- Ansar Khan of MLive: The Red Wings don’t really have any cap concerns for next season, but they have the option to create more space if they want. Three questions for the Red Wings.1. Will they buy out Stephen Weiss? The buy out period begins June 15th and runs through the 30th. Weiss has three years left on his deal, collecting $16 million ($6 mill, $6 mill and $4 mill). A buy out would cost the Wings $10.67 million over six years. They may try to trade him, but that may only happen if they retain some salary.
2. Will the Wings trade for Dion Phaneuf? The free agent market is thin, and the Wings aren’t one to get into a bidding war. Mike Green is a right-handed defenseman that they could be interested, but they won’t be alone. Other UFAs include Cody Franson, Paul Martin and Christian Ehrhoff. The Wings best option for a blueline upgrade may come through a trade with the Leafs. Phaneuf’s contract (six-years at $7 million) is an issue. The Leafs would have to retain some salary or take back contract(s), such as Weiss’s. The Wings could use Brendan Smith in a potential trade. Jakub Kindl is also available, but he has two years left at $2.4 million.
3. Which AHLers could make the jump next year to the Wings? Teemu Pulkkinen is out of options. Landon Ferraro could battle for a bottom-six spot. Anthony Mantha had a disappointing season and needs another year in the AHL. Alexey Marchenko and Xavier Ouellet are NHL-ready.
- Adam Vingan of the Tennessean: Pending UFA Mike Ribeiro said last week that he “would love to be back” with the Predators next year. He, along with Filip Forsberg, were the first Predators to record over 60 points in the past six seasons. The Predators sound like they’d like bring Ribeiro back next year.
“I believe he and his family are very happy here,” Poile said. “Hopefully it’s a marriage that wants to continue here in Nashville.”
- Mike Chambers of the Denver Post: Potential 2016 top draft pick, Auston Matthews, is deciding on whether to play one-year in the NCAA or playing major junior in Canada. His WHL rights are held by Everett. He’s considering University of Denver, Michigan, Boston University and Boston College, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Talk is that he’ll likely go to junior. DU and Michigan are the frontrunners if he goes to the NCAA.
