Nichols' Notes

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Related: Nichols' Notes (June 29)

Related: Trade Watch: Jason Spezza Edition

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Interesting read from The Globe and Mail's James Mirtle on how the NHL's salary cap for 2014-15 came to settle in at $69 million, and why, as things stand now, the 2015-16 salary cap should 'easily exceed' $74 million.

A shocked Josh Gorges spoke with The Gazette's Dave Stubbs Monday about the Montreal Canadiens wanting to trade him.

Pierre LeBrun's Rumblings. Loaded. Martin Brodeur. Steve Yzerman. Tampa Bay Lightning. Matt Niskanen. Brad Richards. Paul Stastny. Colorado Avalanche. St. Louis Blues. Jason Spezza. Thomas Vanek. Minnesota Wild. Jussi Jokinen. Pittsburgh Penguins. Leo Komarov. Martin Havlat. Dave Bolland. Toronto Maple Leafs. Radim Vrbata. Phoenix Coyotes.

After recently signing Nikita Nikitin to a two-year deal, The Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson indicates Oilers GM Craig MacTavish is willing to go longer term on July 1.

“We’re looking for players in their 20s who can grow through the process and be with us when we turn the corner and start winning.”

MacTavish noted “We’ve got some room but it adds up quickly; but it’s a reflection of performance. You don’t want to be in the bottom five to 10 teams and paying to the cap. We’re not constrained by budget other than getting good value. It’s dollars per point for me. We’d rather pick up a guy and not give up an asset. Like I said, we’re not giving up the core guys, but we need better support around them.”

Elliotte Friedman was on Sportsnet 590 Monday morning. He says the Ottawa Senators "are simply covering themselves" by publicizing the Jason Spezza trade talk, including the Nashville Predators' offer. It's just PR. Quite a bit of discussion on no-trade clauses. Ryan Kesler vs. Jim Benning. "Sometimes we hold people to different standards than we hold ourselves." Toronto Maple Leafs, Josh Gorges link. "I wonder if it's for cap reasons." Leafs have made "a couple of pitches for him" from the Montreal Canadiens in the past few years. "I'm still not 100 percent convinced it's Nazem Kadri going in this deal."

This is what Ryan Johansen’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, had to say to Dispatch writer Aaron Portzline on contract negotiations with the Jackets over the weekend regarding the RFA.

“We’re not even close,” Johansen told The Dispatch. “They say ‘We want to sign you to a ‘bridge’ deal.’ We say ‘We don’t want to do a ‘bridge,’ and that’s the end of it.”

This is what Johansen himself offered: “I’ve earned more than a two- or three-year deal with my play. It seems a little disrespectful, to be honest.

“I want to play in Columbus, and I want to be a Blue Jacket, but I want to get this done. It seems like a slap in the face.”

Ruh-roh.

Via Star Tribune's Michael Russo, Minnesota Wild coach Mike Yeo met with Thomas Vanek Sunday night to talk about the winger's potential role, were he to sign with the team. The Wild is also believed to have 'significant interest' in Jarome Iginla.