I asked Lombardi about the salary-cap floor and how much of a problem — if at all — it might be getting to $40 million…

“No, it’s not a problem for us in terms of the cap. I’m more looking at cash. Even when we’re looking at the (defenseman) who can go across the line, I’m actually looking more at the cash, the next year and the year after. I think we’re certainly set up with the cap space then. As far as the strict legalities of hitting the floor, don’t forget that certain bonus money counts. So when Doughty signs — and we have a couple other kids there too, such as Purcell and Johnson — for purposes of the cap, their bonus money counts.”

I asked Lombardi about Brad Stuart, who signed in Detroit for four years at $3.75 million per year. I asked if he was concerned about giving Stuart a four-year contract…

“Certainly he was a guy we were very interested in. But that’s a situation where he really liked that team there. So I think that’s where he was leaning, and good for him. You want players who want to win. Obviously, Detroit, they’ve got it going. To be honest with you, the (four years) didn’t scare us off. In all honesty, he was one of the guys we were looking at when we talk about guys who fit across the board.”