Well, I can tell you one thing for 100%... Paul Holmgren and the Flyers brass didn't get much sleep. I can tell you this despite not having spoken to any of them since the draft ended in LA. I can tell you this because they were all on the same horrendous turbulent filled red-eye back to Philly as I was. It was brutal!

Anyway...

Here is where we sit today with some of the key players and rumors on what will be the last semi-slow day we will get before all hell breaks loose this week.

This will be a fun week.

On Kovalchuk..

I have confirmation the Devils have not made a single offer to retain Kovalchuk. However, 3-4 teams did make offers to the Devils down in Hollywood...The Kings are the most publicized and still the odds on favorite, but there is an interesting bidding war scenario going on here. The Ducks, the hated rivals from down 101, are also interested in Kovalchuk. Since we know the owner is pushing more for Kovalchuk than Lombardi, what happens should he get into a bidding war with the Ducks? The two teams are always trying to out do one another on the PR front and both know that stealing Ilya from the other would mean they won the war of the off-season.

On Hamhuis....

The Flyers are most frustrated by the reasons negotiations fell apart over Hamhuis. It wasn't about dollars. It wasn't about term. It was about role, at least if Hamhuis' words are to be taken at face value. In speaking to the Flyers, he wanted assurance that the 4+ million would also land him on the power play and in the top two pairings.

I talked to a former NHL player, a rugged defenseman in his day. A one-time captain about this and he was dumbfounded..

"What player says that? You don't negotiate playing time or where you fit! You earn your spot. Your a making 4 ****ing million dollars. Now go show you are worth it. I can't believe an NHL player would bring his role into negotiations. What does Paul Holmgren do? Tell Peter Laviolette you HAVE to play this guy top 4 and PP? His teammates! I mean what the bleep would they say? How would they treat a player in the room? When he makes a mistake, even before, any other hockey player would be all over him..."

Wonder why the Flyers handed their fiercest rival a power play defenseman? They don't think he will sign with the Pens on a bet! In fact, the Flyers actually warned the Penguins about this demand for a guaranteed role..and the Penguins actually plan to bring their coach into the talks we are hearing. SERIOUSLY?? The Penguins know you can't do this as well.

All this points to this playing time issue being used as a mask for something else. And now I can't help but think the Penguins trading for Hamhuis is nothing more than the Penguins trying to get Gonchar to take one less year...because that is what I hear is all that separates the Penguins from what might be their most important player.

I believe Hamhuis will sign in Vancouver. Plain and Simple. He wants to play near home.

On Spezza...

I continue to feel more and more certain he is getting moved. Not from what Ottawa is saying of course...but from what others who are talking to Ottawa are saying...

On Frolov....

Montreal and Florida are interested and Montreal has the "upper hand" I am told.

On Kaberle...

Leaf fans need to read between the lines here...Burke had some possible deals on the table and did nothing. Savard rumors are swirling. Some say Savard for Kaberle won't happen... The Bruins love Kaberle...there are other teams as well.. The Penguins are DANGEROUSLY close to not signing Gonchar or Hamhuis... Things will get done better than they would have this weekend.

On Nabokov...

Again, we may be seeing a deal here to attempt to pressure some other deal. The Nabokov camp has made it clear that they want to be free July 1. The Flyers gave up nothing. Yet talks with the Bruins and Tim Thomas continue...

So what are we seeing really?

The Cap has really changed things, and right now there are some obvious options for certain teams and certain players. Tim Thomas, Chris Mason, Nabokov, Gonchar, Kaberle, etc...how many places can they really go? Very few. The reality is teams are looking for anyway they can to get leverage in a world where cap space has dictated reality. You need options to make good deals... and acquiring rights is way to gain some leverage...without really spending much at all..

more to come..

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