- Greg Wyshynski via twitter: Capitals GM George McPhee said that trade activity could be heavy before the season starts. He was already getting calls. Clarifying, that he was referring to trade activity in the NHL and not necessarily for the Capitals.
- Craig Custance of ESPN: The shortened schedule and the drop in salary cap for next season could mean an active trade market at the deadline. There should be enough separation in the standings to determine if teams will be sellers or buyers.
“As long as a guy’s contract is up this year, you can take on salary galore,” said one general manager, adding the one important caveat: “If you want to give the assets away.”
Former GM Neal Smith:
“You don’t want to make the mistake of giving away a guy who will be around for four or five years haunting you, particularly a younger guy,” Smith said. “A smart GM would be very, very careful at the deadline this year unless he can find a deal out there where he can catch a guy napping.”
A team could take on a bad contract at the trade deadline, and then buy him out after the season.
“You could, but you won’t have a very happy owner if you do that,” Smith said. “You took a buyout from somebody else.”
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Brian Burke pushed the idea of retaining salary in trades for years. Teams will now be able to do this.
A club cannot absorb more than 50 percent of the players’ annual cap hit/salary in any trade. Any NHL club can only have up to three contracts on their payroll in which the contract was traded away under the retaining salary proviso. Also, only up to 15 percent of your upper limit cap amount can be used up by the money you have retained in trades.
An example of how this works: The Maple Leafs want to trade Mike Komisarek who has a $4.5 million salary cap hit and $3.5 million salary. The Maple Leafs could retain half the cap hit and salary, so $2.25 million and $1.75 million. The trading team would take on the other half. This should result in more trades taking place.
- James Cybulski via twitter: Cybulski was told that the Maple Leafs have said no thanks to Kings Jonathan Bernier.
- The Fourth Period: It’s thought that the Kings will look again at trade options for Jonathan Bernier. The Kings talked with Maple Leafs, but they said no thanks according to Cybulski. The Devils could be a team interested as Brodeur is on his last contract. Bernier would be able to learn from one of the best goalies of all-time. Miikka Kiprusoff has one year left on his deal in Calgary. The Red Wings will look at signing Jimmy Howard to a contract extension, but if they are unable to get him looked up, GM Ken Holland may have to look elsewhere. The Oilers have said they are going with Devan Dubnyk, but if that doesn’t work out as planned, they may look elsewhere.
- Harvey Fialkov via twitter: Panthers Jose Theodore is not fazed by the Roberto Luongo to Florida rumors. Theodore said that Tomas Vokoun would also still want to play from the Panthers.
- Wayne Scanlan of the Ottawa Citizen: With Senators defenseman Jared Cowen out for the year, and Mike Lundin out for 3 or 4 weeks, GM Bryan Murray might look at a trade or free agent to fill the hole.
“I’m not sure,” Murray said in an interview with the Citizen. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to, but from the looks of it, with Lundin out for a bit of time, too, we probably will have to do something.”
Murray has already received calls from free agents, and has talked with a few teams about a trade.
- Harvey Fialkov via twitter: The Panthers could re-sign Marco Sturm, and at least 2 camp invitees could make the team. Mike Santorelli could be in trouble.
- Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said that Tyler Kennedy, Tanner Glass and Matt Cooke could play with Evgeni Malkin and James Neal. Chris Kunitz played with Malkin and Neal last season, but he’ll be along side Sidney Crosby and Pascal Dupuis. GM Ray Shero could make a move for a winger for the line. Prospect Beau Bennett could make the team and fill that slot.
- Randy Sportak via twitter: Flames captain Jarome Iginla will be a free agent at the end of they year and will be questioned about his plans all year.
“I didn’t expect that question so early. Yeah, it’s right back at it,” Iginla said Monday after skating with a whack of teammates and fellow pros at WinSport.
“I’m really just excited to get playing again and have that opportunity to play in the NHL and compete here in Calgary.
“It would be my preference to stay here, for sure, and play on a good team, which I believe we will be, and to win here. It is home.
“That’s where my focus is, to get ready and have a great season as a team and play well for this team.”
There was no talks between Iginla, his agents Don Meehan and Jay Feester over the summer, and they weren’t allowed to talk during the lockout.
“I’ll be honest, I haven’t thought about those different scenarios. Right now, it’s really just getting ready for training camp,” he said. “Once the season comes, I’d like the focus to definitely be just on winning games. I don’t know with Don Meehan, when he and Jay are going to talk.