NHL cap set at $59.4 million for 2010-11

by Ryan Weiss on Jun 24, 2010 2:50 PM CDT in News

Red Wings GM Ken Holland will have a little more breathing room than anticipated to fill out his roster next season, as the NHL's salary cap for 2010-11 was announced last night.

The ceiling will be set at $59.4 million, an increase of $2.6 million from last season, and $600,000 more than previous estimates of $58.8 million. The floor will be $43 million.

That means plenty of room to bring in Ilya Kovalchuk now, right? Well, not exactly.

Detroit has $54.2 million locked up in 18 players next year, and has five restricted free agents (Darren Helm, Patrick Eaves, Drew Miller, Derek Meech and Justin Abdelkader) that are currently mulling offers from the team. The increased cap is welcome news, especially after Detroit recently inked Todd Bertuzzi to a two-year, $3.875 million contract last week, which was a slight raise for the unrestricted free agent.

Ansar Khan also reported that Andreas Lilja likely won't be re-signed and Kirk Maltby will be allowed to test the free agent market. Holland will look for a veteran replacement for Lilja and a gritty fourth line forward, which might end up being Maltby anyways. If Maltby is unsigned late in the summer, the team may offer him a deal.

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Farewell, Lils

It was (sort of) fun while it lasted.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Jun 24, 2010 3:39 PM CDT reply actions

I really don't want Miller back

I think there will be better alternatives and really don’t think he was all that special here. Michigan connection aside, and those few clutch goals he scored, he was all but a non-factor in the playoffs and I think there may be a better alternative out there than resigning Miller.

Unless it’s all part of an elaborate plan to get his brother to demand a trade to us, I say let him walk.

by eight_legged_freaks on Jun 24, 2010 3:55 PM CDT reply actions

You may be on to something. You’d have to think that with the cap going up higher than expected that Holland might look for an upgrade on either Miller or Lilja.

If Lilja is gone, I will always remember him for the giveaway to Selanne that eliminating the Wings. Perhaps unfair, but yea.

by liddy5 on Jun 24, 2010 7:39 PM CDT reply actions