Notebook Buzz
A $6.25 million cap hit for Ryan Smyth scares some people in the Penguins organization but that hasn’t stopped the Penguins from inquiring about Smyth and others
LW Ryan Smyth | 32 yrs old | Cap Hit $6.25MM | Signed Though 2011-2112 |The Avalanche had made it no secret that they are shopping winger Ryan Smyth who has registered 19 goals and 27 assists for 46 points in 58 games this season.
The Penguins and Avalanche have held plenty of discussions within the past month as the Av’s have been eyeing Jordan Staal and Ryan Whitney.
In the past month the Penguins have also inquired about winger Milan Hejduk and young forward Wojtek Wolski who Ray Shero has viewed as a potential Ryan Malone with better hands around the net.
The Av’s are in cost cutting mode but Avalanche GM Francois Giguere is believed to be very reluctant to move Hejduk and Wolski who is very close to an untouchable. Giguere seems more focused on moving the salaries of Smyth, and defensemen Jordan Leopold, John-Michael Liles and Ruslan Salei
The FourthPeriod.com mentions the Canadiens, Penguins and Canucks as three teams that have made early inquiries.
A source told me this afternoon the Penguins are not yet at the stage of making an offer for Smyth or Hejduk as they continue to explore all options. Avalanche GM Francois Giguere has had his eye on Ryan Whitney or Jordan Staal but is also looking to take on expiring contracts to set the stage for their off-season plans. Penguins GM Ray Shero did have significant interest in Ryan Smyth in the summer of 2007 as Shero made a pitch for Smyth and Blues forward Paul Kariya.
