Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff stated quite clearly on Tuesday that he’s not trying to trade restricted free agent Jacob Trouba, although this particular quote ends with the same amount of wiggle room that any GM has to allow thanks to the familiar ‘If Wayne Gretzky can be traded…’ refrain.
“This is an interesting time of the year,” Cheveldayoff said. “I’ve seen lots of different scenarios out there, teams that are pushing hard that I haven’t even heard from. And I’ve talked to different teams that ask different questions that I’ve certainly asked myself.
“I’m not trying to trade anybody. In this game there’s the distinct possibility that anybody can get traded.”
Source: Paul Friesen/ Winnipeg Sun
Trading Trouba? No way, says Cheveldayoff
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Winnipeg-based reporter Gary Lawless, formerly with the Free Press and currently with TSN, spoke with Jacob Trouba’s agent.
You can also listen to Lawless discuss this very topic in more detail off the top of Tuesday’s edition of his daily radio show.
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The gist of Cheveldayoff’s comments jibe with what Darren Dreger reported last week.
The full context of that comment, which was made during a radio hit on Winnipeg’s TSN 1290, came when Dreger was asked about a bridge deal versus longer-term contract scenario.
“I don’t expect that he’d accept a bridge deal,” said Dreger. “I think that Trouba believes that he’s shown enough in the National Hockey League to warrant a longer term and a bigger number, but we don’t know exactly what that term or what that number is. I believe that that number, term and dollars, is prohibitive from a Winnipeg Jets perspective. And I think honestly, that’s what fueling a lot of this trade speculation. Because look, we know player agents and players use sometimes outrageous terms to encourage a trade. But I’ve been told by both parties here that Jacob Trouba is absolutely willing to sign and stay in Winnipeg.
“So if that’s the case, then he’s driving a hard negotiation here.”
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One other note on Trouba, and it comes from well-respected Insider Bob McKenzie, who was asked about Trouba near the beginning of June on Edmonton’s TSN 1260.
“That’s going to be a really intriguing one,” began McKenzie. “When I said a team like Colorado is looking for a defenseman, I’m sure they’re saying, ‘Hmm. Jacob Trouba. He would look good as a member of the Colorado Avalanche.’ That’s getting into blockbuster territory, the same as Seth Jones for Ryan Johansen type of thing because Trouba is that high-profile, right-shot defenseman. He’s a big body who not only can provide a significant offensive boost from the blueline, but also can be a punishing physical guy.
“We wonder what’s going to happen coming out of his entry level. Are they going to bridge him. Are they going to give him a long-term deal. We’ve heard rumbles that he’s looking for really big money to go by the bridge deal, to get the seven or eight year deal for big coin. Maybe Winnipeg doesn’t want to do that. If they don’t want to do it, well, they can force him to take the bridge deal. But when you start to go down that road where you’re forcing bridge deals on young players – free agency may seem like a long way away, and it is, technically, when it’s probably another four years, anyways. But if you start getting on the wrong side of a player, or the player feels like he’s not sympatico with the organization, then you run the risk of that guy playing out the string and doing a series of short-term team deals until he can walk himself to free agency.
“So there’s lots going on there. I can’t sit here and unequivocally tell you, ‘Yeah, Trouba is going to be traded because the Jets aren’t going to get a deal done with him.’ The Jets may very well get a deal done with Jacob Trouba, end of story, that’s that.
“But I can you this – there are going to be a bunch of National Hockey League teams calling the Jets and saying, ‘What are you doing with Trouba? If you’re going to move him, we’re interested.’
“So you get two concurrent things going down separate rails – the negotiation for the contract, and always aware at the same time what his trade value is, and if you do have to move him, what you might be able to get back for him.”
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Kurt Overhardt, incidentally, is Trouba’s agent. He’s also the agent for injured Edmonton Oilers defenseman Andrew Ference, who cannot be bought out by the team.
Ference had hip surgery in May and hasn’t yet been cleared medically by the Oilers.
“He’s not cleared to play ice hockey and a cartilage repair takes a long time,” said Overhardt. “He’s nowhere near being cleared so it’s not even an issue. If you are hurt, you’re hurt. He has to be able to run, he has to be able to skate.”
Source: Jim Matheson/ Edmonton Journal
Still-injured Andrew Ference can’t be bought out by Edmonton Oilers
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Thomas Vanek’s agent says he has not yet been given a heads up by Minnesota Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher that his client would be bought out, which has been speculated as a possibility.
We’ll see what happens on that front with the buyout window remaining open for a few weeks, but Steve Bartlett does this Vanek has a rebound year coming for the talented winger.
New head coach Bruce Boudreau may be able to help coax that along, too.
“Bruce was never known as the most defensive-minded player either,” Bartlett said, laughing. “Bruce was known for his offensive touch that either you have or you don’t. I think that’s Thomas. Maybe Bruce has exactly the right message to get the most out of Thomas and play to your pluses and find a way to work around your liabilities.”
Source: Michael Russo/ Star Tribune
It’s decision time for the Wild on Thomas Vanek
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Bartlett is also the agent for restricted free agent Kyle Palmieri, who thinks it’s ‘pretty early in the process’ as far as contract talks between Bartlett and New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero.
Palmieri has two more years until he reaches unrestricted free agency, but he’s hoping for a deal with a bit more length to it.
“Obviously it depends but I look at it as now I’m 25 and I look at my last contract as more of a bridge deal,” Palmieri said. “It’s up to Ray and the Devils and kind of throwing around the years for both sides and figuring out something that works.”
Source: Andrew Gross/ Fire & Ice
Impending RFA Kyle Palmieri says contract negotiations in early stages, confident in fruitful talks
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Andrew Ladd knows the odds are fairly long that he’ll be able to stay with the Chicago Blackhawks as he enters free agency in two weeks.
What’s next then?
“First and foremost I want to play for a team that has a chance to win,” said Ladd. “I’ve kind of done the rebuild thing a little bit there in Winnipeg. At this point in my career I want a chance to win another Stanley Cup.
“And then, family-wise, just being in a good spot for my wife and kids, somewhere where they’re going to be happy and comfortable. I think those are the two most important things that I’m looking at.”
Source: Pierre LeBrun/ ESPN
Rumblings: Where will UFAs Andrew Ladd, Kyle Okposo and Keith Yandle land?
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While we’re still awaiting official word from the NHL, it appears the league will be moving forward with expansion plans to Las Vegas.
That news will kick the wheels in motion for so many things with this new franchise, but there’s also one key caveat to keep in mind for those men who will be selected in next summer’s expansion draft for when the season finally begins.
“Making sure you keep your players out of trouble,” Las Vegas 51s manager Wally Backman said.
The 51s are a minor league baseball team – the Triple-A affiliate for the New York Mets.
No players on the 51s have been arrested or developed any gambling issues, according to Backman.
“My whole thing here is if I can get the players through the first three weeks of the season, they’ve had all of the fun they probably want to have,” Backman said. “Not that they’re not going to go out anymore, but they realize you just can’t do that, especially with the job that they have. They’ll run themselves out of gas.”
Source: Betsy Helfand/ Las Vegas Review-Journal
51s warn NHL players of temptations in Las Vegas
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Brian Burke on Gordie Howe:
“When I first took over in Hartford, Gordie was on the payroll there as a goodwill ambassador. And I asked him, I said, ‘We should sit down and talk about your role.’
“He came into my office. He sat opposite my desk. He leaned over to the left and leaned over to the right, way over. Like peering. I thought he was looking behind me, so I turn and look, see if there’s something in the window or something. I turn back around and I said, ‘Is something wrong, Mr. Howe?’
“And he keeps leaning each way. Finally he goes, ‘Does your barber charge you by the f—ing acre?’ I changed it to g—d—- for the media. That’s how our meeting started. I’ve got such a big head and such thick hair. F—, I laughed.”
Source: Alex Prewitt/ Sports Illustrated
Flames executive Brian Burke shares stories on Gordie Howe
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In case you missed it, this was the full exchange in Vladimir Tarasenko’s recent meeting with St. Louis press on the subject of any perceived issues between the right winger and the team.
Can you respond and address to report in Canada that there was a problem between you and the organization?
“Me and who?”
You and the coach; you and the organization; that’s what it said, that there was a problem:
“What is organization? Like everybody else?”
The Blues and you:
“It’s never been even talking about it. Like, we have really good relationships and (laughs) … media just (likes) to talk. They have to do little stuff why it’s happen. They start to talking about it big. They talking about problem between me and Blues. Now it’s never been a problem. If there is going to be problems, I would not sign for eight years. “
Source: Lou Korac/ In The Slot
Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko
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Nichols’ Notes runs weekdays, linking you to stories of interest from around the NHL.
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