Paul Holmgren doesn't agree with me.
But I think the real reason behind putting Lasse Kukkonen on waivers is to clear cap space this weekend in case Brendan Shanahan picks the Flyers.
I am reporting on CSNPhilly.com that sources say Shanny is "leaning" toward the Flyers. This move with Kukkonen saves $875,000. A decision is expected by Sunday.
Holmgren said it is really about giving him cap space in case a forward gets hurt with Danny Briere and Riley Cote both out of the lineup. You could argue it works both ways.
Shanny could expect a 1 or 2-year deal averaging between $1 million and $1.2 million. If Shanny announces the FLyers, the Kukkonen waiver figures prominently.
BTW: Kuk is playing center tonight in Pittsburgh. His linemates are Josh Gratton and Arron Asham.
For more on this story, check out CSNPhilly.com:
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Brendan Shanahan is expected to announce sometime between Friday and Sunday whether he will return to play in the NHL this season and with what team.
Sources have told CSNPhilly.com that Shanahan is “leaning” toward playing with the Flyers. His family lives in New York and doesn’t want to relocate far from Manhattan – if at all.
General manager Paul Holmgren said Thursday he is still waiting to hear from Shanahan’s agent, Rick Curran.
Yet the Flyers made an interesting personnel move by waiving defenseman Lasse Kukkonen back to the Phantoms on Thursday.
Because Kukkonen is a veteran NHLer, there is a chance some club will claim the Finnish blue liner. The object of this maneuver, Holmgren said, was to clear cap space in the event the Flyers need to recall another forward.
“We have to protect ourselves with injuries to our forwards,” Holmgren said. “We don’t have Danny Briere or Riley Cote for the weekend and we got the game in Montreal, too. We could call up a couple forwards if we have to. That is what this move is about.”
Kukkonen would clear $875,000 off the Flyers cap which is already about $818,000 under the $56.7 million limit, although some argue that gap is much smaller.
A skeptic, however, would argue that the Flyers are also clearing additional space to sign Shanahan to a one-year deal somewhere in the vicinity of $1 million to $1.2 million.
Curran did not return calls from CSNPhilly.com, but Holmgren denied the waiving of Kukkonen was connected to Shanahan.
“No, we don’t know what Shanahan is doing,” Holmgren said. “He could still go elsewhere. This is just to cover us in case we get more injuries and need another forward, nothing more.”
Kukkonen played forward Thursday night against Pittsburgh. Briere is currently sidelined 5-7 days with a groin pull. Cote has a torn oblique muscle.
Flyers by the numbers
20-for-22 ... Penalties killed off by the Flyers (90.9%) in November
2-1-0 ... Arron Asham’s fight record
4-2-1 ... Riley Cote’s fight record
.907 ... Marty Biron’s save percentage in November
2.36 ... Marty Biron’s goals against average in November
26:59 ... Matt Carle’s team-high time on ice vs. the Islanders on Tuesday.
0-for-1 ... Kimmo Timonen’s rare faceoff (lost) vs. the Islanders on Tuesday
61 ... Jeff Carter’s shot total, ranked 12th in the NHL
11 ... How many different linemates Joffrey Lupul has had
8 ... Games Scottie Upshall has gone without scoring a point
9 ... Mike Richards power play points (2 goals, 7 assists)
4 ... Finns on the Flyers roster – tops in the NHL
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