With today's opening of the contract buyout period, general managers around the NHL can now start making some significant maneuvers to prepare their rosters for the July 1 start of free agency. Big-dollar contracts for players yielding little NHL value are ripe for the picking, and names like Chris Drury and Sheldon Souray could be let loose on the market soon.
Here in Nashville, that question lingers over the head of winger J.P. Dumont. Signed for one more year at $4 million, and with a no trade clause, Dumont's role on the team continued to dwindle this season, and as David Poile looks ahead to re-signing Shea Weber and crafting a competitive roster for 2011-12, buying out Dumont could be one option there.
The NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement dictates that a player whose contract gets bought out receives 2/3rds of their remaining salary, spread out over twice the remaining length of the contract. For J.P., that would mean $2.666 million, paid over the next two seasons (that amount counts against team payroll and the salary cap).
If that does happen, I hope J.P. gets a fresh start somewhere. Personally, I think he can still provide scoring punch in this league, but the Predators just don't fit his style of play any more.
Poile hasn't tipped his hand yet on this front, but obviously we'll stay tuned for any developments. Until then, follow after the jump for your morning news & notes...
Father's Day Gift Idea #2 - Gift Certificates | Hockey Gear HQ
Give the hockey-loving dad in your life a gift certificate to one of these online stores, so he can pick exactly the gear & accessories that he wants himself (it's probably too late to ship anything, anyway).
Nashville Predators News
Predators have yet to make decisions on Dumont and Sullivan - Nashville Predators Examiner
The contract buyout period runs today through June 30, with J.P. Dumont an increasingly likely candidate, and Sully hits free agency on July 1. Will either of them return to Nashville this fall?
What The Puck: Tainted Celebration
Rachel was saddened by the events in Vancouver, as well as some of the reaction to them from outside B.C.
NHL and Non-NHL Market Rankings For Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final " Puck The Media
Nashville fared pretty well here...
Smashville 24/7: About
Ryan launches a sister site to his RLD Hockey, devoted to Preds coverage.
Catching Up – Cups, Coaches, & Finns | Admirals Roundtable
Ryan ponders what he'd look for in a new Admirals head coach.
Around the NHL
Bruins pride all over, but hats are hard to find - The Boston Globe
Fans are emptying stores all over Boston. (psst - I know where you can find Bruins Stanley Cup Championship gear online).
The Bruins: Game Seven - CanucksCorner.com
Tom Benjamin shares his thoughts on the Canucks' loss, and the relationship between fans and teams in general.
Habs Fans Watch Bitter Rivals Hoist Cup | All Habs
It can be tough to set aside deep enmity to congratulate a victor.
mc79hockey.com - Sorting through the rubble
Compared to most champs of recent years, the Bruins were assembled through good old horse-trading.
Cup champion Bruins won't suffer same free agency fate as Blackhawks - Cross Checks Blog - ESPN
The Bruins are set up as well as any team in recent years to make a run at repeating.
Thank You, Boston, For Ending this Season the Right Way - Behind The Net
Tim Thomas' numbers compare favorably with late-90's Dominik Hasek, but overall save percentages were lower back then, so Hasek still stands alone for me. But wow, what a season for Thomas.
Vancouver Riots: Citizens unite to clean, police seek suspects - Puck Daddy
The work now will take a lot more effort and time than one night of drunken madness.
Pavel Bure: "After 3-0, I realized that everything" -Eurosport
Run this one through the Google Translator, for an interview with Pavel Bure about his thoughts on the Finals. Recall that he was the big star for the 1994 Vancouver team that fell in 7 games to the Rangers.
Jagr to Red Wings? Let the trade rumors commence! - NHL Hot Stove
Silly season is under way!
Carolina Trade Looming? - Canes Country
It sounds like Jim Rutherford is working the phones...
Video: The top 10 goals of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs - Puck Daddy
"Leggy's Whiff" is #1!
Stamkos still optimistic on getting contract extension done - Lightning Strikes
He's kind of like Tampa's Shea Weber.
WHL: Sweeping changes to reduce brain injuries - Buzzing The Net
When teenagers are playing, it perhaps makes it easier for a league to take protective measures.
Ohio St., Michigan plan outdoor game in Cleveland - CBSSports.com
Another cool outdoor game is on the way...
Breaking News: Wild Trade All-Star Defenseman to Devils - Hockey Wilderness
Don't get too excited, we're talking about an AHL All-Star here.
"Unlikely to see us in the same team" - Expressen.se
Did you know that Henrik Lundqvist has a twin brother? What is it about those Swedes? (run through your favorite translator)
Capitals hire Olie Kolzig as associate goaltending coach, Dave Prior to resume role as Washington’s NHL goalie coach - Capitals Insider
Olie The Goalie is back!
A Look at Shot Quality - Behind The Net
Really good stuff here, but put your thinking cap on first.
Wild to name Mike Yeo coach - StarTribune.com
Fresh off one year as an AHL head coach, Mike Yeo will apparently take over in Minnesota. Um, good luck with that.