Finances could make it tough for Chicago to re-sign Havlat

USA Today NHL beat writer Kevin Allen says finances could make it nearly impossible for the Chicago Blackhawks to re-sign Martin Havlat.

He was a great fit on an exciting Chicago team last season, so I’m sure the team would like to have him back. However, if he can’t rejoin the team, where do you think he could end up? Would be easier to guess if we had a better idea of what his salary demands will be, don’t you think?

Allen uses a figure of $6 million a year. To me, that seems like a bit much. I see him more as a $3.5 million to $4 million (annual) signing. What do you all think?

Slap Shots: Lecavalier, Sabres, Wild, best UFAs at each position

Here are a few articles of interest from today:

• The Tampa Tribune’s Erik Erlendsson examines whether center Vinny Lecavalier will be traded or stay with the Lightning
• The Buffalo News’s Bucky Gleason plays “GM for a day” and looks at how he’d turn the Buffalo Sabres around. Among his moves would be to sign UFA defenseman Jay Bouwmeester and release Jochen Hecht and Maxim Afinogenov. Check out the entire column by clicking here.
• The Star Tribune’s Micheal Russo looks at how Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher will address the team’s needs this off season. He talks about the situation with UFA winger Marian Gaborik and notes that there are no untouchable players on the roster.
• NESN’s Neil Keefe looks at the best free agents at each position. Check out the column by clicking here.

Ottawa’s best fit for Dany Heatley could be LA Kings

The Boston Globe’s Kevin Paul Dupont looks at the Dany Heatley situation, providing his thoughts on what could go down. He cites a GM who thinks the Ottawa situation is more complicated because the team already was trying to move Jason Spezza before Heatley’s trade demand.

Dupont says the Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadians and Vancouver Canucks have the cap space to add Heatley. Dupont says the Senators could target the Kings, though they won’t likly pry center Anze Kopitar. However, a package from the Kings could include winger Dustin Brown and defenseman Matt Greene. A deal with Vancouver could net Ottawa Ryan Kesler and Kevin Bieksa, and there wouldn’t be much to pick from with the Canadians, Dupont notes.