from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet,

- With Capgeek currently off-radar, it’s harder to pin down salary information, but the Rangers’ top four defenders (Dan Boyle, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh and Staal) combine for a cap hit of approximately $20.4M next season. I think that’s second highest in the NHL, behind Montreal, at about $21.6M.

New York values this group and Boyle’s deal ends in June 2016, which adds some flexibility. I have Los Angeles third ($19.2M or so) with Drew Doughty, Alec Martinez, Jake Muzzin and Slava Voynov signed long-term, although Voynov’s future is far from certain. But it shows where top-four defencemen fit in a cap world, and some teams have decisions to make.

- Atop of the list is Washington, with UFA Mike Green. The Capitals have John Carlson, Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik at about $15.2M for the next three years, which means that if Green re-signs for no raise at all, they will be above $21M.

Since his breakthrough 2007-08 season, Green’s ice-time rank among the club’s defence ranked first five times, second once and third once. This year, he is fifth, two seconds behind Karl Alzner, 19:08 per night. That’s 2:54 under his previous low during this span. He still leads Washington defenders in powerplay time, but at 2:58/game, that’s also down from his offensive heyday.

Barring a change in his role or Green accepting a cut, does this make sense for either side?

- Barring trades, Winnipeg will have decisions to make when it has to re-sign Dustin Byfuglien (unrestricted) and Jacob Trouba (restricted) for the 2016-17 season. That will put them around $20M, probably more.

Tom Gilbert comes off the books after next season, but the Canadiens are going to be tight for at least two more years with Alexei Emelin, Andrei Markov and PK Subban at almost $19M between them. That’s why the continued development of Nathan Beaulieu and Jarred Tinordi is so important, as the blueline budget will be tight.

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