Darren Dreger of TSN thru Twitter: Carolina Hurricanes that are available: Ray Whitney, Matt Cullen, Scott Walker, Stephan Yelle, Andrew Alberts, Nic Wallin, Aaron Ward, and Manny Legace. The Canes’ have already asked Whitney and Wallin to waive their no-trade clauses.
Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: Rumors out Boston are that Dennis Wideman could be on the trade block. A Wideman, Wheeler, and Leafs 1st round pick for Kovalchuk?
David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail: The Toronto Maple Leafs line of Matt Stajan, Alexei Ponikarovsky and Niklas Hagman have played well of late, which in turn is increasing their potential trade value. Stajan and Ponikarovsky are UFAs and could net the Leafs at least a 2nd round pick. Though at the moment, the phone isn’t really ringing for any of them, GMs are asking about Kaberle. Burke is still saying he won’t ask Kaberle to waive his no-trade clause, nor is he shopping him around.
Kevin Allen of the USA Today: Predators Dman Dan Hamhuis is an UFA this summer, and with the lower level team salary cap the Preds imply, they might not be able to afford him. He’s making $2.5 this season and should be looking in the $4 million range.
Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune: Petr Sykora and Robbie Earl passed through waivers yesterday. The Wild will continue to try and trade Sykora, or may put him through waivers again in hope that someone claims him on re-entry waivers, taking on half his salary.
Tim Sassone of the Daily Herald: Huet is still the number one goalie Chicago, but Antti Niemi is closing the gap. Though they probably won’t admit it in public, but this may add another problem for them. Niemi is a RFA after the season, and the better he plays, the more money he’ll want.
Damien Cox of the Toronto Star: Nikolai Kulemin of the Leafs has been playing better of late and will be looking for a raise on his $850,000 salary. Cox thinks that if the Leafs don’t offer him enough, he could bolt to the KHL. I don’t think the Leafs will have too much to worry about, as I don’t think 18 points in 40-something games is going to command a $4 million deal.
