NHL Rumors: Brassard has offers in Europe, Ekman-Larsson happy to stay in Arizona, and more
Anthony Scultore
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Derick Brassard wants to play. He is still without a team and waiting for names like Mike Hoffman, Mikael Granlund, and Erik Haula to ink deals. Once they do, he might have an idea who has some cap space to sign him.
NHL Rumors: Brassard has offers in Europe
“There is going to be a domino effect. Guys like Hoffman and Duclair haven’t signed yet. Ten or more guys haven’t signed yet, quality players. I have to be patient,” Brassard told Le Droit. “The salary cap is causing problems across the league, it’s hard to sign a Hoffman or a Duclair. A lot of teams would love to have these players, but the reality is that there is no room right now. ”
According to a recent report, Lou Lamoriello expressed interest in bringing back the 33 year-old pivot but needs to fix his cap issues. For the Islanders signing Mathew Barzal remains their top priority.
Brassard has received offers to play in Europe but he declined for now. His goal remains to play in the NHL before he goes overseas.
RELATED: Fear of Lou Lamoriello keeping GMs away from Mat Barzal
Oliver Ekman-Larsson has no hard feelings
This offseason a big name hit the trade market in Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. New Arizona GM Bill Armstrong was looking to make changes and asked OEL to waive his clause, which he did for only Vancouver or Boston.
In the end, Ekman-Larsson-Larsson handcuffed a trade and then killed it when he gave the Yotes a deadline they couldn’t meet. So now he’s where he wants to be and says both he and Armstrong have no hard feelings.
“[Armstrong] got in at a tough time, needed to make some decisions and stuff like that,” Ekman-Larsson said. “But we’ve had some good conversations so far and I’m looking forward to getting to know him better. It’s been good, but at the same time, it’s easier to talk face to face than over the phone or Skype of Facetime. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem putting that behind, not from me at least. That’s all I can talk about.”
NHL Start Date January 1???
While the league is still hopeful to get the season started on January 1, more and more people think mid-January is more realistic.