DAILY RUMORS: Dismissing the possibility of the Canucks shipping Bieksa to the Canadiens
BDGallof | Sep 21, 2010 | Comments 3
We at HockeyIndependent.com want to be your resource and filter for what is going on in the NHL. We try to disseminate the noise in the blogosphere. We don’t look to to attack those sources, but to question the veracity of the rumor with cold logic, hockey smarts and knowledge. To do that… we have partnered with the one of the best in the NHL blogosphere….Lyle Richardson of SpectorsHockey.net. Daily Rumors with Lyle Richardson will now be a regular feature on HI this summer and beyond…
The Montreal Canadiens will be starting the upcoming season without their best player in defenseman Andrei Markov, who’s expected to miss at least the first two months recovering from knee surgery.
Canadiens management reportedly have no current plans to bring in any short-term replacements opting to evaluate their current blueline over the next two weeks in training camp and pre-season play.
“Eklund” of Hockeybuzz.com however claims there’s “persistent” rumors the Canadiens are in talks with the Vancouver Canucks, especially for a deal which would send defenseman Kevin Bieksa to the Habs.
“The longheld feeling that Salo’s injury would kill off Bieksa rumors or keep the Canucks from moving Bieksa is a thought of the past.”
It remains of course to be seen what the Canucks will do regarding their defense but Salo’s sidelining is a serious loss to their blueline and moving out an experienced blueliner like Bieksa at this time simply makes no sense.
It makes even less sense for the Canadiens, who have less than $800K in cap space, to acquire Bieksa, who’s set to earn $3.75 million this season.
Yes, the Habs will be able to spend over the cap by the equivalent of Markov’s $5.75 million salary while he’s on long-term injury status but they’ll have to free up space for his return, which won’t be easy to do with Bieksa’s salary on the books.
The Canadiens would therefore have to ensure they move out at least $5 million to the Canucks in order to comfortably absorb Bieska’s salary plus leave enough space for Markov’s return.
Problem is, the Canucks are now above the salary cap by over $3.1 million and even with Salo on LTIR they cannot afford to take on too much additional salary, certainly not another $5 million.
Clearly if the Canadiens intend early in the season to seek a short-term fill-in for Markov they’ll probably do what they did last season and sign an affordable free agent to a one-year deal as they did with Marc-Andre Bergeron.
When considering the validity of trade rumors or the possibility a rumored deal might happen in today’s salary cap world it’s important to determine whether or not the salaries fit. It’s clear that Vancouver shipping Kevin Bieksa going to Montreal simply doesn’t fit for either club.
Lyle Richardson
Filed Under: Featured Rumors • Lyle Richardson • Montreal Canadiens • NHL • Vancouver Canucks
Great work Lyle, other than the MTL, do you see the Canucks shopping Kevin Bieksa anywhere, or do you think he stays in Vancouver for a while?
Hi, Kevin.
I think they’ll retain Bieksa for at least the first half of the season and certainly for as long as Salo is sidelined. Bieksa could become a trade candidate later in the season, perhaps near the trade deadline. Of course that’ll depend on the Canucks needs by that point.
The Habs are set on defense with Gill, Gorges, Hamrlik, Spacek, O’Byrne and Subban as their top six while Markov is rehabbing.