What team beat writers are saying this afternoon:
- Rob Niedermayer is not expected to re-sign with Anaheim, writes Curtis Zupke. Niedermayer is not the player he once was. He has lost a step and is hardly effective offensively. So, if a team does pick him up, it will be to add size and experience to their fourth line.
- In encouraging news, the Sabres are not raising the prices of individual game tickets for 2009/10. Good for them. We criticize teams for raising prices, so teams that don’t do that, deserve credit.
- The sale of the Panthers is not yet finalized, writes George Richards. This thing has dragged on for a while now…and I don’t expect that to change.
- Josh Harding has agreed to a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Wild just prior to his arbitration hearing. This guy can play. I’m actually surprised a team didn’t put forth an offer sheet for the southpaw, as he has the talent, in my opinion, to start in the NHL. With Backstrom just signed to a new deal, the Wild will most likely deal Harding if the right deal comes along. However, at that price, they are in no rush to move Harding.
- Vinny Prospal’s agent, Ritch Winter, considers the buy out of his client to be official. Not a bad deal for Prospal. I know he just bought a house in Tampa, but he gets $1.17 per year for six years and can sign a new deal.
- If Michael Nylander is signing in the KHL, he doesn’t know about it. Apparently his wife backed out of the Russia deal… I kid, I kid.
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