Was listening to Sirius XM 91 as I was bumping through the Finger Lakes on Friday morning when I heardBrooklyn Islanders GM Garth Snow all but announce say "so long, good luck in your new new NHL city".
Snow was asked about his veteran power forward and his current status with the Isles.
"Kyle was selected in 2006. First round draft pick. He was developed here. He came through our system. He’s been a terrific player for us. Not only on the ice, but off the ice a quality person. We’re just in a situation with the salary cap that you really have to analyze where you are today and where you’re going to be in five years from now. So there’s always tough decisions. We’re not the only team that has tough decisions to make, and we’re not the only team that potentially could lose free agents on July 1. Like I said, Kyle’s a great person. He’s been a terrific player for this organization. Wish him nothing but the best.…
When a GM refers in the past tense to a valued member of his club for the past nine seasons, the player is no longer wanted.
The ownership of the Isles will change hands on July 1. There are all sorts of question surrounding Snow's future to say nothing of individual players on his current roster. Will the Isles be a budget team? The certainly will not be a cap team.
Okposo, 28, has a long line of teams tripping over themselves for the opportunity to sign him to a lucrative long term deal on July 1.
Okposo is a three-time 20 goal scorer who popped 22 goals and 64 points in 79 games in 2015-16.
It blows me away that Okposo earned just $2.8 million this season. Those days are done. Okposo is about to enter the $5.5 million to $6 million echelon.
** From the Buffalo Sabres:
The Buffalo Sabres today announced the team will hold its annual summer development camp from July 6-12. The camp will be held entirely at HARBORCENTER for the first time this year.
On-ice camp sessions throughout the week will be open to the public and an intra-squad Blue & Gold Scrimmage will take place on Saturday, July 9. Details regarding tickets for the scrimmage will be available at a later date.
The camp will feature approximately 40 Sabres prospects, including the team’s 2016 NHL Draft picks, all of whom are scheduled to participate in camp. The full schedule and a preliminary development camp roster will be available in early July.
** It appears as thoigh Vancouver Canicks assistant coach Glen Gulutzan is going to be named the new head coach of the Calgary Flames. Gulutzan may be named as early as today according to TSN?
Makes me wonder what will become of Utica Comets head coach Travis Green, who interviewed with Anaheim Ducks for their head coaching gig. The Ducks hired Randy Carlyle this week and Green is now left out in the cold.
Green has one season remaining on his contract. Will he return to the AHL and wait for an NHL head coach to be fired next season? Or, will he elevate to Vancouver to aasist Willie Desjardins?
The puck I now on Green's tape.
Should he stay or should he go now?
“We haven’t gone down that road yet,… Nucks GM Jim Benning told The Province.
“I know Travis has had opportunities and teams have asked him to be an assistant coach and has turned them down because he wants to be a head coach at the NHL level one day.
“He feels his best path is to continue to be the head coach in Utica and we’re going to talk about that if we do lose somebody.…
Comets assistant coach Paul Gerrard worked with Gulutzan in the AHL with the Texas Stars and NHL Dallas.
Im told that Green is still a candidate to join Dan Bylsma's bench in Buffalo. Green and Todd Rierden are two candidates that I'm told who are still on Bylsma's short list.
**