- USA Today: Gary Bettman said that he expects the salary cap to be around $71 million next season, depending on the fluctuations of the Canadian dollar.
- Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun: Mike Babcock said yesterday that he was on board with the Red Wings trading for Dion Phaneuf. Does this now mean that Phaneuf could remain with the Leafs?
- Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: Dion Phaneuf said yesterday that he is ready for Babcock, and a few Leafs that he spoke to are excited too.
“Yeah, I’m in,” the Toronto Maple Leafs captain said by telephone. “I signed here for seven years for a reason. To be part of it. I’m fully prepared to go through the process.”
“I’m excited. And the guys are excited, too. It’s big for our fans and our organization,” said Phaneuf, adding he’d spoken to a few of them. “There was a lot of interest in where he was going to go, and rightfully so. You want to play for a coach of his calibre.”
David Pollak: Reports are that Todd McLellan got a five year, $15 million deal from the Oilers.
- Jonathan Willis of the Edmonton Journal: The Oilers will have to give up draft pick compensation for the hiring’s of GM Peter Chiarelli and head coach Todd McLellan. The Oilers owe the Bruins a second round pick in the next three years, and will likely have to give up a third round pick to the Sharks according to a Pierre LeBrun report. It make sense that teams may have to give up their own pick instead of an acquired pick – teams could then trade down as low as possible and then pass on the pick.
- Kevin Kurz: Timeline for the Sharks to hire a new coach may have moved up. Guessing will happen before the draft. Candidates like Trent Yawney are still coaching.
- Larry Figurski: Jeff Blashill at practice the other day: “Yes, I would like to be the next head coach of the Detroit Red Wings.”
- Scott Burnside of ESPN: Back in 2003, the Ducks were going to trade Corey Perry and a first round pick to the Oilers for disgruntled Mike Comrie. Oilers GM Kevin Lowe then insisted that Comrie pay $2.5 million out of his own pocket to the Oilers to make the deal happen. Comrie obviously said no. Perry on the trade that didn’t go down.
I was almost in Edmonton. I remember that I was traded to Edmonton but then the whole Mike Comrie thing, Kevin Lowe thing went through and then I was back to the Anaheim Ducks. You always think about what could have happened if I did get traded, where my career would be right now, where I would and what would be going on. It’s fun to talk about but I’m glad I’m here.
