TSN's Bob McKenzie reports defenseman Brian Campbell is to sign with the Chicago Blackhawks to an 8-year, $7.1 million per season contract.
GM Dale Tallon had Campbell in his sights for months and managed to out-bid clubs like Ottawa and the New York Rangers for his services.
Campbell was considered the best available defenseman in this summer's UFA pool, but as TSN's Pierre McGuire pointed out, it seems wrong that he's earning more money than Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom, the best defenseman in the league.
Campbell's a good defenseman and he should be a welcome addition to the Blackhawks defense corps, but he's not worth $7.1 million per season, particularly when one considers he was seeking $5 million per season last fall to re-sign with the Buffalo Sabres.
TSN also suggests this move puts the Blackhawks over the cap ceiling by over $5 million for next season (considering Cristobal Huet's new contract of $5. 6 million per season), meaning Tallon will have some significant salary to dump between now and the week before the start of next season to get under the $56.7 million cap.
**UPDATE** One of my readers (thanks, Mickey) crunched the numbers and claims the Blackhawks are nearly $2 million over the $56.7 million cap, sitting currently at $58.6 million. Still, they'll need to dump more than that to get comfortably under the cap and leave some wiggle room for next season.
Reports out of Buffalo on Monday claiming Brian Campbell had played his final game with the Sabres turned out to be true, as the Sabres dealt him to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for forward Steve Bernier and a first round pick.
Sharks GM Doug Wilson had been shopping for an experienced puck-moving defenseman all season and in Campbell he’s got exactly what his team needed.
Campbell is comparable to Montreal’s Alexei Markov in style, plus he also plays a good physical game for a blueliner of his size (6’, 190 lbs).
It also shows the Sabres weren’t willing to risk losing Campbell for nothing as they’d done in the recent past with other notable unrestricted free agents.
In Bernier the Sabres are getting a forward who has yet to deliver on the promise he displayed in his rookie season of 2005-06 when he had 27 points in 39 games. Still, at only 22 Bernier has plenty of time to improve, and might fit in well on a young, speedy Sabres team.
With the NHL’s trade deadline fast approaching here’s my take on some players thought to be possible trade bait and who might be on the move by February 26th:
Mats Sundin: As long as the Toronto Maple Leafs have a shot at a playoff berth, he won’t waive his “no-trade” clause.
Marian Hossa: The Atlanta Thrashers are trying to re-sign him leading to speculation that if he’s not re-signed by the deadline he’ll be shopped. If the Thrashers are still in the playoff chase I suspect GM Don Waddell won’t move him, but if not, he could indeed hit the trade block.
Alex Tanguay: His name’s popped up this past week due to media concerns about the Calgary Flames off-season cap issues, but he’s denied seeking a trade or being asked to waive his NTC. I suspect Flames GM Darryl Sutter could retain him for the upcoming playoffs and perhaps consider shopping him in the off-season.
Olli Jokinen: Ever notice that it’s Canadian-based media outlets that often report the Florida Panthers captain could be traded? Ever notice that to date they’ve yet to be right?
Rob Blake: He says he hasn’t agreed to waive his NTC or asked to waive it, but the possibility exists that this LA Kings blueliner could be playing elsewhere by February 26th.
Jaromir Jagr: If the NY Rangers were to shop him I have my doubts there’d be many takers given his low production this season and his reputation for moodiness.
Patrick Marleau: A fixture in the rumor mill since last April, his below-average stats and the expensive ($12.6 million) two year contract (with a no-trade clause) beginning next season should keep him in the Shark tank.
Dan Boyle and Vaclav Prospal: Tampa Bay Lightning GM Jay Feaster suggested that if the club fails to make a playoff push he could be forced into making some cost-cutting moves, leading to speculation impending UFAs Boyle and Prospal could be part of those moves.
Brian Campbell: He’s postponed his contract talks with the Buffalo Sabres until the off-season. That’s led to trade speculation that Sabres GM Darcy Regier rejected, claiming he hopes to re-sign Campbell. I believe him.
Maxim Afinogenov and Dmitri Kalinin: The former has struggled offensively this season and the latter’s eligible for UFA status this summer. I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of the Sabres trying to move either guy by the deadline.
J.P. Dumont: The Nashville Predators might not have enough money available this summer to re-sign him and if they’re out of the playoff race in a month’s time could consider shopping Dumont.
Michael Ryder: The Montreal Canadiens aren’t expected to re-sign him after this season and could try to move him in the coming weeks. His sub-par production this season however could hurt his trade value.
Nikolai Khabibulin: I wouldn’t doubt Chicago Blackhawks management would love to dump the remaining year and $6.75 million on his contract, but that and his poor performance this season won’t make him enticing to anyone at this year’s deadline.
Yanic Perreault: The Chicago Blackhawks could try to peddle this faceoff specialist to a Stanley Cup contender.
#### Tarnstrom: He’s been considered the odd man out on the Edmonton Oilers blueline, and with some teams seeking a veteran puck-moving defenceman Tarnstrom could attract some attention leading up to the deadline.
Keith Carney: This blueline veteran was a frequent scratch in the first half of this season, and he could end up shopped by the Minnesota Wild in the coming weeks.
Christian Backman: Plenty of speculation the St. Louis Blues could shop a defenceman for depth elsewhere in the roster, and Backman’s name has been floated as part of those rumors.
Bear in mind, folks, that this is only a quick observation of who might or might not be dealt. There are likely to be players that no one suspected as trade bait who could be traded by February 26th, and that most of the above-mentioned players could end up staying with their respective teams.
Feel free to chip in with names you think might be on the move by the deadline. It'll be interesting to review this list and your takes after February 26th.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
