On the Philadelphia Flyers …
Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Daily News: Defenseman Andrew MacDonald has three years left on his deal at a $5 million cap hit. The Flyers could make him expendable.
Teams are calling Vegas GM Geoge McPhee to see if they’d be interested in taking on some players with big contracts. McPhee said he consider for the right price – draft picks. The Flyers have 11 picks in the 2017 draft – two in the third round and three in the fourth.
Would the Golden Knights trade for, or select MacDonald if a couple draft picks were offered up?
The Flyers likely wouldn’t want to buyout MacDonald and have his cap hit remain on the books for six years, but Matt Read could be an option.
Read has a year left at $3.625 million. A buyout would cost them a cap hit of $1.3 million next year and $1.2 million the following year.
On the Colorado Avalanche …
(10:10 AM) Adrian Dater: Sources saying the Avs will buy out Francois Beauchemin.
Mike Chambers of the Denver Post: (mailbag) The Avalanche aren’t commenting on if they plan to buy anyone out. Buyout candidates include Joe Colborne and Blake Comeau, though doesn’t think it will happen. Buying Francois Beauchemin out doesn’t help them as he’s over 35 and would be owed all $4.5 million. thinks the Avs asked him to waive his NMC and guessing he agreed.
thinks that Matt Duchene will be traded as both sides are looking for a fresh start. The Avs need to upgrade their defense and trading Duchene could help with that. Think that half the league would be interested in Duchene. Not sure if the Islanders would be front-runners.
Unsigned Will Butcher is laying low and not saying much about his future. He’d be a UFA on August 15th if he doesn’t sign with the Avalanche.
would be surprised but not shocked if the Avs protected Semyon Varlamov.
