DUCKS RE-SIGNING PERRY COULD TAKE TIME.

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Dan Wood reports Anaheim Ducks GM Brian Burke expects that the earliest he'll be able to meet with Corey Perry's agent to talk contract is season's end. That's due to the Ducks only have $2.8 million in available "tagging space" under their salary cap for next season. Wood notes next year's cap could rise to between $53-$55 million and the Ducks are allowed in the off-season to go over the cap by up to ten percent, which would allow plenty of time and space to re-sign Perry and then free up the necessary amount to get under the cap by the start of next season.

Spector's Note: Burke won't allow negotiations to reach the point where Perry is eligible to receive an expensive offer sheet, having learned his lesson last summer with Dustin Penner. Don't worry, Ducks fans, Perry will be re-signed.