not going well.
They continue to work on a Brayden Schenn contract.