- Tracy Myers: Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman knows they have to get under the salary cap, but will let everything fall into place as training camp starts. They looked at training camp as a time when a deal could be made.
“A lot of teams have some high hopes for some of the young players, and then you get them in a game and you realize, ‘Well, they’re a young player, they’re not going to be able to do what I thought they might.’ It’s a bit of a waiting game at this point,” Bowman said. “We’ve had a lot of discussions over the last weeks or months; but until guys get on the ice there are not a lot changes from July until now. I think we’ll see that play itself out over the next couple weeks here.”
- Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune: The Blackhawks sit about $1.4 million above the salary cap, potentially more depending on who makes the team. It’s likely that they trade a defenseman, with Johnny Oduya, Nick Leddy and Michal Rozsival the leading candidates.
“We have to see how it plays out, see how guys mesh together, and that will kind of dictate it,” Bowman said. “A lot of things change in this game. We’re going to be flexible and be ready to go.”
Team needs for other teams may change during camp as things may not go as they had originally planned.
“Everyone sort of has a plan of how they want things to go,” he said. “Then a week from now, your plan might have to be changed. A lot of teams have some high hopes for some of the young players and then you get them in games and you realize, well, they’re a young player, they’re not going to be able to do what I thought they might.
- Matt Kalman: Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli wouldn’t comment on any trades, but when asked about Johnny Boychuk, “I’m not trading Johnny Boychuk.”
- Nicholas Goss: Chiarelli on trade talk: “It’s been pretty good all summer.”
- Joe Haggerty: Chiarelli on Torey Krug and Reilly Smith: “My intention is to have the players playing for the Bruins. Theyre not going anywhere.”
- Joe Haggerty: Chiarelli sees the Bruins having four forward spots open at the start of camp and is willing to start the season with eight defensemen.
- Craig Morgan: Coyotes GM Don Maloney is aware that some teams need to get under the salary cap and that some good players are available, but any trades have to be money for money.