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Off-Season Spending for the Maple Leafs? Stars to Re-sign or Trade Richards?Jussi Rynnas Visits Stars Today …
Mark Easson
Damien Cox of the Toronto Star: Brian Burke’s remodelling of the Toronto Maple Leafs will continue this off-season, and Cox expects them to keep spending this summer. The Leafs might have another college signing or 2, they’ve already signed 2 who are expected to play for the Marlies next year. There is interest in the Norwegian Hobbit, Mats Zuccarello-Aasen, as well as one or two other European free agents. The Leafs have around $6 million in cap space (though I think it will be less, depending on what their RFAs sign for), which could increase if Jeff Finger and his $3.5 million are shipped to the Marlies or elsewhere. The potential trading of Tomas Kaberle and his $4.25 could also create more space, or lessen it depending on what they get in return for him. UFAs they might look at are Raffi Torres, Eric Belanger, and Adam Burish.
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: The Stars Brad Richards contract expires after next season, and the Stars may be looking to lock him before the start of next season, to potentially avoid a Ilya Kovalchuk situtation. He currently has a cap hit $7.8 million, and would most likely sign for less. If some sort of agreement can’t be reached, they could look at dealing him. If they are able to re-sign Richards, they could use Mike Ribeiro and his $5 million salary as trade bait to bring in an offensive defenseman.
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Finnish free agent goalie Jussi Rynnas will be meeting with the Dallas Stars today. The 6-5 goalie posted a 14-13-1 record with a 2.50 GAA and .929 SV%.
Chuck Gormley of the Courier Post: Braydon Coburn of the Philalphia Flyers is in the finals season of his 2 year, $2.6 million deal. The Flyers offered him an extension, but he turned it down and told them he’ll wait until the summer. Coburn is a RFA.
Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: There is a good chance that both Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar will be back in the Penguins lineup Saturday afternoon versus the Thrashers.