The Red Wings are in sell mode before next week’s trade deadline and one of the players hoping to be moved is left winger Drew Miller, reports MLive’s Peter J. Wallner. The 33 year old cleared waivers last month and is presently playing with their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. That hasn’t stopped Miller from hoping that a team will want him as veteran depth for the postseason, something he notes the team is trying to find:
“That’s what they’ve been trying to do is just wait to see what teams may be looking to add and have a good fit. No one’s really making a move yet, but I would think that will change as we get closer. Hopefully, I get traded. I want to be in the NHL – everyone wants to be there – so we’ll see how it goes.”
Miller carries a cap hit of $1.025MM this season and will become an unrestricted free agent in July. If a team were to acquire him and keep him in the minors, they would still be charged a pro-rated $75K on the cap.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic Division:
- As is often the case when it comes to teams in the middle of the pack with notable pending free agents, the Lightning find themselves in a dilemma with goalie Ben Bishop, writes Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. On the one hand, Bishop has won five straight starts and Tampa Bay is only four points out of a playoff spot. On the other, the extension they gave to Andrei Vasilevskiy all but sealed Bishop’s fate that he won’t be back next season so if there is interest elsewhere, this is their chance to get something for him rather than lose him for nothing. While there are a lot of goalies believed to be available, a lot of them have term left on their contracts which could make Bishop a bit more appealing to other teams who are just looking for a short-term improvement.
- Although the Bruins were active in the rental market last season by bringing in right winger Lee Stempniak and defenseman John-Michael Liles, GM Don Sweeney suggested to CSN New England’s Joe Haggerty that they’re unlikely to go that route again. Instead, they plan to stick to a longer-term view and look to add players who may be able to contribute beyond this season and aren’t keen on moving any draft picks. Boston has played themselves back into the thick of the playoff hunt and the team has more than enough cap space to make some additions if they can find the right trade but Haggerty argues that the more prudent approach would be to stand pat now and make those deals in the offseason.