Kevin Oklobzija of The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle broke the story this afternoon regarding the Panthers acquiring veteran center Michael Nylander on loan from Washington with him being assigned to AHL Rochester.
Washington will cover his entire $3 million salary as this is a straight loan -- with the Panthers paying the Caps a nominal fee. Washington can recall him whenever they want.
So, why would the Caps pay his salary and send him to the Panthers affiliate instead of the Hersey Bears? Probably because the Bears are already loaded with veteran guys.
"I can't speak for Washington, but sometimes the situation isn't right for a particular guy,'' said Mike Santos, Florida's assistant GM.
"With Mark Cullen going down [achilles tendon] and Mike Santorelli looking like he has a good chance to make Panthers, we needed a center in Roch. I recognized [Nylander] might be loaned and it never hurts to ask. Washington said sure.
"The Capitals may have as much firepower up front as any other team so you can see why he isn't a fit there anymore. But he is under contract and this gives him a chance to have people see him play. People may be interested as he is a free agent next year. He can show someone he still has enough to sign somewhere else.''
-- Also, Byron Bitz and Chris Higgins missed practice today with what Pete DeBoer called minor injuries.
If the Caps loaned him they might have him in Rochester then when Panthers want him ask Caps to put him on callup waivers and the Panthers claim him for half of the remaining salary. That would make sense for both clubs.
Posted by: Puckbubba | September 29, 2010 at 02:49 PM
I think the Caps would have to call him up and other clubs would have to put in a waiver claim, which means that any team below the Panthers in the standings would have first pick. That would be a drag to overpay for a center just to watch another club get him for half price.
Maybe I'm ignorant (OK, I'm sure that I am) but $3 million seems like a heck of a lot for an AHL center and the Panthers are not really known to throw around the cash like that. Maybe there's a side deal in there somewhere?
Posted by: JimH | September 29, 2010 at 03:14 PM
Florida isn't paying the guy, who cares.
Posted by: Monts | September 29, 2010 at 03:21 PM
JimH did you even read the article? Washington is paying him his salary and the Panther are paying a nominal fee to Washington.
Posted by: pbpantherfan | September 29, 2010 at 04:02 PM
pbpantherfan, yes, I did. The article has changed.
Originally it said the Panthers were picking up most or all of the $3 million salary. GR touched up the text here without noting it (tut tut, GR). Oklobzija changed his, too, but marked it as such: http://php.democratandchronicle.com/blog/sports2/?p=743
Tsn up in Canada also covers the report, but they haven't changed their article yet: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=335673
Some of us are indeed paying attention but thanks for asking.
Posted by: JimH | September 29, 2010 at 04:33 PM
hey, I never said FLA was picking up the salary but quoted the linked-to story...once I cleared things up with the panthers I changed the story...there was a miscommunication is all...
Posted by: george richards | September 29, 2010 at 04:48 PM
JimH & george are both correct. I thought it was he was just being assigned there because of the salary and CBA. Makes sense.
Posted by: Puckbubba | September 29, 2010 at 04:57 PM