OTT and CGY say no all day long. NYR say no to DAL trade, more value in Zucc elseware

Ottawa was trying to bundle Bobby Ryan with Erik Karlsson in a trade... they are so cheap they essentially paid a 2nd rounder to NYR so that they could save 2M$ in Brassard's signing bonus two years ago. Gaborik is owed 11M for the next three years. Are you sure they don't at least consider it?

As for Calgary, they are trading for Namestnikov in exchange for Adam Fox and a slight worsening of their cap room. Dunno.

We're sure they will not give up the 4th overall yes. I doubt Calgary would say yes to that trade because they do not need Staal. But you know who would? Dallas, if Heatherington is not ready and they want Heiskanen to develop another year. I would have packaged Staal with zuccarello and a pick, and would have incurred Spezza's contract for one year. I think that would have been a good move and more realistic. I know Staal has a NMC, but if he does not want to move he can sit in the press box for 82 games (which will not look good when he wants another contract).

CGY says yes to this without thinking much about it. Namestnikov is a very capable C/W. Launching Brouwer's salary for a retained Top 5 dman is better than anything else to get (maybe VAN would pay a 3rd rounder for Brouwer, but who knows).

Fox is already hinting he might do that thing that some NCAA prospects do (ie. not sign with the team that drafted him). NYR is a place he would want to be long-term (he's American and played at Harvard).

Getting a useful dman and Namestnikov for this package is pretty logical for CGY. Would be optimal if they turned around and sold Staal/Namestnikov to someone else for draft picks.

Gaborik will either be A) on the LTIR all year where 80% of his contract is paid for by insurance or B) bought out. No thanks from Ottawa!