Wednesday, July 5-2006
- Jaroslav Spacek's agent told the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday afternoon that his client had another offer that he was going to accept. The word was that it wasn't a decision based on money and Spacek, who had been one of Edmonton's off-season priorities, had no concerns about the city, but decided to move on. - Edmonton Sun
- The Stars are expected to sign free agents Jeff Halpern and Matthew Barnaby today. Stars general manager Doug Armstrong confirmed that he was in discussions with the two players and said talks are "well down the road." Barnaby's deal is said to be one year for $625,000; Halpern is said to be ready to sign a four-year deal worth $2 million per season. - Dallas Morning News/Fort-Worth Star-Telegram
- Free agent goaltender Ed Belfour is expected in Detroit today. The Red Wings want to put him through a rigorous physical because he's 41 and coming off back surgery... Dominik Hasek, 41, is also on the market, and if the Wings decide to go the trade route, there's Buffalo's Martin Biron. San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov is the best of the available goaltenders, but because he just signed a four-year extension worth $21.5 million in February, the Wings would have to trade away a player of near-equal money to keep enough salary-cap room to fill other holes. The Wings have 13 players signed to contracts totaling $31.287 million against next season's $44-million cap. - Detroit News
- Panthers coach Jacques Martin said he spoke with Gary Roberts again on Tuesday and that there was no development on the left winger's request for a trade back to Toronto for family reasons. Citing a source, the Toronto Star reported that Roberts has told Panthers General Manager Mike Keenan if he isn't traded to the Maple Leafs, he will retire and return to Toronto. Martin would neither confirm nor deny Roberts expressed that to the team. Keenan added that he would expect Roberts or his agent to call him personally "if there was an ultimatum or a decision of that kind." If Roberts, 40, retires, the Panthers would not have to pay his $2.25 million salary for 2006-07 but it would count against their salary cap. - Sun Sentinel
- With Wednesday's 5 p.m. deadline looming for restricted free agents to file for arbitration, Devils GM Lou Lamoriello began negotiating Monday with center Scott Gomez's father/agent Carlos on a possible long-term deal. Lamoriello is also trying to find cap room to re-sign restricted free agent right wing Brian Gionta, who, like Gomez, can be unrestricted next year. The problem is the Devils already have more than $41 million committed toward the $44 million salary cap for next season. Teams can go as much as 10 percent over the cap until the first day of the regular season, but even that doesn't leave Lamoriello much wiggle room with restricted free agents David Hale and Paul Martin also to be re-signed (and also arbitration eligible) and the backup goalie spot still vacant. Gomez, 26, earned $2.204 million last year while Gionta, 27, earned $627,000 - Bergen Record
- While the Coyotes have been active in signing unrestricted free agents, they are not close in coming to terms with their own restricted players. The biggest name out there who has yet to re-sign is Ladislav Nagy. Nagy is arbitration eligible but his agent says playing in Europe next season is one of the options he and the 27-year-old forward are considering. Nagy made $1.976 million last year. The Coyotes made him a qualifying offer for the same amount last month. He is believed to be seeking a substantial raise, likely in the $3 million-$4 million range. - East Valley Tribune
- Yanic Perreault's agent, Jay Fee, says he has had "some preliminary talks" with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He added that several other clubs have expressed interest, but no front-runner has emerged. Andre Savard, the Penguins' new assistant coach, was the general manager who signed Perreault for Montreal in 2001, and Michel Therrien coached him with the Canadiens. And when Perreault had a solid 2004-05 season in Nashville, Ray Shero, the guy now charged with assembling the Penguins' roster, was the Predators' assistant GM. - Post Gazette
