We're less than five days from the puck dropping on the accelerated 2013 NHL season. But amid the rush of a shortened training camp, unsigned restricted free agents and more, people are seemingly forgetting about those seven teams below the NHL's $54.2 (or $44M [if it's that, ignore the following]) million cap-floor.
Among the spending-scared seven, the Phoenix Coyotes (50.136M), New York Islanders (50.790M), Ottawa Senators (51.952M), Dallas Stars (52.163M), Florida Panthers (53.740M), and Colorado Avalanche (54.058M), one would say that the Coyotes and Isles sit at those most desperate to reach the floor.
In other words, the
Tim Thomas trade market is an extremely real place.
While veteran free agents such as Jason Arnott, Andrew Brunette, and the soon-to-be bought out Scott Gomez and Wade Redden could be given inflated one-year deals to push any of the seven over the floor and avoid penalties that can include loss of draft picks, it's the contract status of the suspended B's netminder that should garner the most interest from around the league. Essentially confirming that he's taking the year off to spend more time with his family, and suspended by the Bruins in what they're calling a "non-adversarial way" for not reporting to camp, it's the rights that'd a traded Tim Thomas would come with that's appealing to all parties involved.
Unable to be hidden on your salary cap this year because of his deal being one of those dreaded "35+" contracts, a Thomas trade would give his new club the option to 'toll' the contract in 2013-14, when Thomas is slated to return, where he'd come with a five million dollar cap-hit and get this -- actually play.
A two-time Vezina winner, and with a Conn Smythe to his name, the skill-set of Thomas, even with a year of rink-rust on his pads, should be enough to make the move for any club.
We'll see.
Boston among those in interested in veteran defensemen Wade Redden
Hitting the waiver-wire in hours, and to be bought out shortly after that, it appears that defensemen
Wade Redden is finally freed from a contract that's buried him in the American Hockey League for almost three whole years now. Spending the lockout on the sidelines and away from the Connecticut Whale by way of being carried by the New York Rangers, the Rangers' first accelerated buyout compliance will undoubtedly be used on the 35-year-old, making him an unrestricted free agent for the first time since 2008.
Despite hitting the market without an NHL game to his name in years, Redden's bundle of experience, including 450 points in 994 games at the NHL level, coupled with the lack of depth at the blueline around the league, will surely find Redden with a ton of offers from potential suitors. But expect one of those offers to be from the Bruins.
One of general manager
Peter Chiarelli's famed Ottawa connections, Redden was partnered with current B's captain
Zdeno Chara for much of his tenure with the Sens, and would be a welcomed addition to a club thin on NHL-quality depth.
Could Carl Soderberg actually make the leap to Boston?
You've heard this one before. You definitely have, in fact.
But here's the 2013 version of the story: According to sources close to the SEL, the Boston Bruins have inquired as to the availability of the services of B's prospect-that-never-was
Carl Soderberg.
(LINK: Days of Y'Orr with the Swedish scoop.)
The now 27-year-old forward, originally acquired by the club in 2007 in exchange for goaltender
Hannu Toivonen, has dominated the Swedish Elite League with Linkoping HC, and once again attracted the interest of the Bruins, who have reportedly made an offer to get him to join the Black-and-Gold this year. And can you blame them? In his last 80 games with Linkoping HC, Soderberg has recorded 38 goals and 83 points.
"I've heard that Boston is at Carl, but we will not let him and he can not leave," Linkoping's Mike Helber said. "There a set of rules that says you can not leave the premier league for the NHL in the middle of the season they're all familiar with."
Soderberg has never made the leap to North American ice and probably never will, but there's also the chance. Boston's intent on making him take that chance.
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