- Andy Strickland of True Hockey: On March 1st teams will be allowed to spend up to 10% of next season’s $64.3 million salary cap ceiling. The “tagging rule” usually doesn’t come into play until after the season. This will help teams like Chicago, Rangers, Boston, Toronto, Montreal, San Jose, Philadelphia, Vancouver, and Calgary. It may help lead to some trades.Free agency this year starts on July 5th, and teams are allowed to speak with free agents “no less than five days, and no more than a week before” free agency starts.
As of now, it looks like the Capitals, Panthers, Blue Jackets and Jets are sellers.
The Blues will have some free agents to take care of. The Blues and Patrik Berglund will wait until after the season to talk extension. The same is likely for Alex Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk. Chris Stewart, Kris Russell, Andy McDonald and Matt D’Agostini also have expiring contracts.
- Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News: Sources are saying that Blues GM Doug Armstrong asked the Flyers about Daniel Briere. The Bruins are also said to have asked about his availability. The Flyers haven’t asked Briere if he’d waive his no trade clause, and it’s not known if they are interested in trading him. Briere did have this to say,
“I don’t want to comment on anything at this point,” Briere told the Daily News. “Trades are not my department. I’ve been a Flyer for a long time. My heart belongs in Philadelphia with the Flyers. I can’t see myself playing anywhere else.”
Briere carries a $6.5 million salary cap hit, but has a salary of $3 million for next year and $2 million in 2014-15.
The Flyers are interested in Kevin Shattenkirk, but it would take a lot more than Briere to get him.
- Craig Custance of ESPN: Roberto Luongo is 5-1-3 with a 2.11 GAA and .916, and has made it easy for Canucks GM Mike Gillis to hold on to him while looking for maximum return on any deal. The longer Luongo stays, the tougher it becomes for Corey Schneider. Gillis has been getting calls from teams interested in Schneider. It might be better in the short term if Schneider is moved. It’s presumed that they could get better package of players for Schneider than for Luongo. Schneider is under contract through 2014-15 at $4 million a year. If the Canucks were to move him, they would still have a world-class goalie in Luongo. The longer Luongo remains with the Canucks, the harder it becomes to move him before the summer. It may worthwhile seeing what you could get for Schneider.
