Big trade ushers in free-agent season
An old-fashioned trade upstaged the anticipation of the NHL's free-agent shopping season.
Looking to clear space under the salary cap, the New York Rangers shipped top center Scott Gomez to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday for forward Chris Higgins as part of a six-player trade.
The Canadiens are now responsible for the five years and $33.5 million left on the seven-year deal the Rangers gave Gomez two summers ago to pry him away from the rival New Jersey Devils. New York can use the $7.35 million of cap space freed up by Gomez's departure to try to add much-needed offense.
Higgins is a start. Could a trade for disgruntled Ottawa forward Dany Heatley, or the signing of impending free agents such as Marian Hossa (Detroit) or Marian Gaborik (Minnesota) be far behind? Those guys can begin fielding offers from any NHL team starting Wednesday at noon (EDT).
``We're not up against the cap now. We've got lots of cap room,'' Rangers general manager Glen Sather said of the $56.8 million payroll ceiling for next season. ``It just makes the options more inviting for us. I am not sure what is going to happen.
``Since this deal has happened, I've had three calls. It doesn't take very long for people to recognize that you're going to make some changes.''
Many teams are in the same situation, but making the right trade or free-agent deal goes beyond just figuring out what players fit best. Ever since the NHL lockout ushered in the salary-cup era, finances have been as important as player evaluation.
The Vancouver Canucks were working hard Wednesday to retain the Sedin twins, Henrik and Daniel, before they could field other offers. Canucks GM Mike Gillis went to their home in Sweden to try to get a deal done in person with agent JP Barry.
The salary cap rose only $100,000 over last season, by far the smallest increase since its institution, and the prevailing belief is that it will go down next summer after the NHL feels the full effect of the economic slowdown.
Hockey didn't take the hit last season because most advertising dollars and revenue streams were in hand before the economy went south in September. If revenues drop significantly over the course of this season, the cap will decrease.
``Everybody anticipates that,'' San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said Tuesday. ``The real world is the unknown and the key is to try and maintain some flexibility. We've always done that. We're not really big believers in long-term contracts, but each team is entitled to do whatever they think and then deal with the consequences that come from committing dollars and long-term deals.''
The Sharks didn't let 39-year-old defenseman Rob Blake get onto the open market, reportedly reaching a one-year deal with him on Tuesday worth $3.5 million - $1.5 million less than he earned last season.
Another defenseman, Johnny Oduya, also agreed to a new multiyear deal to stay with the New Jersey Devils. Oduya's contract is for worth $10.5 million over 3 years.
Jay Bouwmeester, perhaps the most coveted potential free-agent defenseman, never got a chance to test his worth. Bouwmeester, whose negotiating rights were traded to Calgary by Florida on Saturday at the NHL draft, agreed to a five-year deal to stay with the Flames that will pay him $6.6 million per season.
``Jay is one of the most complete defenseman in the game, and we are very pleased to have reached an agreement that will make him an important component of the Calgary Flames success,'' Flames general manager Darryl Sutter said. ``We identified Jay as the priority player where we were going to focus our money. We wanted an opportunity a few days in advance of the deadline, and that's why we made the move we did this past weekend.''
While the dollars might still be there for the prime free-agent targets, the long-term deals that have stretched into double digits in recent seasons might quickly become a thing of the past.
Fears of how low the cap will drop next season and beyond could change the thinking of general managers as they pursue players.
``Every team has their own philosophy,'' Wilson said. ``Everybody has got their eye on 2010. I think you just saw what happened at the draft where there wasn't a lot of trades. I think part of that reason was because of the unknown of 2010. You'd think that would impact the free-agent market also.''
Gaborik was limited by injuries to 17 games last season and is likely on the move. How much of an investment a team will give the forward, who scored 42 goals in the 2007-08 season and has reached the 30-goal mark four other times, will soon be determined.
``There just isn't the money in the system,'' new Wild GM Chuck Fletcher said. ``There's a lot more committed contracts. This is the first year the cap hasn't jumped considerably. So we're going to have to see how this plays out.
``That either means players are going to have to take less money or there's going to be more players looking for jobs later in the summer.''
The Canadiens might have to look to replace Mike Komisarek, who will be on the open market Wednesday. He decided not to sign a new deal before reaching free agency, but hasn't ruled out returning to Montreal.
``After much discussion and thought, Mike Komisarek has decided to enter the free-agent market,'' his agent Matt Keator said in a statement. ``Should they desire, we intend to keep Montreal involved in the process as they have treated Mike so well during his time in the organization.
``He remains interested in re-signing with them.''
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