- Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune: Blackhawks Bryan Bickell on how he avoids the trade rumors.
“I do a lot of fishing and I don’t watch TV, I don’t listen to the radio and I don’t look at my phone,” the Blackhawks winger said Friday during the first day of the Blackhawks Convention at the Hilton Chicago. “That’s the easiest way to not really listen.”
Bickell’s $4 million cap hit would definitely help the Blawkhawks cap situation and create some space to re-sign RFA Marcus Kruger.
“It’s a business thing where upstairs is going to make the moves to help out the team,” Bickell said. “I hope it’s not me. I love this city, I love winning, really. It’s a great feeling and I want to be here for my career.”
Kris Versteeg’s name is also out there – he carries a $2.2 million salary cap hit.
“I understand it’s a possibility,” Versteeg said.
“I have a Cup party to do, I have to train (and) I have a kid to take care of,” he said. “Right now, trade rumors are definitely in the back seat of everything.”
The Blackhawks were hit with $750,000 worth of bonuses overages for last season, which makes their salary cap ceiling at $70.65 million instead of $71.4 million.
GM Stan Bowman on Marcus Kruger’s contract situation: “we’re still talking and trying to get everything worked out.”
Bowman continues to work on other potential deals: “We have a few things that we’re contemplating.”
- Roger Millions: Flames GM Brad Treliving on Sean Burke: “Close friends, and Sean looking to get into some Mgmt position. Unclear if there is a fit here”
- Jonathan Willis of the Edmonton Journal: Willis thinks the Oilers should use their second buyout option to create some cap space to sign a free agent defenseman that can significantly improve the team. Willis suggests Cody Franson, who you may now get less than $5 million a year on a shorter term deal. A three-year deal would be ideal for the Oilers. Andrew Ference and Nikita Nikitin are buyout candidates.