Just what we needed, some intrigue and cayenne pepper to spice up an otherwise ordinary July 1 UFA day. Thomas Vanek, Matt Moulson, Jarome Iginla, and Brad Richards now have company in the top UFA forward pool. His name is Paul Stastny.
TVA's Renaud Lavoie is reporting that the Colorado Avalanche and the agent for pending UFA Paul Stastny are not able to agree on a deal that would keep the center in Denver.
Paul Stastny and the Avalanche were not able to get a deal done. He'll hit the market tomorrow. #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) July 1, 2014In mid-June, Stastny's agent Matt Keator said that his client would give the Avs every opportunity to make a deal with him before the start of the July 1 UFA market.
Stastny just completed a five-year contract worth $6.6 million, AAV per season.
With the salary cap rising to $69 million for next season, there will be a half don teams whop will lineup to pay Stastny north of $6.5 million per season on a new long term deal.
At 28, Stastny is coming off his best season since the 2009-2010 season when he scored 20 goals and added 59 helpers. He scored 25 goals and added 35 assist in the regular season, then chipped in 5 goals and 5 assists in 7 playoff games against the Minnesota Wild.
Stastny is going to get paid. Big Time!
The Buffalo Sabres have $38 million available to get their cap ceiling. Tim Murray has $18 million to spend to get to the cap floor. He would gladly overpay Stastny to come and play in Buffalo. I like the look of Stastny, Reinhart, Girgensons, and Ennis down the center ice position.
Other teams looking for a difference-making center are St. Louis, Nashville, Chicago, and Florida. There will be many more suitors who will ante up in the hours to come.
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Ladies and Gentlemen. Samson. Reinahart.
Thanks, Sabres.com
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Michael Russo of the Star Tribune reports that Thomas Vanek is happy about his meeting with Minnesota Wild coach Mike Yeo on Sunday.
Vanek loves Minnesota just as much as the Wild love him. Why don't they just get it over with and sign a contract already.
The Wild would rather get Vanek's name on a shorter term deal. He'll get long term deal offers on Tuesday when the UFA market opens at Noon EDT.
Vanek, 30, just ended a seven-year, $50 million contract. He's got money in the bank. At this point in his career, he wants to create piece of mind for he and his family. His wife is a Minnesota native. They make their offseason home in Stillwater. Vanek could turn a two or three year bridge contract into a longer term pact with a 30-35 goals season or two. I like his chances.
So does Jason Pominville, the president of the Thomas Vanek fan club. He wants to play with his bro again.
“He’s always a threat when he has the puck, and when he doesn’t have the puck, he always finds ways to get himself available,… Pominville said of the NHL’s eighth-leading goal scorer since 2005-06. “He would step in and help our power play right away. As a net-front presence, he’s always there with screens and always finds a way to get his stick on the puck.
“He’s so good at tipping pucks, it’s crazy.…
Just do it.
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Yes, I want Steve Ott to re-sign in Buffalo.
I know that Ott and his family really enjoyed his time in Buffalo. The Sabres enjoyed having him as a leader in their room.
He'll have other options. However, I think the Sabres can persuade Otter to come home by offering him term and dollars.
Stitch his "C" on his #9 sweater and watch him drag the youngsters into the alley fights every night.
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