- Randy Miller of NJ.com: As of now, it doesn’t appear that Flyers will have a lot of cap space to add any bigger named free agent next offseason. With recent reports on what the slumping Canadian dollar may due to the salary cap, the Flyers may have to look at cheaper options to fill holes unless they can dump some salary via a trade or buyout. If the cap remains around $69 million, they will be tight.They currently have 17 players under contract for next season at a cap hit of $66.3 million, a number which includes Chris Pronger. Once Pronger is put on the LTIR, it would leave them with about $7.6 million for three or four forwards, two or three defensemen and a backup goalie.
They could look to trade Luke Schenn and his $3.6 million cap hit for a draft pick. They could buyout R.J. Umberger’s $4.5 million cap hit (through 2016-17) or Vinny Lecavalier’s $4.5 million cap hit through 2017-18. There are no more compliance buyouts, so they would still have to carry a cap hit of around $$2.388 million.
- Patrick Greissing of the Fourth Period: Capitals Joel Ward is in the last year of his deal, and according to his agent Peter Cooney, the Capitals haven’t reached out to him regarding a contract extension. When asked if the soon to be 34-year old will be looking for a multi-year deal, Cooney said they would be.
- Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: The NHL is intrigued at the thought of a NHL team in Las Vegas. Bill Daly was in Vegas for other business, but he did meet with a potential ownership group. He also toured the site where the 20,000 seat arena is being built by MGM Resorts. MGM as also had talks with potential owners. Some reports suggest expansion fees could run between $500 million and a $1 billion dollars. Other markets that are interested in a team are: Quebec City, a second Toronto team, Seattle and Kansas City. Daly on if a pro team could survive in Vegas.
“I got a variety of different responses,” Daly said. “The demographics of the market are pretty good in terms of average annual income. Las Vegas natives earn good salaries, good livings. I think they genuinely like sports. It’s a nighttime city, so it would have to be uniquely scheduled in terms of focusing maybe on industry nights as opposed to your typical Thursday-Saturday nights where everybody would be working.
“Clearly we think for a Las Vegas market to support a professional sports franchise, you need the support of locals.”
On relocation speculation with declining attendance numbers in Florida.
“The franchise isn’t going anywhere,” Daly said. “It has a long-term lease and owners who are committed to the market. South Florida is a tough sports market. That’s always going to be the case, but a hockey team can be successful there, I really believe that.”
