- Ansar Khan of MLive: (mailbag) The Red Wings have $6 million in cap space and need to re-sign RFAs Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Jurco, Teemu Pulkkinen and Landon Ferraro.They are probably finished with free agent market.
If they look to make a trade, it may not be to free up a roster spot. They have the waiver flexibility with Alexey Marchenko and Xavier Ouellet on the blueline. They have 15 forwards, one more than they intend to carry, but that includes Johan Franzen and Pavel Datsyuk. Franzen’s status is uncertain and Datsyuk may not be ready to start the season.
Khan doesn’t think they look to do a player-for-player trade.
The latest update on Franzen from Holland, he said that they expect him to be ready for training camp. He’s been doing some off-ice workouts and is progressing.
- James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail: The Leafs have about $10.5 million in cap space, with RFAs Jonathan Bernier and Nazem Kadri left to sign.Mirtle doesn’t think the Leafs will trade Dion Phaneuf, though it is possible. Teams have asked in the past couple weeks, and haven’t been told no, but the Leafs were asking for a return that includes a good young prospect and retaining no salary.
Both Tyler Bozak and Joffrey Lupul want to stay. The Leafs did get some interest in Bozak, and did receive some offers. The Coyotes may have been the best fit before they signed Antoine Vermette.
One neutral source said he surprised the Leafs didn’t accept one of the offers they received for Bozak.
The Leafs will have a harder time trading Lupul due to his contract and injury history. The Leafs would likely have to retain salary or take back another bad contract. It would be okay if they took back a contract that has two years or less. They may have to wait until the trade deadline.
The Leafs could look to take a capped out teams player and an asset.