- Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: The Flyers are retaining half of Andrej Meszaros’s $4 million salary cap hit.Bruins president Cam Neely said on the radio that they had a deal for a player fall through as another trade did not happen.
A source said the deal fell through as a deal between the Canucks and Penguins did not happen. The Penguins were working on a dead for Ryan Kesler. If the Penguins-Canucks went down, the Canucks would then move to further discussions with the Bruins, presumably for defenseman Alex Edler. Edler would to have had waive his no-trade clause.
It’s likely the Canucks would have asked the Bruins for Ryan Spooner or Alexander Khokhlachev. Matt Bartkowski may have been the top defenseman candidate to be included. The trade could be revisited at the draft.
“There were a few good deals we were in. A little disappointed,” Chiarelli said on Wednesday following the deadline. “Sometimes those deals come around in the summer and in the fall. You lay some groundwork for some deals later on too. We felt we did that too. But I thought we were in on a couple deals where it would have been good acquisitions.”
- Lance Pugmire of the LA Times: Ducks GM Bob Murray was “confused” by the unwillingness of teams when trying to make a deal. They were interested in Ryan Kesler, but speculation that the Canucks didn’t really want to deal him within the Pacific Division. Murray said at some point he had both their first and second round picks on the table.They were also believed to be interested Predators David Legwand.
“Every one of those picks was put in play and I failed to get anything done,” Murray said. “But I wasn’t going to, and did not, offer any player off this roster, because I strongly believe this team is good enough.
“But you always try to make a hockey trade.”
- Tom Gulitti of the Bergon Record: Devils Martin Brodeur said he would waive his no-trade clause, but GM Lou Lamoriello could find the right spot for him.
“I’m pretty excited to be here,” Brodeur said. “I don’t have to go anywhere. It’s a certain situation that was out of my control. I want to play some games. I want to play in the playoffs. This is some of the stuff I asked Lou. We had a conversation about playing time and getting in the playoffs. So, I expect to play and I expect myself to try to be in the playoffs also and get a big run, get a big push. It’s all up to me to play well when I’m called upon.”
It never got to Brodeur being asked if he’d waive his NTC for a specific team. Brodeur denied that he gave a list of eight or nine teams that he’d waive his NTC for.
“I think the cap is always an issue,” said Brodeur, whose expiring contract carries a $4.5 million salary cap hit. “I make more money than some of the guys that moved besides maybe (Roberto) Luongo and (Ryan) Miller. The cap’s always an issue, but I don’t think it was a matter about that. It was a matter of trying to work it out and then stay here.”
Brodeur may not go to another team next year if he decides to play.
“I just want to be comfortable in what I’m doing,” he said. “I’m slowly getting comfortable with the situation we have here, but the last 19 games will tell me a lot with what I want to do for next year. But, again, I feel that I’ll have the opportunity and it’s about me to play well.”