Yes it is.
We dont need to be the nicest place to retire in the NHL, we need to win a Stanley Cup.
The market will dictate which side needs to come off their position if a deal with Vancouver is to be made. Canucks don't feel that another team would offer ED protection, which is the key point of what Edler wants. Either another team will or they will not. Find out after the window period ends.
As for these persistent Lucic rumours, he's still owed an average of $4 million per after the July SB. LA owed Phaneuf cash of $9 million total of his $12 million due because Ottawa was retaining 25%. With a NMC, LA ended up buying Phaneuf out. LA either could not find another taker or were not prepared to give assets away to get rid of him. Even to the point of retaining the contract to reduce the assets going out. Keep that in mind with Lucic. There is really not much of a market for taking on bad contracts. AZ is getting a new owner and due to them extending players are already at $74 million against the cap. NJ has to make moves to add to their team because Hall is a Free Agent next summer and has indicated that he wants to win with only 1 playoff appearance in his 9 year career so far. FLA just signed Q as coach and are big game hunting this summer. These were your typical landing spots for cap dumps like Savard, Pronger, Bolland, etc. in the past.
As for Eriksson, didn't catch the JP Barry interview on SN650 on Friday. From the sounds of it, he said it would be in the best interests of both sides for Loui to move on. Fine. But, he should not expect the Canucks to bend over to move his client to another NHL team. Think the Canucks would retain on his contract if they only needed to send a 5th round pick to another team. They can't afford to send a 2nd round pick to have no retention. Can't sell that to the fanbase. The AHL should be legit option for the Canucks. This is what happens when contracts are structured to be buyout proof. If it's not worth it for the team to buy the guy out, and for the Canucks, they would still owe him $12/$13 million remaining and would need to eat $14.65 million in dead cap over the next 3 years versus the $18 million they would have to take anyways with him on the roster. Or they keep him in the A and have the same amount of dead cap and are still paying someone else to take his roster spot. Either way, it costs them the same amount of money. Keep him in the A and recall him if necessary.
