On the Anaheim Ducks …
- Chris Johnston: Early sense is that nobody will claim Anton Khudobin off waivers – $2.25 million is too much for added depth.
- Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapsho: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 on the how the Ducks might have to look to trade Frederik Andersen. Interview was before Khudobin was put on waivers.
“Yeah, I think at some point in time that could very well happen.
“I thought it might happen a week or two ago, and then one guy reminded me. He said, ‘You remember what you wrote about John Gibson at the beginning of the year?’ And I said, ‘No, what’s that?’ He goes, ‘He always gets hurt.’
“And that’s true. John Gibson is a guy who has had a lot of injury problems. I think that’s the one thing the Ducks look at and say, ‘We’re not 100 percent sure on Gibson because he always gets hurt.’
“And if he can put together a streak where he stays healthy, I think that makes their decision a lot easier… Because now, if they trade Andersen, and (Gibson) gets hurt, all of the sudden you’re looking at Khudobin and what? And I think deep down, Anaheim worries about that.”
On why not trade John Gibson then.
“I think they would rather keep Gibson because a) I think they might think his ceiling is better, b) he’s signed to a three-year deal that’s very reasonable. Andersen, he’s got arb rights and I think he’s a year away or two years away from unrestricted free agency.”
Most difficult to trade …
- Luke Fox of Sportsnet: Fox looks at each team’s most difficult to trade player.
- Anaheim Ducks – Ryan Kesler – signed a $41.25 million deal in the offseason that will end when he’s 37, a $6.875 million cap hit.
Arizona Coyotes – Mike Smith -$5.667 million cap hit through 2019.
Boston Bruins – Zdeno Chara – no-movement clause and a cap hit of over $7 million for two more years.
Buffalo Sabres – Brian Gionta – two years left at $4.25 million.
Calgary Flames – Ladislav Smid – $3.5 million cap hit through next season.
Carolina Hurricanes – Cam Ward – pending UFA with a $6.3 million cap hit.
Chicago Blackhawks – Bryan Bickell – $4 million through 2016-17.
Colorado Avalanche – Semyon Varlamov – $5.9 million until 2019.
Columbus Blue Jackets – David Clarkson – $5.25 million through 2020.
Dallas Stars – Kari Lehtonen – 32-years old and a cap hit of $5.9 million through 2017-18.
Detroit Red Wings – Jimmy Howard – $5.3 million through 2018-19.
Edmonton Oilers – Andrew Ference – $3.25 million through 2016-17.
Dave Bolland – Dave Bolland – $5.5 million for three more years.
Los Angeles Kings – Dustin Brown – $5.875 million for four more years.
Minnesota Wild – Jason Pomenville – the 33-year old has a no-movement clause through 2019. ($5.5 million cap hit)
Montreal Canadiens – Tomas Plekanec – $6 million cap hit though 2017-18.
Nashville Predators – Shea Weber – $7.857 million cap hit through 2026. He makes $14 million this year, and $12 the next two.
New Jersey Devils – Travis Zajac – $5.75 million cap hit through 2021 with a no-trade clause.
New York Islanders – Mikhail Grabovski – $6 million through 2016-17 with a no-trade clause.
New York Rangers – Dan Boyle – a healthy scratch and a no-movement clause.
Ottawa Senators – Chris Phillips – injury may force retirement. Pending UFA with a $2.5 million cap hit.
Philadelphia Flyers – Vincent Lecavalier – they have been trying to trade him for a while. Signed a five-year, $22.5 million contract when he was 33.
Pittsburgh Penguins – Kris Letang – signed an eight-year, $58 million in 2013 and has a 12-team no-trade list.
San Jose Sharks – Joe Thornton – $6.6 million through 206-17 with a no-movement clause.
St. Louis Blues – Paul Stastny – two more years at $7 million with a no-trade clause.
Tampa Bay Lightning – Matt Carle – $5.5 million through 2017-18.
Toronto Maple Leafs – Dion Phaneuf – $7 million through 2021.
Vancouver Canucks – Henrik and Daniel Sedin – $7 million for the next three years with a full no-movement clause.
Washington Capitals – Brooks Orpik – signed a $27.5 million deal that will end when he’s 38-years old.
Winnipeg Jets – Ondrej Pavelec – a $3.9 million cap hit through 2016-17, with a rising salary to $4.75 million in his last year.