NHL Draft And Free Agency Discussion Thread[2012 NHL Draft First Round Results]] ]

[Swinny]

Gardiner? Yeah. Fuck that.

No way they don't pick Nail though if they really do hold onto it.

[The Mac]

first i heard of gardnier its always been schenn or franson

[Swinny]

I'd rather give up Schenn than Gardiner, honestly.

[The Mac]

well ya thats a epic trade for both teams

[JJ Smooth]

Interested to see what the hometown team does with their 1st Rd pick as they host the draft...

I'm assuming they go Wing/Forward....but they've fooled me before...

[The Mac]

ya cant see them picking a goalie based on who is available when they draft

[JJ Smooth]

Yeah and they have decent depth on defense (although they sure didn't show that against Philly ) and with Despres coming up full time next yr, no need to really go after D much either...

BTW- LOVED the acquisition of Tomas, he gives MAF a chance to really be able to rest and not play 65+ gms and exhaust him leading into Playoffs. In Ray Shero I trust.

[The Mac]

ya that was a huge trade for pitts as tomas is a good starter let alone a back up who can steal a few pens r scary in net

[The Mac]

Puck Daddy's Dmitry Chesnokov relays that the always outspoken Yuri Nikolaev, Alexander Radulov's Russian agent, implied in an interview to Russian newspaper Izvestiya that Radulov is going to play in the KHL next season.

"Alexander no longer has thoughts, watching the sea, whether he should go to the NHL or play in the KHL," Nikolaev told Izvestiya.

"We are negotiating with CSKA about a personal contract. However we are not in CSKA yet; there are matters we have to discuss with the club's general managers."

According to the publication and Nikolaev, the real threat of a lockout in the NHL was one of the most important factors in Radulov's decision to seek a contract with CSKA. His rights were traded there within the past week.

Radulov still has a year left on his KHL contract. CSKA, however, together with the club's new owners, Russian oil giant Rosneft, want Radulov to commit longer than just one season and are reportedly looking to sign him to a 2-3 year extension.

SPORTSNET

[The Mac]

SATHER ENGAGED IN HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT OF NASH

The New York Post writes that for the second time in four months, sources have confirmed the Rangers are engaged in a high-speed pursuit of Rick Nash.

Just as was the case during the chase leading up to the Feb. 27 trade deadline, general manager Glen Sather remains unconcerned about the cap implications of the Columbus winger’s contract that runs through 2017-18 at an annual $7.8 million charge that is exceeded in the NHL by only Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby and Eric Staal.

Rather, the GM is more apprehensive about the Rangers’ lack of offense during the playoffs, in which the team was limited by Ottawa, Washington and New Jersey netminders to two goals or fewer in 15 of 20 games and could score as many as four only once, that in the opening game of the first round.

The question now, as it was in late February — when Columbus GM Scott Howson got greedy and demanded a combination of players including Chris Kreider; Derek Stepan or Carl Hagelin; Ryan McDonagh or Michael Del Zotto; plus Brandon Dubinsky and a first-rounder — is what the Jackets will be willing to accept and how much Sather will be willing to yield in return for the 28-year-old winger, whose numbers on the ice have never quite matched the hype attached to him.

The question within that question is how much Nash, whose average season yields 35 goals and 31 assists, has been weighed down trying to carry an inferior franchise through the entirety of a nine-year NHL career in which his team has made the playoffs once, only to be swept?

Up to a half-dozen teams — including Philadelphia, San Jose, Carolina, perhaps Toronto and perhaps Boston — are in the race, but the Rangers could end the derby in a heartbeat by agreeing to send Kreider to Columbus. There is less chance of that occurring than of Sean Avery returning to the team as an assistant coach.

The Won’t Miss Kid from Boston College is a negotiation stopper. So is McDonagh. So, almost certainly, is Stepan.

Dubinsky (and his $4.2 million cap hit) has to go the other way. The immediate unknowns are whether Sather would yield on Hagelin or Artem Anisimov; whether Del Zotto would be made available even if the Blueshirts aren’t able to sign Justin Schultz, the Wisconsin defenseman who can become a free agent next week; whether Dylan McIlrath or J.T. Miller is on the table.

Howson will attempt to create an open bazaar leading up to Friday’s first-round of the Entry Draft in Pittsburgh. But it is possible the auction could bleed into July, past the opening days of free agency, when Zach Parise and Ryan Suter declare and Schultz signs.

Future moves would be restricted in taking on this contract commitment to Nash, but even more so with a new collective bargaining agreement under which cap likely is to be recalculated and regulations likely are to be restrictively redefined (e.g., terms limits and front-loading) beginning next season.

Del Zotto will become a restricted free agent on July 1. McDonagh, Stepan, Anisimov and Hagelin will become restricted free agents next summer. Then, after two more seasons, Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan Callahan, Dan Girardi (and Marian Gaborik) are eligible to become unrestricted free agents while Kreider will be restricted.

Does Sather interpret all this as a window closing after two years, thus prompting him to make a bold move now, the way Los Angeles GM Dean Lombardi did in acquiring Jeff Carter’s strangling contract a few days before the deadline? It’s impossible to know at this moment. But as long as Howson is willing to accept a package that does not include Kreider, McDonagh or Stepan, Sather’s siren will be sounding through the nights in this high-speed pursuit of Nash.

RUTHERFORD HINTS AT LANDING STAAL-WORTHY FORWARD

The Raleigh News & Observer notes Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford said again this past week the Hurricanes are seeking a top-tier forward to play with captain Eric Staal. He hinted there could be a trade in the works and didn’t rule out using the first-round pick as part of a trade package.

“We’ve done a lot of work in trying to get another real good forward to play with Eric,” Rutherford said. “I’d prefer not to (trade the first-round pick). If the right player is available and the right deal, we would do it.”

Speculation has centered on Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Jordan Staal of the Pittsburgh Penguins as trade possibilities. The Columbus Post-Dispatch reported Friday the Canes were believed to be one of the teams interested in Nash, an All-Star forward and Blue Jackets captain.

Asked about the likelihood of the Canes making a trade this week, Rutherford said, “It’s a tough call. My read on it is there will be (NHL) trades Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Whether we’re going to be one of the teams and get in on those early trades or not, I mean, we’re trying to. But it’s hard to say when we’re going to able to move and acquire the type of player we’re trying to get.”

WILL FLAMES DEAL BOUWMEESTER?

The Calgary Herald wrote a speculative piece over the weekend detailing how the Flames seem to be doing their best to accommodate Jarome Iginla with the shape the coaching staff has taken, which has resulted in the annual Jarome Iginla trade speculation having gone eerily quiet of late.

And, on the telephone from Montreal late Thursday afternoon, when called to discuss the Martin Gelinas hire, Bob Hartley might’ve unwittingly given a tip-off as to how this all might play out.

“For me,’’ he declared, “looking at Jarome, Giordano, Tanguay, Glencross, Cammalleri, Kiprusoff . . . that’s going to be the core of our team.’’

Now maybe it was nothing more than an honest omission, or the overactive imagination of a scurrilous scribbler, but one prominent name was missing from Hartley’s list. There was no mention of No. 4. Of Jay Bouwmeester. Of a guy whose logged murderous minutes since the day arrived here.

If there’s to be a Robyn Regehr scenario (dealt a year ago at the draft) unfold for the Flames in Pittsburgh next week, Bouwmeester shapes up as it. Yes, his compensation is wildly out of whack (he’s owned $6.68 million for this season and next), he put up almost as many minuses (minus-21) as points (29) last year and has the standard no-trade clause, but at age 29 when (if?) the 2012-2013 regular-season kicks off, the time seems right.

That persistent Columbus rumour that made the rounds a year ago is floating out there again. Toronto’s been mentioned, too. And despite the stiff tariff, you can wager there are bound to be other suitors willing to overlook certain flaws to secure the services of a player with the motor, the effortless skating prowess, of a Bouwmeester.

Age was the decisive factor in dealing Regehr, and not Bouwmeester, last summer. One more year of unhappy return on investment could be more than enough to trigger a swap.

So if Feaster is going to make a splash next week in Pittsburgh, it seems highly likely that Bouwmeester will be first one in the pool.

MALKIN HAS HART

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review notes finally winning the Hart Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL’s most valuable player, an honor for which Vladimir Malkin’s youngest son has twice finished as runner-up, would “mean a lot.”

“But it is a lot of pressure,” the elder Malkin said through an interpreter. “Evgeni thinks if he wins MVP for the last year, he has to win it next year and the years after.”

Vladimir Malkin raised his right hand above his head and lowered his left hand to his chest. His eyes followed the top hand to the bottom.

“Very fast you can go from here to there,” he said.

The comeback story of Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, who in September told the Tribune-Review his “motivation was very good” to again be considered an elite player, could end Wednesday night in Las Vegas at the NHL Awards Show, where he is favored to win the Hart.

His reputation already has been restored, though.

“Evgeni is a unique player,” said Vladislav Tretiak, Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender for the former Soviet Union. “He cannot be compared to anyone.”

Malkin, 25, is days from potentially joining Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr and Sidney Crosby as Penguins to have won the Hart Trophy.

His competition is New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist and Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos.

The Penguins have fairly owned this category since 1988, when Lemieux won the franchise’s first Hart. A Hart win by Malkin will give the Penguins a fourth player chosen as league MVP. Their three honorees are already the most of the post-1967 expansion era.

Malkin finished this past season with 109 points — and a career-best 50 goals — to join Lemieux and Jagr as the only Penguins players to win multiple scoring championships.

A Penguins player has won the Art Ross Trophy 14 times, and Malkin is the only two-time scoring champion since the 2004-05 NHL lockout.

“The hardware he’s collected already is awesome, but maybe it gets taken for granted because the Penguins have had three other players do those things,” said Bob Grove, a Penguins broadcaster and the franchise historian.

Only 14 players have averaged at least 1.20 points per game during their career. Malkin, at 1.234, ranks 11th among that group. Players holding the second (Lemieux), fourth (Crosby), 12th (Jagr) and 13th (Alex Ovechkin) spots on that list have cast shadows that he cannot escape.

Malkin could not be reached for comment. He has spent the past two weeks vacationing, his first significant time away from hockey-related activities in more than a year.

Nothing he has said suggests the Hart will complete him any more than the Ross, Conn Smythe or the MVP he won at World Championships for leading that tournament in scoring as Russia won gold.

Natalia Malkin, his mother, said she enjoys hearing her son mentioned “like Crosby, (as) maybe the best player.” However, she said nothing Evgeni Malkin accomplished this past season will leave him satisfied. Mama Malkin knows what her boy really wants isn’t stature or individual hardware but simply more pictures to hang on his walls.

“Even at home,” she said, “the only pictures up are of the Stanley Cup.”

PACIORETTY WON'T SKATE UNTIL JULY

The Montreal Gazette recalls Max Pacioretty skated last summer – day after day after day.

Recovering to full strength from a fractured vertebra and severe concussion that ended his 2010-11 season 22 games early, the Canadiens forward made up for lost time on ice, and then some.

“I took so much time off with my injury (15 regular-season games and seven in the playoffs), and I was so concerned about my head, that I just wanted to skate as much as possible,” Pacioretty said from his home in Connecticut.

“It caught up with me a couple times during the year.”

You’d not have known it, the 23-year-old enjoying a breakthrough season with a career-high 33 goals and a team-high 65 points.

In so doing, Pacioretty emphatically dismissed any fears about his post-injury durability, the only three games he missed in 2011-12 the result of a suspension. But still, he believes his ferocious offseason skating regimen took a toll, so he’s come up with a fail-safe solution to keep from overtraining on ice this summer.

“I’m having my parents hide my hockey bag for a bit,” Pacioretty said, laughing, his protective mom and dad just down the road. “I’ve got a charity game the middle of July and I think that’s when I’m going to pull the bag out and dust it off. I’ll try to skate as much as possible from that date forward. But not until then.”

Pacioretty is weeks into his dryland training. He says he’s “a lot stronger already” from his toil at Prentiss Hockey Performance in Darien, Conn., done alongside dozens of pros who include a number of Canadiens prospects.

Pacioretty took about a week off after the Canadiens season ended April 7, then jumped back into training for the IIHF World Hockey Championship in Helsinki, representing his native U.S. for the first time in senior competition. His two goals and 10 assists in eight games led his country, the Americans ultimately falling to Finland in the tournament’s quarterfinals.

“Worlds were definitely an eye-opener and I learned a lot about my game and what I have to improve,” he said. “To be honest, it looked like I played really well but I don’t think I played as well as my numbers showed.

“On that big (200x100-foot) ice, I was playing a little too much on the perimeter and it was tough to get to the front of the net or bring the puck there. I wish I could have done a little more of that.

“It was a frustrating finish. I thought we were one of the most balanced teams there, at least capable of getting a medal.”

KINGS NO LONGER A HARD SELL

As the Kings venture into unfamiliar territory after winning their first championship, The Los Angeles Times points out they are quickly discovering the benefits of standing atop the National Hockey League.

Sure, there's the thrill of the Stanley Cup presentation and Thursday's subsequent parade and rally, but the team is also reaping immense financial benefits.

Chris McGowan, the chief operating officer of the Kings, said the playoff run has had a "humongous" influence on merchandising and ticket sales.

"We've definitely seen a spike in season tickets already. Attendance was doing very well during the regular season," McGowan said, the Kings having sold out all but two home games. "But then we made the playoffs and saw a big spike after we beat Vancouver in the first round.

"That's when we started to sell lots of season tickets."

McGowan said the team already has sold out its partial ticket plans for next season and projects to do the same with season tickets — a feat that has never occurred in team history.

Just as the team is experiencing a buzz at the ticket office, it has experienced a similar demand for Kings apparel and merchandise, McGowan said.

"Our numbers during the playoffs and finals were unprecedented in both hockey and basketball," said McGowan, who added that it has been a mixture of online and on-site sales at Team L.A. at L.A. Live. "People are coming down here and buying jerseys, hats, anything they can get their hands on that commemorates the Stanley Cup Final.

"I was amazed at the parade. Everyone had a Kings shirt or jersey, as a lot of people are jumping on board and supporting the team by buying merchandise."

YZERMAN ON GOALTENDING: WE'RE NOW SET

The Tampa Bay Times details how after stumbling through last season with goaltending woes, the Lightning sent three draft picks and journeyman goalie Sebastien Caron to Nashville on Friday for 6-foot-6 Swede Anders Lindback.

In other words, if you were waiting for the Lightning to address goaltending this offseason, this is the move.

"We're now set,'' general manager Steve Yzerman said.

However, Yzerman stopped short of naming Lindback, 24, the No. 1, saying he would compete with veteran Mathieu Garon.

"We think he has the ability to become a No. 1 goalie soon, but it would be wrong to sit here today and say he's our No. 1 goalie,'' Yzerman said. "We think he has really good potential, and we're going to let him develop at the right pace.''

Loaded with picks heading into next week's draft, the Lightning shipped three — Minnesota's second-rounder in 2012, Philadelphia's second-rounder in 2012 and its third-rounder in 2013 — along with Caron to Nashville. The Lightning still owns two first-round picks, Nos. 10 and 19 overall, and one second-rounder, No. 40, and could, per last season's trade, get a second-rounder, No. 53, from Florida.

In addition to Lindback, the Lightning acquired center Kyle Wilson and a 2012 seventh-round pick.

The Lightning is banking on Lindback being the No. 1 soon, but his track record is unproven. Backing up Pekka Rinne, one of the NHL's best goalies, he has appeared in only 38 games over two seasons. His record, 16-13-2, is spotty, but his other key numbers, 2.53 goals-against average and .914 save percentage, are impressive.

"I had some great years with Nashville, but I was in a tough spot behind Pekka Rinne,'' Lindback said. "My dream all my life has been to be a No. 1 goalie in the NHL, and I think I have a great opportunity to be that in Tampa Bay."

Lindback first appeared on Yzerman's radar in Oct. 24, 2010, when he stopped 42 of 45 shots in a 4-3 victory at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

"The big thing you first notice is his size,'' he said. "We like the way he moves. I like his athleticism. He reacts well. I think he has good, solid technique and an all-around structure.''

Finding a goalie was Yzerman's top priority, and the rumor mill included Vancouver's Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo and several backups. Schneider has evolved into a No. 1 while Luongo's remaining contract, $47.284 million through 2021-22, is too bulky. And it was unclear if other goalies would become available.

"We do our best to research everything; to check around the league,'' Yzerman said. "We had an opportunity present itself with Anders, and we wanted him. We believe there were other teams in consideration for Anders."

ROY WHISPERS CONTINUE

The Buffalo News indicates that headed into the annual draft, the Sabres have been open with their desire to improve at the center position - an area in which most teams could use help. But Buffalo has something most teams do not: an abundance of draft assets.

The Sabres are scheduled to have four picks in the opening 44 selections, with two picks in each of the first two rounds. They own the No. 12 slot and picked up the 21st overall selection from Nashville as part of February's Paul Gaustad deal. Buffalo has the 12th and 14th picks in the second round, with the latter coming from Calgary as part of the Robyn Regehr trade last June.

Sabres GM Darcy Regier has said he's open to anything regarding the early picks. The Sabres, who have a total of nine selections in the seven-round draft, could keep them to build depth, trade them to move up in the draft or package them with players to retool the team.

One player who figures to have his name whispered often leading up to Friday's first round is Derek Roy. The center had a disappointing season and is entering the final season of his six-year contract. Roy will earn $5.5 million next season but has a manageable $4 million cap hit.

If the Sabres move Roy or another big name, it wouldn't be the first time they used draft weekend to significantly alter the roster. Names such as Jochen Hecht, Michael Peca, Tim Connolly, Don Edwards and Tony McKegney have been part of selection meeting swaps. The biggest blockbuster came in 1990, when the Sabres acquired Dale Hawerchuk and a first-round pick from Winnipeg in exchange for Phil Housley, Scott Arniel, Jeff Parker and a first-round pick.

FLETCHER COUNTING ON PMB'S HEALTHY RETURN

The St. Paul Pioneer Press says the Minnesota Wild seem optimistic for a healthy return next season of playmaker Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who played in just 37 games last season because of post-concussion issues, missing the final 41 games.

"We're counting on him," general manager Chuck Fletcher said of the forward who has been limited to a total of 97 games the last three seasons because of concussions. "I mean, there are no guarantees, but he's made improvement. I'm just guessing, but he's in a way better place than where he was with his previous injury. And our expectation is he'll be healthy and able to contribute to our team next year."

A healthy Bouchard would be a huge offensive addition for the Wild, especially on the power play.

Bouchard, 28, has one season remaining on a $20.4 million, five-year contract.

KOVALCHUK UNDERGOING TESTING

Devils winger Ilya Kovalchuk may not be the only player on the team who needs offseason medical attention, general manager Lou Lamoriello told The Star-Ledger today.

Kovalchuk, who was bothered during the playoffs by a herniated disc in his back, is undergoing MRIs and tests to determine whether he will need surgery or other attention this summer.

"We're not sure of that yet," Lamoriello said. "We're still going for tests. We're still having MRIs done. Before those decisions are made, bodies have to settle and rest. We're still getting MRIs of different people, examining them and getting second opinions on the recommendation of our doctors."

Lamoriello said several players, in addition to Kovalchuk, may require offseason medical attention.

"Yes," Lamoriello said.

He would not name the other players still bothered by injuries and said Kovalchuk is not necessarily at the top of the list of concerns. He said some players played through injuries without letting the team know the extent of the problems.

"They're all the same right now as far as anybody who has had anything lingering. Sometimes you don't even know about (an injury) because it is a certain player," the GM said.

"Everybody is on board. Everybody has been addressed and everybody is following through with what they are supposed to do."

Since the Devils were eliminated from the Stanley Cup finals in six games by the Los Angeles Kings one week ago, Lamoriello has been meeting with players. Management is also preparing for the NHL entry draft Friday and Saturday in Pittsburgh.

Sportsnet

[The Mac]

Count Jaromir Jagr among the names that will be available on the open market on July 1.

TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported via Twitter on Monday that while the 40-year-old winger enjoyed his stint with the Phildelphia Flyers last season, he plans on testing free agency.

Jagr, who scored 19 goals and 54 points in 73 games last season, played the previous three years in Russia and helped lead the Penguins to two Stanley Cup titles in the 1990s. He also played for the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals.

A Czech native, Jagr won an Olympic gold medal in 1998 and a bronze in 2006. He also won two Ice Hockey World Championships in 2005 and 2010.

He made $3.3 million last season with the Flyers.

he San Jose Sharks have signed defenceman Brad Stuart to a three-year, $10.8 million contract.

The Detroit Red Wings traded Stuart - who was a potential unrestricted free agent - to San Jose last week in exchange for forward Andrew Murray and a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2014.

Stuart played more short-handed minutes than any other Red Wings defender this past season. San Jose had the second-worst penalty-kill unit this season.

Stuart, 32, was drafted third overall by San Jose in 1998 before being traded to Boston on Nov. 30, 2005, along with Marco Sturm and Wayne Primeau for current Sharks captain Joe Thornton.

He had six goals and 15 assists in 81 games last season. He had a plus-16 rating and led the Red Wings in hits with 177 and was second in blocked shots with 115. Stuart has played in 876 career games in 13 seasons with San Jose, Boston, Calgary, Los Angeles and Detroit, recording 74 goals, 231 assists and 489 penalty minutes. He's also added nine goals and 28 assists in 124 career playoff games.

[Swinny]

I thought he signed with Philly? Or it was at least a sure thing? What happened to that?

[The Mac]

something must have fell through or he realized he can likely pull 5 on the open market

[JJ Smooth]

I think he's being lured back to Pittsburgh again...damn Mark Madden.

And as for Malkin...yeah..he's hungry...and being next to Sid on a daily basis can only drive each to get even better....Lord the possibilities...

Staal trade...No. Ray Shero, find a way to keep Jordan, he's the core of the PK along with Flower. KEEP HIM DAMMIT!!!

[The Mac]

i cant see how they can keep him with malkin,crosby,fleury all demanding cap breaking deals. unless stall gives a huge hometown discount to stay on the team which is a possibility