Nichols' Notes
/Via Ken Wiebe: "As per @TSNBobMcKenzie #NHLJets file for club-elected salary arbitration with Michael Frolik, who becomes an RFA on July 1. Not a big concern with #NHLJets filing since both the team and Michael Frolik are committed to coming to terms on a long-term deal."
Via Adrian Dater: "I'm off today, but Avs filing for arbitration with O'Reilly is not major deal. Avs say they will work toward signing him still. #precaution. That said, negotiations with ROR have never been easy and appear that way still. ROR agent says "nothing to report" on talks. It's pretty clear from my gathering that Avs think ROR is $5 million player, which is his cap hit. But he was paid $6.5 this year..."
Via Bob McKenzie: "Lots of talk within NHL circles that COL has or will file "club-elected salary arbitration" on Ryan O'Reilly. If so, it will make waves. O'Reilly is set to become a restricted free agent. If COL wants to retain his rights, they must give him qualifying offer of $6.5M. Or they could negotiate a long-term deal. Or take him to club-elected arbitration. Latter is not unprecedented but it is highly unusual. If COL did or does file for club-elected arbritation, O'Reilly could choose a one- or two-year award. Arb hearing in late July. If arbitrator awarded O'Reilly less than the $6.5M he made this past season, the question is: how do you think O'Reilly would react to it? Bottom line: club-elected arb on O'Reilly would appear to add a whole new dynamic to relationship between player and COL. #itscomplicated In any case, it will be interesting to see how COL and Ryan O'Reilly handle rather complicated/sensitive contractual situation. Stay tuned. Many NHL clubs watching this intently as Ryan O'Reilly is popular trade target, especially if teams think he may not be long-term in COL.
"COL has, in fact, elected club salary arbitration on Ryan O'Reilly. Had to be filed by 5 pm ET today. And it was. BTW, a team could still file an offer sheet on Ryan O'Reilly between July 1 and July 5. In old CBA, that wasn't possible but it was changed."
Pat Leonard with The New York Daily News chronicles the free agency roster challenges awaiting Glen Sather and notes that Marc Levine, the agent for Anton Stralman (UFA), said Saturday he and the New York Rangers had not been in contact since February.
Leonard also believes that "if the Rangers go outside their organization to make a big move, it is expected to be the courtship of Colorado Avalanche free-agent center Paul Stastny."
The Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch believes the St. Louis Blues, one of the top options to land Jason Spezza, have been speaking with the Vancouver Canucks about Ryan Kesler AND that the San Jose Sharks are listening to offers on both Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.
Juicy stuff regarding Spezza in that article, which is wrapped up in Trade Watch: Jason Spezza Edition.
With his AHL team in the midst of its series with the Texas Stars, IceCaps head coach Keith McCambridge shares his thoughts on Winnipeg Jets prospect Zach Redmond with Ken Wiebe of the The Winnipeg Sun.
“He’s been playing the best hockey that I’ve seen him play since he’s been with us in St. John’s over the three years,” said McCambridge.
Redmond is one of the Jets’ soon-to-be UFAs, but that status isn’t exactly front and centre at the moment.
“I haven’t really thought about the whole contract thing and I didn’t even realize that it’s coming up pretty quick,” said Redmond. “With every round we’ve been playing, you focus on winning.”
Plenty of info from Star Tribune writer Michael Russo's latest offering concerning the Minnesota Wild Saturday morning.
GM Chuck Fletcher contacted Clayton Stoner's (UFA) agent Thursday. Matt Moulson (UFA) is expected to become a free agent. Russo has notes on a number of other players (Dany Heatley (UFA), Mike Rupp (UFA), Nate Prosser (UFA), Cody McCormick (UFA), and Ilya Bryzgalov (UFA), along with some solid thoughts from Fletcher (including how the team could be patient into the season and even next summer on signing or trading for players), so check out the article. There's also some speculation on UFAs Thomas Vanek, Paul Stastny, Ryan Callahan and Matt Niskanen too.
Key quote: “If we can add more offensive production, it would make our life a lot easier some nights,” Fletcher said. “We have good young players both on defense and at forward, but I still think there’s room to add a player. If we can add a veteran player that can make us better, we’ll look at it.”
Fletcher also makes an important point regarding salary space now vs. the near future.
“While this year we have a lot of cap space, things could tighten up over the next two to three years,” said Fletcher, referring to the fact some youngsters could be looking at big paydays. “It’s easy this year to just go out and add a guy, but unless it’s a one-year contract, you have to be pretty mindful. If one of our young guys is going to be better than maybe we’re projecting and he’s going to fill that same role next year or in the future, then we’re just wasting money and we’re going to be short somewhere else.”
Russo also posted a secondary, more expansive blog, in which he writes "Thomas Vanek is no longer a given."
"There’s a specific price point I think the Wild’s willing to reach with Vanek. I don’t get the impression the Wild’s willing to sign him to a long-term deal anymore. Vanek will have good options in free agency, so is he really going to sign in Minnesota for two or three years?"
More detailed thoughts explained in Russo's notes along with a host of other free agency and trade-related stuff you'll want to read.
Fletcher says he's not planning on using the second compliance buyout at this point.
Joe Smith with The Tampa Bay Times reports Ryan Malone's arraignment is set for Monday, while pointing out the possibility the Lightning could use its final compliance buyout on the 34-year-old.
Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman offered this on Malone:
"Obviously, injuries he's had — some serious injuries over the past three, four years since I've been with the organization — have limited the number of games that he could play," Yzerman said. "It does take its toll on a player. We're taking everything into consideration for the offseason in improving our team, and we're looking at all different (options), whether it be the draft, free agency, trades, buyouts. We'll take it all into consideration."
A few good nuggets via The Tennessean's Josh Cooper on the Nashville Predators' beat.
On trading a draft pick:
“I’ve been approached more by the fact we have two second-round picks and moving for a first-round pick for two seconds, or trading outright a second-round pick,” GM David Poile said. “None of that’s going to happen until the draft and when we’re on the draft floor.”
On the team's RFAs:
“I don’t think there’s any real time frame with any of them,” Poile said. “I think you can make a case that it’s always better to get things done sooner than later, but we’ve been pretty busy preparing for the draft.”
On trade talk stemming from the GM meetings:
“There was a lot of planting of seeds, if you will, to clarify where you are with certain players,” Poile said. “As always, the next round of business will be at the draft.”
Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning was on Team 1040 with Sekeres and Price Friday.
On if the team will use its last compliance buyout:
"We're still deciding that right now. We're doing our pro meetings yesterday and today, so we have time to decide that. I can't give you a definite answer on that right now.
On if there are any more discussions with Ryan Kesler to be had in the new few weeks:
"I talk with his agent on a daily basis. We're trying to figure out Ryan's situation and more than that, I don't have anything else to say on that right now."
On if he might trade up from the No. 6 slot in the draft:
"I'm in constant communication with all the teams that are picking ahead of us. We'll find out what they want and if it makes sense to us to try to trade up, we'll look into something like that.
On if that only happens on draft day itself:
"I think as you get closer to the draft, those kind of things heat up. I think we're still too far away from the actual draft date for those things to start happening now, but there's conversations going on now and we'll keep the lines of communication open. As we get closer to the draft, if we can figure something out we will."
On Mike Santorelli (UFA), Zack Kassian (RFA) and Chris Tanev (RFA) and if negotiations have started on new deals:
"Yeah, we've contacted their agents and had preliminary discussions and we'll keep talking to them and working through those things. As far as Santorelli is concerned, I think coming off the injury he's feeling better. So we'll address that here going forward."
CSN's Tim Panaccio has a number of Flyers-related updates from Friday's presser with GM Ron Hextall, where it was announced Kimmo Timonen had re-signed with the team for one more year.
Hextall is hoping to have his first discussion with Don Meehan on a new contract for RFA Brayden Schenn within the next few days and reiterated Schenn is "our top priority."
UFA Ray Emery, who would be backing up Steve Mason were he re-signed, is "on hold" with Hextall for now. The gist of the situation seems to be the team needs a better idea of where they'll be with the cap before they'll commit to bringing him back.
Panaccio also had a solid rundown of where things stand between the Flyers and Vincent Lecavalier, with quote from both Hextall and agent Kent Hughes.
Hughes said he told the Flyers that Lecavalier is not asking for a trade right now. Lecavalier has a no-movement clause and can request a trade to a handful of clubs. Hughes told CSNPhilly.com he has not given the Flyers a list of teams, but one league source said the Flyers are aware of what would satisfy Lecavalier and they are looking to move him.