Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman has once again wiggled his way out of a salary-cap bind.
Related: Blackhawks trade Shaw to Canadiens for 2 draft picks
The Blackhawks dealt forward Andrew Shaw to the Montreal Canadiens for two second-round picks, and with the restricted free-agent reportedly asking for at least $4.5 million per season in contract negotiations, the team no longer has salary cap problems, according to Bowman.
Stan Bowman won't say for sure that all current roster players are now safe, but says, "We don't have a cap problem anymore." #Blackhawks
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) June 25, 2016
The Blackhawks now have $6.39 million in cap space according to General Fanager, and none of their current roster players on restricted free agency.
Last season a similar cap restraint saw the Blackhawks deal away forwards Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp.
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Jim Nill knew where he was Friday night.
The Dallas Stars general manager let head coach Lindy Ruff make the club's first-round pick at the NHL Draft in Buffalo, and the fans at First Niagara Center showed their appreciation for the former Sabres bench boss.
Ruff coached the Sabres for nearly 15 seasons from 1997 to 2013, guiding them to eight playoff appearances and a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 1999.
He won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top head coach with Buffalo in 2006 and earned a nomination as a finalist this season with Dallas.
Credit Nill for being aware of the moment, and to the Buffalo fans, who took a break from booing many of the other clubs to pay Ruff respect.
(Video courtesy: Dallas Stars)
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The Montreal Canadiens made a splash at Friday's draft well before they picked defenseman Mikhail Sergachev with the ninth overall pick, as general manager Marc Bergevin crafted a trade to land Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw.
The Canadiens also dealt forward Lars Eller to the Washington Capitals, but in adding Shaw, Montreal sent two second-round picks to Chicago for a player Bergevin thinks can have an immediate impact.
#Habs MB: "(Shaw) is a proven winner. I know he can help our room. I don't know exactly what he's going to cost us, we had to make some room
— Dave Stubbs (@Dave_Stubbs) June 25, 2016
Shaw's resume with the Blackhawks also had an impact on the acquisition.
"I believe in leadership and character, he's won two Stanley Cups, only played five years in the NHL," Bergevin said.
Shaw is a restricted free agent, and reportedly asked the Blackhawks for a new contract in the realm of $4.5 million, and though he doesn't know what it will cost, Bergevin is adamant on getting a deal done soon.
#Habs MB re speaking with Shaw's agent Pat Brisson tonight: "We're going to start the conversation pretty soon about getting him signed."
— Dave Stubbs (@Dave_Stubbs) June 25, 2016
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It's safe to say the Arizona Coyotes got their man in Jakob Chychrun.
The club, spearheaded by general manager John Chayka, made a splash on Friday in acquiring both the No. 16 pick and the contract to forward Pavel Datsyuk - who has taken his talents to Russia.
Related: Red Wings trade Datsyuk's contract to Coyotes, retain no salary
With the No. 16 pick, the club picked Chychrun, a player Chayka admits he debated picking with the No. 7 selection he eventually used to select forward Clayton Keller, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.
Coyotes GM John Chayka says in a nutshell it was worth picking up the Datsyuk cap hit just to move up 4 spots to get Chychrun.
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) June 25, 2016
With Chychrun ranked fourth overall among all North American skaters, according to NHL Central Scouting, the Coyotes sure are lucky to have nabbed the 18-year-old.
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Auston Matthews was selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs to be a franchise-altering centerman, and though it was a formality he'd be selected at the top of the draft, the Arizona native admitted it was a relief to hear his name finally called.
"Once they called my name, it was definitely a sigh of relief," Matthews said, according to Sarah McLellan of Azcentralsports. "A lot of excitement."
However, in a market rabid for sustained success, there are high expectations for the 18-year-old to carry the load going forward, and Matthews believes he's ready for it.
"I want to be an impact player," Matthews said. "I believe I can be a franchise centerman, a No. 1 centerman in the NHL."
Matthews' new boss, Leafs' head coach Mike Babcock, believes Toronto has found a winner.
"Obviously we got a lot better," Babcock said, according to Jonas Siegel of the Canadian Press. "He's an elite player with an elite drive-train, big body guy, makes players better.
"He'll develop into a top, top center in the National Hockey League."
Matthews is the latest factor in the Maple Leafs' ongoing rebuild, but if everything goes to plan, he could be the most important piece in the puzzle.
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After dealing Brian Elliott to the Calgary Flames on Friday, the St. Louis Blues now have their eyes set on Jake Allen.
With Elliott no longer in the picture, Allen appears to be the club's No. 1 goaltender going forward, but with just one year remaining on his contract, the club plans to get him locked up.
"He wants to be here, he wants to be the guy," general manager Doug Armstrong said, according to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Dispatch. "I believe that before the start of next season we'll have something done."
Despite Elliott getting all put two starts this postseason, Allen had more regular season starts with 44. In all he posted a .920 save percentage and a 2.35 in 47 games.
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The first round of the NHL Draft had a distinct American flavor.
A record 12 players from the United States were chosen in the opening round, USA Hockey confirmed Friday night.
Auston Matthews went first overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Boston Bruins took Trent Frederic with the 29th overall pick to set the new mark.
Here's the full list from Friday night:
The record-setting 12 Americans selected in the first round of the 2016 #NHLDraft: pic.twitter.com/aRWTqZdx5w
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) June 25, 2016
It's the most American players selected in the first round since 11 U.S.-born prospects were drafted in 2010.
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Pavel Datsyuk's gone home to Russia, but his contract remains in the NHL.
The Detroit Red Wings got out from under the center's contract Friday night, trading it the Arizona Coyotes in a deal made on the draft-room floor. And Detroit retained no salary in the process, meaning the club's cleared $7.5 million in cap space.
After the deal, general manager Ken Holland said he wants to use that money to replace Datsyuk's offense with an impact forward, according to ESPN's Craig Custance.
The Red Wings were the lowest-scoring playoff team in the NHL last season. They've been linked to soon-to-be free agent Steven Stamkos. Holland's comments will only add fuel to that fire.
Asked what he wants to do with the money, Holland was unequivocal: "Spend it."
Holland will be in touch with free agents Saturday when the discussion window opens, according to The Detroit News' Ted Kulfan.
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