Rumor Wheel Keeps on Turning, Proud Mikey Keeps on Burning

The Flyers are continuing to shake things up, or at least hint at the possibility. Some more draft news. As well as a slew of contract goings-on.

The Summer of the Offer Sheet? Pitkanen Departing? Draft Day Deal?

As general managers league-wide start to understand the benefits and consequences of a hard salary cap, it may be time that GM’s start to use every resource at their disposure: including the rarely used offer sheet.

For those unfamiliar with the business end of NHL dealings, I’ll summarize: An offer sheet can be offered to unsigned, but qualified restricted free agents. The current team may match any offer that an opposing team may offer and keep their player, or a player can reject any offer sheet and there is no consequence in either direction. However, if a player and a different team agree to an offer sheet and the player’s previous team does not match the offer, the previous team is compensated with draft picks. Compensation that ranges anywhere between a third round pick and four first rounds picks.

Anyway, the Philadelphia Flyers may be eyeing up Sabres winger Thomas Vanek. Vanek, 23, was fifth in the NHL in goals this season with 43 and first in plus-minus rating at plus-47. Vanek would likely receive a contract that would command multiple first round picks.

Flyers GM Paul Holmgren is not at liberty to comment on any specific free agents. However, he did say that, “we are looking at every conceivable way we can improve our team.”

In other Flyers news, the Flyers are greatly exploring the option of the trading the second overall pick in this Friday’s entry draft. The Flyers may be looking for an established top flight forward. They already have the 23rd pick in the draft from Nashville in the Peter Forsberg deal.

The Flyers are also not expected to re-sign defenseman Joni Pitkanen. Pitkanen will, reportedly, be qualified with a $1 million contract on deadline day (June 25th). Pitkanen, a former fourth overall pick, made $2 million last season while racking up 39 assists and 43 points. The Edmonton Oilers have been trying to get Pitkanen for years, including at the 2002 draft where he was selected, this is could be Edmonton’s puck-mover that they sorely need.


High Sticks

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Jose Theodore is likely to stick around Denver for one more season, despite poor play and a $6 million contract.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo is reportedly not even close on term or value in contract negotiations. The restricted free agent has been hampered by injuries throughout his career but is extremely promising. With nearly $20 million already tied up on the blueline in Toronto, Colaiacovo is vulnerable to an offer sheet.

Thrashers stay-at-home defenseman Andy Sutton is asking for a four-year, $16 million contract when he hits the open market July 1st. The Michigan Tech grad played in 55 games last season, scoring 16 points with a plus-6 rating while ranking seventh on the Thrashers in ice time per game. The sweet sound of inflation.


Point Shots

The Los Angeles Kings are expected to pursue Sabres center Daniel Briere should he hit the market on July 1st, the Kings join a list of 28 NHL teams that are interested in him, leaving out the Sharks (Thornton/Marleau) and the Penguins (Crosby/Malkin/Staal).

Sharks center Patrick Marleau is more than willing to stay in San Jose after his contract expires at the conclusion of this season.

The Calgary Flames have offered defenseman Brad Stuart a multi-year contract. If the Flames retain Stuart, a deadline acquisition, they will surrender a conditional fourth round draft pick to Boston.

The Chicago Blackhawks have made an offer to center Michal Handzus. Handzus, who played all of eight games last season before being injured, is reportedly asking for $4 million per season. The Blackhawks are not likely to bite on such a high number and that may send Handzus out to test the free agent waters. The Blackhawks are likely to pick Patrick Kane first overall in this Friday’s draft.

The Tampa Bay Lightning and hulking forward Evgeni Artyukhin will likely part ways. The Lightning have offered a one-year, $475,000 contract and a three-year, $1.575 million contract, both rejected by Artyukhin. Artyukhin is expected to return to Yaroslavl Lokotmotiv (RSL) for another season, meanwhile he has asked that the Lightning trade his rights away.

Anaheim Ducks defenseman and Conn Smythe winner Scott Niedermayer is considering retiring as soon as this summer. Despite the beard, Niedermayer is only 33 years old (will be 34 before next season starts however).

Much-maligned Los Angeles Kings goaltender Dan Cloutier has disappeared from the team’s roster page…in other news, “blogger concludes article with least newsworthy tidbit at his fingertips.”