My buddy from Calgary called me today.. He said that up in Canada there was big talk that Snow had a deal in place to land Loungo but Loungo squashed it and now has only waived his NTC to Florida...

Anyone hear anything about or remotely about this?? I can't find anything.
- brodydog29

Nope...my guess is that it was the Canadian media over-speculating. Just like our media does consistently with football.

My buddy from Calgary called me today.. He said that up in Canada there was big talk that Snow had a deal in place to land Loungo but Loungo squashed it and now has only waived his NTC to Florida...

Anyone hear anything about or remotely about this?? I can't find anything.
- brodydog29

Nothing here... We did hear he said no to Toronto.

Wants either Florida or TB.

Wideman off the market, Flames traded for his rights and signed him. Re-signed Comeau too. Not that anyone really cares about Comeau.
- eichiefs9

I'm suprised about the trade...a 5th round pick for a very good defenseman...I just shake my head Snow isn't doing a disappearing act...

I'm suprised about the trade...a 5th round pick for a very good defenseman...I just shake my head Snow isn't doing a disappearing act...
- kear20

No way is Wideman worth 5.2 million a year. No way the Isles give Wideman a contract like that. You do know he was to become a UFA July 1st?

Wideman got $5.2 million a year...here is a tweet I just saw regarding Bouwmeester...

Randy Sportak ‏@SUNRandySportak
Do Flames trade Bouwmeester or go with D core: Bouwmeester, Wideman, Giordano, Babchuk, Butler, Smith and Brodie? Salary cap $21.22M

No way is Wideman worth 5.2 million a year. No way the Isles give Wideman a contract like that. You do know he was to become a UFA July 1st?
- Vukota

yes...I wrote my comment prior to the terms of the contract he got...

With Wideman getting $5.2 per year...what is Sutter going to get? $10 Million/year?...yikes...

yes...I wrote my comment prior to the terms of the contract he got...
- kear20

Gotcha

I'm suprised about the trade...a 5th round pick for a very good defenseman...I just shake my head Snow isn't doing a disappearing act...
- kear20

He isn't a very good defenseman, and he's certainly not worth 5.25 per. Hendry and a 5th was kind of dumb to give up for someone that they could have had for free on Sunday.

edit: yes I just saw your edit

He isn't a very good defenseman, and he's certainly not worth 5.25 per. Hendry and a 5th was kind of dumb to give up for someone that they could have had for free on Sunday.

edit: yes I just saw your edit
- eichiefs9

Especially if they were going to offer him 5.25 per. Who else was going to buck up that much?

Not sure if your guys touched on this today as I have been away most of the day.

BD Gallof via twitter: Regarding the Islanders offering the Blue Jackets all their picks for the 2nd overall: the only people who can actually confirm what was said between GMs Garth Snow and Scott Howson are not confirming. Some believe that if it had truly been offered, Howson would have accepted.

He isn't a very good defenseman, and he's certainly not worth 5.25 per. Hendry and a 5th was kind of dumb to give up for someone that they could have had for free on Sunday.

edit: yes I just saw your edit
- eichiefs9

Looking at what Wideman got and what will be offered on Sunday, maybe my guy from Chicago might not be such a bad deal after all...

Not sure if your guys touched on this today as I have been away most of the day.

BD Gallof via twitter: Regarding the Islanders offering the Blue Jackets all their picks for the 2nd overall: the only people who can actually confirm what was said between GMs Garth Snow and Scott Howson are not confirming. Some believe that if it had truly been offered, Howson would have accepted.
- SCLI

Maybe Wang was trying to play GM...

Random question to toss out there...i just dont know exactly how it works. I think i just read that the salary cap was raised to 70mil. If thats the case...what was the salary cap last year?

edit: i just did some research...apparently the cap was at around 64 mil... and apparently going up to 70?? if this is true...does the cap floor go up as well? i honestly hope it does because wangs gonna crap his pants when he has to spend a bit more money...he might as well start chucking large paydays at some players and hopefully land decent talent. Otherwise he's never gonna make it to the floor..

Random question to toss out there...i just dont know exactly how it works. I think i just read that the salary cap was raised to 70mil. If thats the case...what was the salary cap last year?

edit: i just did some research...apparently the cap was at around 64 mil... and apparently going up to 70?? if this is true...does the cap floor go up as well? i honestly hope it does because wangs gonna crap his pants when he has to spend a bit more money...he might as well start chucking large paydays at some players and hopefully land decent talent. Otherwise he's never gonna make it to the floor..
- Dedshark

Unless it gets changed in the new CBA, the cap floor is always $16m below the ceiling. So assuming that scale stays the same, the floor will be $56.2m this season.

Unless it gets changed in the new CBA, the cap floor is always $16m below the ceiling. So assuming that scale stays the same, the floor will be $56.2m this season.
- eichiefs9

i just read that this past season it was at 64...

i just read that this past season it was at 64...
- Dedshark

Right, the ceiling (cap) was at $64.3 and the floor was $16 million lower than that, at $48.3.

Right, the ceiling (cap) was at $64.3 and the floor was $16 million lower than that, at $48.3.
- eichiefs9

well my point being...is that if this goes up to 70 million im gonna be ecstatic...that means wang if forced to pay out 6 mill more a year. getting vis doesnt even cover the amount raised...let alone he has to fill out a ton more of room. cheap bastard. looking at about anohter 8-9 mill on top of vis to get to the floor...lol.

Wow! Talk about harsh words. I wonder if NHL GM's feel this way.

CHICAGO DAILY HERALD: Barry Rozner dismissed the notion of the Chicago Blackhawks having interest in, let alone acquiring, Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo. Rozner considers the rumors “absurd”, considering Luongo “a horribly overpaid netminder” who “performs horribly” in the most important situations and chokes under playoff pressure, and claims Luongo is a “national joke” in Canada.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Overly harsh? Sadly, no. Rozner’s assessment of Luongo at this point in his career is spot-on, and I agree with his take that the rumor of the Blackhawks acquiring Luongo are absurd.

I wonder if Luongo ever left Rozner's sister standing at the Altar?

Wow! Talk about harsh words. I wonder if NHL GM's feel this way.

CHICAGO DAILY HERALD: Barry Rozner dismissed the notion of the Chicago Blackhawks having interest in, let alone acquiring, Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo. Rozner considers the rumors “absurd”, considering Luongo “a horribly overpaid netminder” who “performs horribly” in the most important situations and chokes under playoff pressure, and claims Luongo is a “national joke” in Canada.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Overly harsh? Sadly, no. Rozner’s assessment of Luongo at this point in his career is spot-on, and I agree with his take that the rumor of the Blackhawks acquiring Luongo are absurd.

I wonder if Luongo ever left Rozner's sister standing at the Altar?


- SCLI

maybe he will get traded to florida and then florida will trade him back to the isles and we can pretend to start all over lol

well my point being...is that if this goes up to 70 million im gonna be ecstatic...that means wang if forced to pay out 6 mill more a year. getting vis doesnt even cover the amount raised...let alone he has to fill out a ton more of room. cheap bastard. looking at about anohter 8-9 mill on top of vis to get to the floor...lol.
- Dedshark

They do still need to sign a few guys, or at least try to. Martin is a must, Reese should absolutely be offered a new contract. I'd hope they are least try for PA. Haley would be nice if he could get a full-time 4th line role.

Still probably going to need to add salary.

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger

Far from newsbreaking, but, good possibility the Capitals trade Alex Semin's rights.
Wonder if they want to swap for PA's rights.

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger

Far from newsbreaking, but, good possibility the Capitals trade Alex Semin's rights.
Wonder if they want to swap for PA's rights.
- eichiefs9

Have you heard this one?

NEW YORK TIMES hockey writer Chris Botta tonight took to Twitter to report “Source confirms ‪#Isles‬ asked Ducks last week about Bobby Ryan, who’d be perfect rebuild next-step. Nothing close yet”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Now, before anyone claims Ryan won’t accept a trade to Long Island, understand he doesn’t have a trade clause in his contract, meaning the Ducks could trade him to anyone. The Isles are a team stocked with young talent and prospects, so I wouldn’t dismiss the possibility of them making a tempting pitch, though you can bet other clubs (hello there, Philadelphia Flyers, or maybe, Columbus Blue Jackets?) will also have considerable interest in him, as well as those (Rangers, Wild) who might lose out in the bidding for Zach Parise.

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger

Far from newsbreaking, but, good possibility the Capitals trade Alex Semin's rights.
Wonder if they want to swap for PA's rights.
- eichiefs9

why not? couldnt hurt any team here... and on martin and reese... mos def resign...but thats gonna amount to what? 3 million tops? if reese was signed for a mil and martin for 2 mil...obviously both overpayments...im just rounding very high up lol

Have you heard this one?

NEW YORK TIMES hockey writer Chris Botta tonight took to Twitter to report “Source confirms ‪#Isles‬ asked Ducks last week about Bobby Ryan, who’d be perfect rebuild next-step. Nothing close yet”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Now, before anyone claims Ryan won’t accept a trade to Long Island, understand he doesn’t have a trade clause in his contract, meaning the Ducks could trade him to anyone. The Isles are a team stocked with young talent and prospects, so I wouldn’t dismiss the possibility of them making a tempting pitch, though you can bet other clubs (hello there, Philadelphia Flyers, or maybe, Columbus Blue Jackets?) will also have considerable interest in him, as well as those (Rangers, Wild) who might lose out in the bidding for Zach Parise.
- SCLI

snow is going to have to overpay for ryan...but at this point... the isles need to get some more star power and its the perfect guy to start with. I do believe the ducks will win out on this trade...but i wont be mad as long as it isnt a massacre.