Today is the final day for NHL teams to issue qualifying offers to their restricted free agents.
From what I understand, the Canucks have qualified Chris Tanev and Zack Kassian so far.
News1130 is getting a bit alarmist on this front:
I don't think this is an issue. In order to retain the rights to their restricted free agents, teams must issue a qualifying offer, which I believe must be a one-year contract that includes a 10 percent raise. Obviously, both Kassian and Tanev are looking for more money and more term. It's rare for a player to simply accept a qualifying offer. It simply sets a minimum for what a player can earn next season. Negotiations on these will likely begin sometime after the free agency period settles down.
Linden Vey is also an RFA who was qualified by the Kings before he was traded. Like Kassian, he has just completed his entry-level deal. His cap hit last year was $790,000.
I have yet to see any definitive word about Vancouver's other three RFAs—Jordan Schroeder, Zac Dalpe or Yannick Weber.
A Swiss outlet was reporting on the weekend that Weber would receive a one-way deal from Vancouver, but today the same Twitter account is sounding much more uncertain.
Meanwhile, Weber and his girlfriend Kayla Price (sister of Carey Price) are enjoying some time in the Swiss Alps.
Around the League:
Under the cover of darkness last night, Steve Yzerman got busy with a bunch of west coast teams, making one of the only player deals of any significance so far.
He traded Teddy Purcell to Edmonton for Sam Gagner, then flipped Gagner to the Arizona Coyotes (gotta practice saying that) for a draft choice. Then, Yzerman moved Nate Thompson to Anaheim, also for a draft choice.
Though Gagner's 37-point performance last season doesn't exactly justify his $4.8 million cap hit, he had a tough year with his broken jaw. I'm surprised his value isn't higher. The Lightning even had to retain $1.6 million of his salary for the opportunity to move him to Arizona.
Gagner's still just 24 years old and already has seven years experience in the NHL. Granted, his development experience in Edmonton hasn't been the best, but he seems like he's perfectly poised to excel in a new environment.
I'm a little surprised that the Canucks weren't in on him as a younger second-line center option to replace Ryan Kesler. I wouldn't think the bad blood between Gagner and Zack Kassian would have been a factor now that the Canucks are operating under a new regime; I guess said regime didn't think he'd be a good fit.
Gagner should be a solid replacement for disgraced Mike Ribeiro in Arizona. Best of luck to him.
One other player note that has just come down on Monday morning: Montreal has dealt Danny Briere to Colorado in exchange for PA Parenteau. As I said yesterday, I expect to see more deals today as teams try to organize their budgets for tomorrow.
Tuning Up for Tuesday:
Yzerman's deals in Tampa Bay certainly look like salary dumps in anticipation of signing free agents. Even after acquiring Jason Garrison, they'll need another defenseman or two to fill out their roster. I've heard they have their eye on Christian Ehrhoff.
Have also heard that Vancouver is on Ehrhoff, as well as the more aggressive courtships of Ryan Miller and Jarome Iginla.
As I said yesterday, I'd be surprised if Iginla chooses Vancouver. I just don't think it fits with his "win-now" desires, though the word is also that he's looking for a two-year deal. Hard to say which will be more of an influence.
I like Iggy. He's got great heart and would be terrific in the room, even if his skills drop off a little bit. If the money's reasonable, I wouldn't be against seeing him come here; I just think he'll have options on the table that are better suited to his needs.
Now, Ryan Miller. This is looking like a near-certainty and while I'm not as dead-set against it as a lot of you from our comment section, it's not an easy idea to embrace in 2014.
Yes, Miller was the player who established Jim Benning's scouting bona-fides with Buffalo when he plucked him in the fifth round from the second-tier Soo Indians in 1999. Yes, Miller came within a goal of winning the 2010 Olympic gold medal here in Vancouver and yes, he also won the Vezina Trophy that year.
He also got the Sabres to the Eastern Conference Final twice, in 2006 and 2007, before financial issues caused the dismantling of the team.
The belief was that Miller would shine again once he joined a decent team, but his brief tenure in St. Louis was a disaster. The Blues are a good defensive team—they finished third in goals-against in 2013-14, but Miller won only three of his last 11 regular-season games with the Blues, then couldn't lock down a 2-0 series lead against Chicago to get St. Louis out of the first round of the playoffs.
I didn't have any real issues with Miller's character, but heard that he was an ogre with the media during the playoff run in St. Louis. That sort of behaviour won't play well under the bright spotlight here in Vancouver.
I figured if Benning's determined to sign Miller, I could make peace with a two-year deal at reasonable money. Dan Murphy just upped the ante:
If he's in the ballpark, that's not awful. But it does probably put the lid on any chance that Eddie Lack might have of assuming a starting role for the next couple of seasons. Miller's a guy who likes to play a lot.
Of course, injuries and performance can factor in to these situations. What looks carved in stone on July 1 can change dramatically by Christmas.
Let's see if the outcry in the comments represents the masses, or just a vocal few. If Murph's right and the deal is, say, three years at $5 million a season...
I'll be liveblogging the start of free agency tomorrow over on Bleacher Report, so feel free to join me there starting at 8:45 a.m. PT. I'll check in here later in the day to go over the action as it pertains to the Canucks.
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