The Blackhawks are a team that many are keeping an eye on when it comes to the trade front with long-time veterans Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews among those that could potentially be on the move between now and the March 3rd trade deadline, assuming that they’re willing to waive their trade protection. However, GM Kyle Davidson told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan that he has yet to have any specific trade talks on any of his players just yet. With the trade market largely being stalled out right now due to a lack of cap flexibility, there’s no immediate rush to start to get a sense of what the market might be for some of their veterans. That should change at some point in the new year, especially when Kane and Toews decide whether they’d like to move on or if they want to remain with Chicago.
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro confirmed to Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News (Twitter link) that he’ll return to the lineup tonight against Calgary after missing close to four weeks with a foot injury. The 24-year-old is second on the team in ice time per game at a little under 23 minutes a night while he has chipped in with five points and 47 blocked shots in 23 games. San Jose had an open roster spot to activate him off injured reserve so no corresponding roster move needed to be made.
- Avalanche winger Andrew Cogliano will miss at least the next two games after suffering an upper-body injury in last night’s game against the Islanders, relays Kyle Frederickson of The Denver Gazette (Twitter link). The 35-year-old tumbled into the boards in the third period on Monday and did not return. He has four goals and three assists in 30 games so far this season while being an important part of a bottom-six group that has gone through plenty of turnover thus far. Now, he’ll be out until after the holiday break and will be re-evaluated at that time.
- Veteran defenseman Alex Biega announced his retirement on his Instagram page. The 34-year-old had a 12-year professional career, seeing NHL action in eight of those seasons. Biega suited up in 243 NHL contests between Vancouver, Detroit, and Toronto, picking up 42 points along with 624 hits. He also got into 397 career AHL games, collecting 129 points.
Mm, well, Kane and Toews can decide what they like when it pleases them to do so, but if the market’s stalled out now because so many teams are up against the cap (and a lot of GMs are saying just that), what does anyone think is going to change about that between now and March?
The cap hits get prorated so the closer they get to the deadline the more teams there will be that can take them. They make 10.5, but if the Hawks eat half it’s 5.25, after the proration for 60-65ish percent of the season, the incoming cap number is only like 2mil. Add in some outgoing salary from the acquiring team, and most teams that would want them can take them. Not to mention the possibility of a 3rd team to eat cap and reroute or LTIR usage.
It does, but a team that’s right up against the cap all season long isn’t accruing more than a trickle of space.
The CAP is NOT prorated.
Salary is prorated.
Another injury to the Avs? Holy crap. This team is buried with injuries.