Updated:
I've ben telling you for weeks that Jim Benning and the Canucks are very interested in attracting UFA-to-be Ryan Miller to Vancouver. Last Wednesday, Miller's agent and the Canucks spoke. On Sunday, news broke that Miller was in Vancouver visiting with the Canucks.
Benning appears to be uncomfortable handing his goaltending duties over to youngsters Eddie Lack and Jakub Markstrom, who between them have played only 88 combined NHL games.
Benning was with the Buffalo Sabres scouting team when Darcy Regier drafted Miller out of Michigan State University with a fifth round draft choice in 1999.
The Canucks would be wise to sign the soon to be 34 year old Miller to a three year deal. They have a real need for goaltending help. Benning and Trevor Linden wowed the hockey world when they made three trades on Friday, then hauled in some very good prospects at the NHL Draft.
Benning announced Friday that the Caucks had acquired centre Nick Bonino, defenceman Luca Sbisa and the 24th and 85th picks in the 2014 NHL Draft from Anaheim in exchange for Ryan Kesler and a third round pick in 2015.
The Canucks also acquired right wing Derek Dorsett from the New York Rangers in exchange for Vancouver’s 85th selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Vancouver’s 85th pick was acquired earlier today in a multi-player trade with Anaheim.
Benning also traded with the LA Kings for scoring forward Linden Vey.
Benning drafted forwards Jake Virtanen 6th overall, Jared McCann 24th overall, goaltender Thatcher Demko 36th overall, defenceman Nikita Tryamkin 66th overall, defenceman Gustav Forsling 126th overall, centre Kyle Pettit 156th overall and defenceman MacKenzie Stewart 186th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft
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The Tampa Lightning have now traded Sam Gagner to the Arizona Coyotes.
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Steve Yzerman knows a great offensive player when he sees one. That's why he has traded 6'3 winger Teddy Purcell to Edmonton in exchange for crafty center-winger Sam Gagner.
Gagner has two more seasons remaining on his current deal at $4.8 million per season.
Steven Stamkos and Sam Gagner are going to light up the Tampa skyline with their electric offensive output.
This move is Edmonton typical. All offense and no defense.
This trade also leave the Oilers painfully thin at center ice. They may have to play Leon Draisaitl as their second line center in his rookie season. Perhaps MacT will sign UFA center Brad Richards on Tuesday, or, maybe he'll make a trade for center depth and D help.
For Tampa, they have far too many skilled forwards. They young kids Panik, Palat, Killorn and Johnson are not going to be taking a back seat after their excellent 2013-14 seasons. Filppula is a stud. Callahan will likely re-sign with the Bolts. Yzerman also has to find playing time for Drouin, Kucherov, Erne and Connolly.
I'm wondering where Gagner will play.
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While you were at the beach, Thomas Vanek was meeting with Chuck Fletcher and the Minnesota Wild on Sunday afternoon.
Vanek will become UFA on July 1. He will not be re-signing with the Montreal Canadiens. In February, he turned down a lucrative contract extension to stay and play in Long Island-Brooklyn.
Don't allow all of the chatter and conjecture fool you. Vanek wants to play for the Wild and the Wild want Vanek to play for them. Now, its just a mater of ironing out the small strokes like term and years on deal.
Does Vanek need a 7 year, $49 million contract to play for the Wild? No, he doesn't. I've been told that the former 40 goal scorer is willing to work with the team to craft a deal that will be "mutually beneficial".
The Wild have $19.9 million in available salary cap space.
They have several UFAs that they will be walking away from in Dany Heatley, Matt Moulson, and Mike Rupp. They will likely re-sign UFAs Cody McCormick, Jake Dowell, and Clayton Stoner. Ilya Bryzgalov and Nate Prosser are also UFAs. In the restricted free agent category, Fletcher has to re-sign Darcy Kuemper, Nino Nidterreiter, Justin Fontaine, Jason Zucker, and Jonathon Blum.
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Christian Ehrhoff's agent Rick Curran has confirmed to the Buffalo News that his client declined waivers. The 31 year old D-man has completed his buyout paperwork.
Needless to say, Ehrhoff didn't see this buyout coming.
Personally, I thought that Ehrhoff would be traded at the NHL draft. With the emergence of kids Rasmus Ristolainen, Nikita Zadorov, Jake McCabe, Mark Pysyk, and Chad Ruhwedel, Ehrhoff and his contract are expendable.
Ehrhoff is officially a former Sabre.
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In other buyout news, the Florida Panthers have bought out veteran D Ed Jovanovski.
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Shocker.
TSNs Bob McKenzie has tweeted the Buffalo Sabres have initiated a compliance buyout of D Christian Ehrhoff.
Two weeks ago, Sabres GM Tim Murray bought out under achieving forward Ville Leino. Now, its Christian Ehrhoff's turn to leave Buffalo. Both players were acquired by former Sabres GM Darcy in July 2011. Regier's decisions to add these two players doesn't look very good right now, do they?
Ehrhoff still has seven years remaining on his 10-year, $40 million contract. He's a $4 million per year salary cap hit.
Why wouldn't Murray just trade Ehrhoff away for assets? Boston would love to pair Ehrhoff with fellow German D Dennis Seidenberg. Buffalo could ask for Brad Marchand in return.
If he is bought out, Ehrhoff would become UFA on July 1.
Much more to come....
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Kudos to Tim Murray. He accomplished all but one of his goals at the 2014 NHL Draft in Philly. He and his scouts filled up the U-Haul truck with young, dynamic, talented, and skilled forwards. Sam Reinhart is the #1 center that Murray targeted from his first day on the GM job in Buffalo. The rookie manager got his man. He also gobbled up whirling dervish Brendan Lemieux, who plays a heavy game that is laced with skill.
Murray:
"He (Lemieux) will add another dimension to a quiet room," Murray said. "... The room won't be as quiet with him in it, that's for sure."
Eric Cornel adds center depth to the organization while Vinny Karabacek adds size, snarl, and skill.
Murray added D depth with Brycen Martin and a big goalie Swedish goalie (ala Senators Robin Lehner) in Jonas Johansson.
I've giving Murray a final draft grade of "A". I would have given him an "A+" had he been able to make a trade to get himself another first round pick in this draft, or, if he were able to trade for a veteran roster player from another squad.
Murray spoke about the draft and all of the new Sabres after the draft ended.
Thanks, Sabres.com
1st Round, Pick 2 Sam Reinhart C
2nd Round, Pick 31 Brendan Lemieux LW
2nd round, Pick 44 Eric Cornel C
2nd Round, Pick 49 Vaclav Karabacek LW
3rd Round, Pick 61 Jonas Johannson G
3rd Round, Pick 74 Brycen Martin D
5th Round, Pick 121 Max Willman LW
6th Round, Pick 151 Christopher Brown C
7th Round, Pick 181 Victor Olofsson RW
The NHL Network took a glimpse inside Buffalo's organizational depth.
The forecast calls for sunny days ahead in Pegulaville.
Thanks, NHL Network
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