What will be the return if he stays around next season. This doesn't look as ugly as the Heatley situation, but the only hope there is that it's a contract year for him. He will definitely walk as a UFA, after next year so everything you get back for him is concentrated in points in the next season. Is that something you want? I think this rebuild isn't complete yet, so it would be nice to get some value beyond next season. Also, with the strong draft next year, we should tank a little in order to stock our 'prospect cupboard', as we don't have much talent left in the farm system. Spezza's points won't help you in that regard either. I don't think it will turn ugly if he's still around, but it will definitely be weird.
You CAN keep him, unless he's traded on tuesday. At trade deadline, could get good value and easier to move as he would be going to a good playoff team, and I don't think a list of teams would matter as much to him as it's only a couple months, and if Ottawa is out of it, trading within the division wouldn't really matter. It would be a hell year too. Most return is probably at deadline based on how this has been handled.
Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie 18m
BUF has initiated compliance buyout procedures on Christian Ehrhoff. Not official just yet but BUF has begun the process.
What will be the return if he stays around next season. This doesn't look as ugly as the Heatley situation, but the only hope there is that it's a contract year for him. He will definitely walk as a UFA, after next year so everything you get back for him is concentrated in points in the next season. Is that something you want? I think this rebuild isn't complete yet, so it would be nice to get some value beyond next season. Also, with the strong draft next year, we should tank a little in order to stock our 'prospect cupboard', as we don't have much talent left in the farm system. Spezza's points won't help you in that regard either.
I don't think it will turn ugly if he's still around, but it will definitely be weird.
Vancouver got zilch for Kesler IMO, The Ducks have like 7 top end prospects and the Canucks didn't get a one of them. Plus they couldn't even get the 10th pick out of them. No wonder Murray isn't getting offers he can live with if this is the drek u get back for a top Centre, Bonino is a 4th line C and Sbisa is a failed 1st rounder. Good luck at #24 and the Canucks threw in a 3rd rounder in next years draft which is much better. Gillis' ghost still survives in Vancouver.
GMBM now may have to hold on to Spezza if this is all you can get in return
PHI: Lecavalier's agent has been given permission to talk to teams about possible trades. Nope, I didn't see this coming when he was signed last year. Not at all. (/sarcasm) He's got 3 years left on the deal, and VL gets $2M in signing bonus on July 1st, so this isn't going to be an easy trade to negotiate even with PHI retaining salary.
FLA: pending UFA D Matt Gilroy signs with Atlant Mytishchi of the KHL.
I think Nikitin making $4.5M is Edmonton trying to get to the salary floor, as well as overpaying players to go to that city.
.....and yes, I was talking about D only. Forwards are a different kettle of fish, as are goalies. As much as I want to see the Spezza situation settled one way or the other, I'm even more eager/concerned to see RFAs signed and next-year UFAs extended. And soon.
I don't really have a problem with inflation kicking in, as long as the revenues are there and the owners and league aren't whining about losing money every year. Oh....
The Karlsson deal was a steal looking back and Ottawa was lucky to have signed him previous to the period where offer sheets were available. That was the same summer that Philly screwed Nashville with Weber.
For no one making more than EK, I'm assuming that Kards is talking the D men. That would be fair, but I would see Methot asking for 4 years at 5.5M per, and that would probably make sense, again considering inflation. EK's next contract will probably be something like $10M per year for 8 years. If you tell forwards that they can't make more than $6M, you'd better trade Ryan now, and any free (good) agent would look elsewhere.
I can see Methot making $4.5M on a longer-than-two-year contract, but more than that and I start to get iffy. EK65 is making $6M, so nobody should be making more than that or even particularly close to it unless they are making that kind of contribution to the team (in terms of minutes and offensive production). Defensive defencemen do not make the same money as the offensive ones, and never have.
