Salary cap woes keep NHL off-Season in full swing
Moving into the end of July usually means that the National Hockey League off-season is pretty well over. Generally by this time teams have made their moves and are getting their rosters together in preparation for next season.
But the 2010 edition has not played out that way, with plenty of moves left to be made. Ilya Kovalchuk and Marty Turco remain on the market while some teams still remain above the cap, and in need of more players to fill out their line-ups.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs still sit above the league salary cap, and therefore are going to have to make some moves before the start of the season in October. The Leafs still look weak upfront, especially down the middle, and with a surplus of NHL caliber defenceman, a move looks to be imminent. The Leafs recently signed former Detroit Red Wing Brett Lebda, which opened the door for many analysts to predict the trade of Tomas Kaberle. General Manager Brian Burke has said little on the subject lately. However a player of Kaberle’s quality could go a long way in acquiring some forwards to help with a struggling offensive unit.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers are another team that sits above the league’s salary cap, and they still have some work to do. With restricted free agents Darroll Powe and Daniel Carcillo still unsigned it is expected that the Flyers are going to have to make a trade. With the acquisition of Nikolai Zherdev and one of the league’s best forward crops, it looks as though long time Flyer, and playoff hero Simon Gagne will be moved.
Even if Gagne were to be traded the Flyers still find themselves without a true number one goalie and unless GM Paul Holmgren plans to go back and forth between Brian Boucher and Michael Leighton next season he is going to have to look outside the organization.
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins have still not signed RFA forward Blake Wheeler, and with the acquisition of winger Nathan Horton sit very close to the salary cap. The Bruins have been trying to move veteran goalie Tim Thomas and first line centre Mark Savard since the beginning of the summer. Savard and Thomas however make incredibly high salaries, making it very difficult to find a trading partner. If GM Peter Chiarelli is not able to get Savard or Thomas off his books he could be forced into trading someone else or not re-signing Wheeler.
San Jose Sharks
The retirement of Rob Blake puts the Sharks in a tough spot on the back end, and after missing out on Niklas Hjalmarsson GM Doug Wilson has some serious work to do. Obviously not impressed by the current state of his defense Wilson is going to have look to the open market or perhaps trades.
Although having showed he is not shy to sign offer sheets, Rangers RFA defenseman Marc Staal could also be an option to clean up his blue line in time for October. Adding to Wilson’s headache is the fact that he still does not have a starting goaltender for next year. Evgeni Nabokov’s move to the Kontinetal Hockey League means that Antero Niittymaki is the team’s number one tender. Wilson has just over $6 million to work with, but if he is hoping to go after Marty Turco, as well as pick up another defender he may need to make some room.
Already in July these four teams still have major holes to fill and major moves to make before they are ready to begin the season. Both the Maple Leafs and the Flyers are currently above the NHL’s salary cap, while the Bruins find themselves dangerously close with the signing of Wheeler still to come. The Sharks on the other hand have a great deal of space but require a top-four defenceman and a starting goalie, two players that promise to come at a cost.
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