The Sharks freed up about five million in cap space by trading a few of their players, now the question is who is going to San Jose? Is it going to be the disgruntled Heatly or is it Kessel?
League sources say the Sharks are among a couple of teams that have interest in Heatley, but Wilson said the deal he made yesterday “makes sense.”
“When the right thing is there,” Wilson told the San Jose Mercury News, referring to trade talks, “having that flexibility is a wonderful thing under this system, being able to explore things or put closure to them. When the timing is right and it makes sense to both teams, you have the flexibility and those things can happen.”
Also, talk won’t go away that the Sharks are set to give Bruins restricted free-agent winger Phil Kessel an offer sheet.
As reported earlier this summer by Sun Media, Heatley’s agents, J.P. Barry and Stacey McAlpine, have been given Murray’s permission to broker a deal. [slam sports --- Canoe]
It kind of makes sense, he might not be able to play till December. Eventually he will have to sign a contract or risk sitting out all season because no team has offered him a offer sheet.
For those fretting about Phil Kessel remaining unsigned, remember that there is no rush for either side to put pen to paper. The 21-year-old forward might not be ready to play until December because of rehabilitation following shoulder surgery. Kessel can continue his rehab and see if the Bruins sputter at the start, which could put pressure on the club to lock him up. On the other side, the team has a deep lineup up front. Three summers ago, Patrice Bergeron, also an unsigned restricted free agent, didn’t agree to his five-year, $23.75 million extension until Aug. 22 . . . [Boston Globe]
*Former Fighting Sioux goalie Jean-Philippe Lamoureux has a new contract with the Buffalo Sabres organization. "Last season, he set the ECHL’s record for shutouts in a season and also led the league in wins."
*Speaking of goalies; Minnesota Wild Goalie Josh Harding has a new deal with the Minnesota Wild. So one could say that the Wild's stable is full of goalies, the Wild have 1.) former DU Pioneer Wade Dubielewicz, 2.) Josh Harding and 3.) all world goalie Niklas Backstrom as their goalies, you would have to think that Harding is going to be traded for an offensive player. How do you keep all three happy, when Backstrom is going to be the man between the pipes.
*Per the Grand Forks Herald, The voice of Sioux hockey won’t change either, as Tim Hennessy again will call all UND games. Hennessy also is expected to be the host of the coaches show. This is good news for Sioux fans.
*The Phil Kessel Saga continues as he is still without a contract. [Puck Daddy]
*Per Quickfacts Lord Stanley's Cup is coming to Grand Rapids, MN in August. Pittsburgh Penguin Alex Goligoski who turned 24 today, will have the Stanley Cup in his hometown of Grand Rapids Minnesota on August 19th.
Former Fighting Sioux forward Travis Zajac got a nice raise and avoided arbitration.
The Devils have avoided Friday's arbitration hearing and re-signed restricted free agent center Travis Zajac to a four-year contract worth a total of $15.55 million
Zajac said it is a four-year deal, but would not divulge any other details of the contract.
Zajac, 24, is coming off a breakout season in which he posted career-highs with 20 goals, 42 assists, 62 points and a team-best plus-33 defensive rating.
"He's developed into a core player and getting him long-term I think is good for both him and his growth and for the organization," Lamoriello told me this morning.
Only Monday, Lamoriello said he it appeared as if the sides were headed to an arbitration hearing on Friday in Toronto, but these things have a way of working themselves out in the final days before the hearing and they reached adn agreement late Tuesday night. [Fire and Ice]
Here are some more details on Travis Zajac's new deal. I think the deal that Travis signed could be a gauge for other three year players looking for their first deal as a restricted free agent that scored 60 points the season before.
Zajac signed a four-year contract for a total of $15.55 million or an average -- and cap hit of -- $3,887,500. The new deal pays him $2.75 million in 2009-10, $3.5 million in 2010-11, $4.5 million in 2011-12 and $4.8 million in 2012-13. [Fire and Ice]
