Rumors VIII: Sharp, Flyers, Canadiens, Coyotes and Richards
  • B.D. Gallof: “Per NHL source, CHI currently asking for 1st rd pick, A-level prospect & top 6 forward on entry-level contract for Patrick Sharp
  • Brian Hedger: Source saying that Patrick Sharp will be traded next week, which has been expected. Still a big name to lose.
  • Sam Carchidi: Flyers GM Ron Hextall said he’s open to signing Michael Del Zotto for longer than a year and that getting Jakub Voracek signed to a contract extension is a priority.
  • Dennis Bernstein: (answering question) Three names the Canadiens could look at in a trade and free agency are Patrick Sharp, Carl Soderberg and Matt Beleskey.
  • Craig Morgan of Fox Sports Arizona: The Coyotes vowed to compete for a playoff spot next season. With multiple agents concerned about the franchises stability, the trade route may be the best bet for their immediate improvement.

    “Nobody is going to give us good players without (us) giving up something, and that’s why we are certainly open for business, whether it’s the Chicago pick (30th overall), or our pick in the second round,” Maloney said. “We’ve got two firsts, two seconds, two thirds. We have two firsts next year. We have lots of good assets that we can use to better our team and we’re certainly not against using it in the right deal.”

    The projected cap is at around $71 million, which is lower than originally expected, and will force some teams to move salary.

    “It’s not just cash-strapped teams. I think there’s an appetite to try and deal bigger pieces in other markets,” said Chris Johnston, a senior writer for Sportsnet in Canada. “If you’re a team, like Arizona, with the money to add big-ticket players then you will be in demand.”

  • Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider: On Mike Richards

    I’m reading about the speculation of what type of incentive it would take to swap out Richards (and his contract) for crucially needed cap space. In the comments section of this blog and elsewhere, I’ve read hypotheticals of whether the Kings would trade their first round draft pick or one of their well-regarded prospects to be able to entice a team to pick up his contract. As has been stated in the past, this discussion is moot; I’m getting the strong feeling, through multiple channels, that there hasn’t been any clear movement, and no viable suitors have stepped forward at this time. Similar to the attempt to move the center near the trading deadline, there are simply no proposals that make any sense for the Kings as of this writing. Could that change? Sure, it could change. But don’t expect Richards back next year. He’s likely to be moved, either through a trade (which doesn’t appear to be materializing at this point), or via buy-out.

    A buyout would look like:

    2015-16: 1.22 million
    2016-17: 1.72 million
    2017-18: 2.72 million
    2018-19: 4.22 million
    2019-20: 4.22 million
    2020-21: 1.47 million
    2021-22: 1.47 million
    2022-23: 1.47 million
    2023-24: 1.47 million
    2024-25: 1.47 million