Nichols' Notes
/Related: Nichols' Notes (June 17)
Related: Trade Watch: Jason Spezza Edition
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John Vogl of The Buffalo News runs down the need for the Sabres to get up to the salary cap floor by the start of the season and how that's factoring into GM Tim Murray's trade thoughts as the draft approaches.
“I would make a trade for a large contract to get a first-round pick involved,” Murray said.
“Every trade that every team makes, money is a consideration. I’m not going to say that I would just make that trade to buy a guy out. If that happens, it happens. I may take a contract on to play here. It would depend on the player.”
Direct, strong and honest quotes from Brian Burke (would you expect anything else?), Dion Phaneuf and Dave Nonis via The Toronto Sun's Steve Buffery on what it's like to work/play for the Toronto Maple Leafs when it comes to the media coverage. Definitely worth a few minutes to read.
The Flames indicated to The Calgary Sun’s Randy Sportak that they didn’t want to comment on a report Chris Butler was headed toward free agency and wouldn’t be back with the team, but said that “shouldn’t be interpreted as not going to be re-signed.”
UFA Peter Regin's agent tells CSN's Tracey Myers that there have been no contract talks with the Chicago Blackhawks. By the time the draft rolls around agent Craig Oster said he'll have a better idea of where his client stands with the team.
See full video of the Colorado Avalanche press conference.
Adrian Dater also has a note about Ryan O'Reilly recently having had shoulder surgery.
The Denver Post's Adrian Dater has the highlights from the Colorado Avalanche presser Thursday, the central theme of which was the future of Paul Stastny (UFA) and Ryan O'Reilly (RFA, with Avs having opted for salary arbitration).
Coach Patrick Roy was asked about the impact the relationship between player in management in O'Reilly's case.
"It's not even a concern to me as a coach. That's OK today, Ryan is a businessman. But when he's going to jump on the ice, he's going to be a hockey player. Everybody knows that I like him a lot and been using him in all kinds of situations, and Ryan came to me and the end of the year and talked about how he wants to learn how to win. That's the perfect fit for me."
As part of the Calgary Flames' Brian Burke interview noted below, he was asked if there’s anything “below the surface” of the draft we should know.
Phenomenal answer.
“I think there’s a lot of lying that goes on at the draft. There’s a lot of – You know, I’ve said this to people. I’ve said it very openly to the public in Vancouver and again in Toronto. I think the general manager is obligated to tell the truth to the fans, except around the draft. And then I think he has an obligation to lie freely.
"If you can put some information out there that forces someone to take a player ahead of you, or influences their choice – and I believe it’s happened a couple of times – that’s the one time, I think. I think your fans are entitled to a straight answer the rest of the year, but I think around the draft you’re well within your rights to stretch things a little bit.
“There is a lot of lying and a lot of tall tales at the draft.”
And you’re doing it these days, aren’t you? You play into that.
“Yeah. Everyone does. I’m not pointing the finger. I point it at me too. But it’s, you know, guys say we’re taking this guy and they draft and they took someone completely different. Or they say we have this deal worked out, so I think there’s a lot of noses growing around the draft every year.”
The Anaheim Ducks web site has the transcript of GM Bob Murray's comments from Thursday.
Brian Burke was interviewed by the Calgary Flames web site for a two-part discussion on the draft. He was asked to reflect back on his career on someone he saw and knew was going to blossom.
“Well, the first time – we had drafted R.J. Umberger in Vancouver and the first time we went in to watch him play, Ryan Kesler came on the ice and he just caught my eye his first shift. Just this bow-legged skater, he was hostile, and belligerant, and sour and get all over the rink.
“I turned to our scout and said ‘where do we have this kid?’
"He said ‘we have him in the second round.’
"I said ‘we’ll move him up.’
"We took him in the first round after one shift.
“And usually I don’t interfere with the scouting, but that was one case where I felt 'we’ve got to get this kid' and he’s obviously been a real good acquisition for the Canucks.”
Michael Russo of The Star Tribune reports that the NHL is now allowing teams and players, agents to discuss general parameters of contracts during the free agent interview process. Interesting read on what prompted the change, including the official wording of the memo (as read to him by an agent).
Via Pierre LeBrun's Rumblings:
The Colorado Avalanche and Paul Stastny's camp expected to continue contract talks next week in Las Vegas.
Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon on his No. 1 pick: "We've had one, maybe two, concrete offers. About 8-10 teams have showed interest but at this point nothing I would do. We'll see what happens next week."
Tampa Bay Times writer Joe Smith notes "the Lightning still remain in talks with pending unrestricted free agent Ryan Callahan, though it's likely he'll at least test the free agent market on July 1."
Interesting read from The Post-Gazette's Michael Sanserino on how "the analytics movement that transformed the way executives manage sports rosters has moved to the business side of the industry, where ticketing and marketing executives are gathering detailed information about fans to help sell season-ticket packages and enhance relationships with sponsors."