I'm back in Vancouver, with my attention firmly focused on the NHL Draft—and the trades that come along with the package.
At last year's draft in Philadelphia, Jim Benning got the ball rolling on the Friday morning with the Ryan Kesler trade—the details of which started to emerge at around 11 a.m.
Today, the fun has begun with Colorado's announcement that they've signed Carl Soderberg to a five-year deal. Ottawa's Robin Lehner has been the first goalie to be moved.
Ottawa's Bryan Murray got what he wanted—moving a significant contract off his books and acquiring a first-round pick. Legwand, now 34, has one more year on a deal that'll pay him $3 million according to
General Fanager. That's a contract that Buffalo has no problem acquiring as they currently have just $47.3 million in cap space on their books—$5.5 million *below* the cap floor.
It's funny to think that the Senators traded away Ben Bishop for peanuts two years ago because they decided, at that time, that Lehner was their "goalie of the future." I wonder if he'll match or exceed Bishop's accomplishments in his new home? At least Murray got a better return this time.
Though it was widely assumed that Cam Talbot would be the first goalie to move, it sounds like he'll be the next one to go. The latest:
We're still hearing that Florida's aggressively in the goaltending mix. I'm still entertained by the idea that Eddie Lack and Roberto Luongo could be reunited by the end of the day...
For now, Team Canuck looks remarkably relaxed on the draft floor. Work those phones, Mr. Benning!
After all the hullaballoo yesterday, all signs seem to indicate that Kevin Bieksa will, in fact, waive his no-trade clause today.
From the point of view of Sharks' beat writer Kevin Kurz, a 2016 second-rounder could be enough to do the deal. I'm thinking about last week, when Doug Wilson said he'd consider moving his ninth pick.
Ben Kuzma shares my feelings:
If first-rounders are the going rate for goalies, a Bieksa+Lack/Markstrom package, maybe with one other asset, might be enough to give Benning a chance at another high draft pick and another brick in his team's future foundation.
Two defensemen are in that range on
Bob McKenzie's draft rankings at TSN:
Ivan Provorov, who Craig Button raves about:
Ivan understands the game extremely well and is able to use his considerable talents to contribute in any area and every situation. Calm, poised and competitive he is in command when he’s on the ice. The best defenceman in this draft and I see him as a number one who will anchor a blue line.
And U.S. college player Zach Werenski, who's a little bigger. Both are left-shot D.
Has ease to his game and is always under control but in command. Werenski is a fluid skater who beats pressure and can create space for himself offensively. He sees the play well and combined with very good passing skills, can create offence. I’ve always felt he deserved to be discussed in the same light as Hanifin.
Maybe San Jose has always been Bieksa's destiny?
The next part of this equation—the assumption that a Bieksa salary dump could clear cap space for Vancouver to bring in Milan Lucic.
Lucic has one more year left at a $6 million cap hit before becoming an unrestricted free agent. If the Bruins move him, it'll be primarily to free up cap space—to get a Dougie Hamilton deal done, among other things.
I wonder if, like Bieksa, Lucic would also like to see a contract extension in place with a new team before he's willing to move?
Lucic is a player who has generated plenty of discussion in this blog, going all the way back to last season. He's a local boy with a big body who can be an impact player, but his relationship with the Canucks and the city of Vancouver has certainly been contentious in the past, and he's shown some immaturity on and off the ice that makes me wonder what kind of attitude he'd bring to the locker room.
But—Jim Benning knows him well, from Boston. And I was saying just yesterday that the Canucks could use a little more snarl on their roster. That's especially true if Bieksa leaves.
I guess that's the poll question I leave you with today. So much to think about, but I'm most curious to see what you think about this:
panel management
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