Re: NHL 2011/2012 season : Fri Apr 05, 2013 7:48 am
Not sure it's so much brave as necessary. Gaborik is a UFA in 2014. As I understand it they are commited to renewing Ryan Clowe as a condition of his trade. They have five RFA's at the end of this season Stepan, Hagelin, Zuccherelo, Sauer and Mcdonagh and three other UFA's in Hamrlik, Eminger and Gilroy. Without that trade they would only have about $11 million cap to play with taking into account Clowe that figure becomes a minimum of $7.5 that wouldn't give them a of maneuverability.A consequence of the cap drop and a few other clubs may be in similar positions.