- Chuck Gormley of CSN Washington: GM Brian McLellan still thinks the trade route will be a better way to improve the Capitals than through free agency.
“I anticipate not being active right off the hop,” MacLellan told reporters when asked about his plans for Wednesday’s start of free agency. “I don’t know if we have the money to be able to do that.
“If you’re evaluating both markets the trade is the way to go for improving your club.”
The Caps have made RFA goalie Braden Holtby a big offer.
“We made Holtby a good offer,” MacLellan said, declining to disclose the term or value. “I think it’s competitive and I think it’s a fair offer and I think we’ll get something done.”
After they sign their free agents, they could have around $5 or $6 million to spend on a top-line right winger and a depth defenseman. The Capitals could look to move Brooks Laich, Troy Brouwer or Jason Chimera to free up more cap space.
Patrick Sharp is one winger they could look at acquiring, but he has two-years left at a $5.9 million cap hit.
Other options could be Radim Vrbata (one-year left at $5 million) or T.J. Oshie (two-years at $4.175 million). The best bargain could be Kyle Okposo, but Islanders GM Garth Snow said he doesn’t plan on trading him.
“There were a couple opportunities that were discussed and might still be ongoing,” MacLellan said. “Well see what happens over the next few days and weeks. A lot of talk happened in general over the past week. Some things happened and some things didn’t and some things are still ongoing. I think now it turns into players, but it might be picks involved in next year’s draft, too.
- Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star: The Leafs traded down twice on Friday to collect some extra picks. McGran notes:
Why? Sure, they wanted more picks. But the players they had listed high hadn’t been taken by others. Hunter had Bracco, an American forward, listed as the 22nd best prospect in the draft. And the Leafs had the 24th pick. But they traded for two lower picks and still managed to get Bracco at 61.
President Brendan Shanahan on Jeremy Bracco and smaller players.
“We had guys we rated higher who were still available and they were probably available because they were undersized,” said team president Brendan Shanahan. “We’re not asking them to play in the NHL next year or the year after that. Some of them will grow, some of them won’t. Some of them will find a way. It’s skill that wins.”