- Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: If the Wild buyout Niklas Backstrom, they’ll have about $11 million in cap space with only 15 players under contract, which doesn’t include Devan Dubnyk. The Wild have some veterans that have contracts that they may not be able to move. They have some young players that they are reluctant to trade.It’s likely that the Wild would look at acquiring a young player via trade this offseason. Two that could be on the trade block are Nail Yakupov and Nazem Kadri.
GM Chuck Fletcher could look at trading RFA defenseman Jared Spurgeon. Fletcher could also look at moving Darcy Kuemper, who at $1.5 million could have good trade value. Big contracts that the Wild have that may not be movable include Mikko Koivu (three-years left at a $6.75 million cap hit – and a no-clause), Jason Pominville (four-years left at $5.6 million per) and Thomas Vanek (two-years left at $6.5 million per).
- Tim Riday of CSN Philly: (mailbag – Who can the Flyers target for their first line, left winger?) Flyers GM Ron Hextall has already made it known that he’d like to bring in a skilled winger. The Flyers may not have many options when looking at trades or free agency.Free agent left wingers include: Erik Cole, Scottie Upshall, Curtis Glencross, Sean Bergenheim and Matt Beleskey. Free agent right wingers include: Martin St. Louis, Michael Ryder, Joel Ward, Justin Williams and Drew Stafford. St. Louis, Ward and Williams are interesting, but they all play on the right side.
Salary would also be an issue. Hextall needs to move some salary to free up cap space – any of Vinny Lecavalier, R.J. Umberger, Andrew MacDonald, Nicklas Grossmann and Luke Schenn. None of those players would bring in a skilled winger. They would need to package young player(s)/draft picks and one or two of those veterans. The Flyers might have to just go with Michale Raffl on the first line.
- Tim Riday of CSN Philly: (mailbag – who could be interested in trading for Nicklas Grossmann, Luke Schenn and possibly Andrew MacDonald) MacDonald’s $5 million salary will be extremely difficult to trade.Both Schenn ($3.6 million) and Grossmann’s ($3.5 million) contracts expires at the end of next season. Both are physical and block shots, but they are not that mobile and don’t move the puck that well.
Teams that might be looking for a defenseman include the Coyotes, Sabres, Avalanche, Blue Jackets and Stars. The Coyotes and Sabres may need some contracts to get to the salary floor. The Avs, Blue Jackets and Stars need some veteran leadership on the blueline.
Hextall has said he wants to add a skilled winger and a defensman, but doesn’t want to mortgage their future.