The latest on Ryan O’Reilly, Phil Kessel, Kari Lehtonen, Vladimir Sobotka plus updates on the Red Wings.
Highlights of Elliotte Friedman’s latest “30 Thoughts”.
SPORTSNET.CA: Elliotte Friedman recently wondered what player Detroit Red Wings director of pro scouting Mark Howe was watching during a recent Toronto Maple Leafs/Buffalo Sabres game…While the Wings have plenty of cap space this summer, Friedman notes they cannot afford to overspend. “Justin Abdelkader, Danny DeKeyser, Darren Helm, Gustav Nyquist, Riley Sheahan and Brendan Smith” all have contracts which expire in 2016…Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy claims he will be very disappointing if the club is unable to re-sign Ryan O’Reilly to a long-term extension. O’Reilly, whose annual cap hit is $6 million, is due to become a UFA next summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lemme guess, Howe was checking out Dion Phaneuf? Well, if the Wings decide to acquire Phaneuf this summer they must ensure they have sufficient cap space to re-sign next summer’s key free agents…O’Reilly’s status will be a hot topic in the rumor mill in late-June once the playoffs ends. The Avs can re-sign him to an extension effective July 1. The longer he goes without one, the more the trade speculation will increase.
Will the decline in Phil Kessel’s production this season hurt his trade value?
Kessel’s declining production could hurt his trade value.
TORONTO STAR: Kevin McGran wonders about the trade value of Toronto Maple Leafs winger Phil Kessel, who could miss reaching the 30-goal mark for the first time over a full NHL season since joining the Maple Leafs in 2009-10. McGran suggests Kessel’s value is at a lower point, noting Kessel’s reputation also took a beating this season as he seemed to check out with the Leafs fortunes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think interested clubs understand this season’s been a difficult one for Kessel and the Leafs. I doubt it’ll have an adverse effect upon his trade value. Indeed, his salary ($8 million annually) is a bigger stumbling block than the decline in his production this season.
Can the Stars risk moving Kari Lehtonen?
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Mike Heika reports the Dallas Stars’ biggest fear is moving out Kari Lehtonen via buyout or trade, only to watch him go on to success with another NHL club. Though Lehtonen has a 34-17-7 record this season but ranks among this season’s worst starters in goals-against average (2.94) and save percentage (.903). There’s also little in their system to replace him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lehtonen’s inconsistency has hurt the Stars this season, and they’re lacking depth in quality backups. If there’s an opportunity for the Stars to land a more consistent starter, they could try to trade or buy out Lehtonen. If not, they’ll stick with him for another season and try to bolster their backup depth as well as their defense.
Update on Vladimir Sobotka.
STLTODAY.COM: Jeremy P. Rutherford reports the Blues have no plans of bringing back center Vladimir Sobotka this season. An arbiter ruled Sobotak owes the Blues one season, and if he were to return to the lineup he would become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Sobotka, currently in the KHL, intends to play for the Czech Republic in the World Championships.
Grigerenko, the late 1st, and McCabe to send ROR to buffalo. Possibly conditional 2nd to sweeten the deal.
@St3 In terms of your trade…are you crazy? That is a massive over payment. ROR is NOT worth 2 firsts and 2 seconds. Especially when that late first could be a great player with the depth of this draft class.
A late first, Grigorenko and McCabe is a reasonable price to pay for ROR, heck, even with a second rounder it isn’t terrible. He is nearly a PPG player, can play in any situation, and doesn’t take penalties. Oh, and he is only 23 years old, not much older than both Grigorenko and McCabe. Buffalo would be very lucky if any of those 4 futures turned into a player like ROR.
I am sure there is concern based on his contract status, however. He clearly wants to get paid, possibly more than he is worth. Only one year remaining after this one of control, Buffalo would pretty much have to give him whatever he wants or risk losing him when he becomes a FA in a year. Still, I think he is worth more than many people give him credit for.
Yes, he is 24 and demanding a kings ransom. He has been nothing, but a pain in the Avalanche’s butt.
He can’t talk about an extension with Buffalo, He therefor becomes one of the most expensive rental players in the game.
If you could lock him up for 5 years at a reasonable price (not sure $6 million plus is a fair value for him, it may be too high) then he may be worth giving up those good assets for.
Grigorenko is turning the corner this year. If he struggles again next season, I could see him gone, but a former #2 overall to be dumped so quickly may be damaging to the future of the Sabres. Considering the crappy development he dealt with with the Darcy regime.
the man oss… that would be a great trade for buffalo ror plays every situation I don’t know if you just don’t watch him play or what? the guy is young and good grigorenko would be I guy I would trade in a heart beat he has been nothing but trouble to the coach and teammates
We are going to have to agree to disagree. The guy doesn’t impress me.
I’m not sure that Colorado would want Grigorenko. He was a floater as a junior and he’s still a floater. I wouldn’t be surprised if he eventually returns to Russia and the KHL.
Buffalo would be nuts to make that trade. But Murray overpaid for Evander Kane, so maybe the Avs will get lucky.
Sabres should not trade McCabe until their know Pysyk’s status.
I’m not saying the wings should trade for phaneuf but as far as those soon free agents go, the wings have enough depth coming in guys like pulkkinen, Larkin, mantha, that they can maybe replace those more expensive guys. The cheaper salaries would allow the wings to maybe bring in that “big name” guy they want.
Remember the wings have made similar moves letting hudler, filpula, brunner etc go…
Detroit is also overloaded with 3/4 kind of D-men. Adding Phaneuf would be a gamble, and one that I don’t think *I* would be willing to make if I were Ken Holland. I don’t doubt Dion would do much better with a slightly lesser role in a less demanding market, but his salary exceeds his worth on a second or third pairing.
As for the pending FA’s for Detroit in ’16, I’d resign DK, Nyquist and Shehan for sure. Helm would depend on salary demands, and I would probably trade Smith and Abby (especially after the season he had this year) for picks and prospects. But I’m no GM.
The Wings are starting to get a little long in the tooth with an even dozen 30 and up: Datsyuk 36, Weiss 32, Franzen 35, Miller 31, Zetterberg 34, Cleary 36, Cole 36, Ericsson 31, Kronwall 34, Zidlicky 38,, Howard 31 and Gustavsson 31. They also have a tough finishing schedule – at the Wild, home to Washington and Carolina, at Montreal and Carolina, and could be in danger of falling out of the playoff picture. Those Carolina games might save their bacon but they better not take them lightly.
Not sure what your point is George with that post. Cleary has barely played this season and same with monster…both should have been gone and will be gone after this season. Cole and Zidlicky are likely rentals. Who knows if Franzen will even play again. Miller is a dime a dozen 4th liner that can be replaced for peanuts by a lot of players they have in the minors. Aside from Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Kronwall the rest don’t matter and have very little impact on the Wings now or the future. Hell Ouellet and Marchenko should be in the NHL right now to compliment the other young guys they have and they would be an upgrade over Ericsson. Fact is the Wings have too many prospects that they won’t be able to fit them all on their roster in the next 2 or 3 years.
I can see Weiss being traded or bought out this off-season. I’ve also said that, while I love him, I wouldn’t be above trading Datsyuk to a legit contender for a solid prospect and a younger defensemen (think Bret Burns)
Realistically wonder what it would take for the Blues to move Sobotka.
Re: Dallas
What happened to Jack Campbell ? Wasn’t he like the 10th /11th pick in the draft 3-4 years ago. Still developing or considered a bust ?
Good question. I don’t pretend to know but looking at his stats he’s dropped off this year. Started in the echl..
Kari same in Dallas as he was in Atlanta; exceptional one night and no-so the next night. Do the Stars go with Campbell and Enroth, trade Kari?
Jack Campbell has had injury issues in the AHL. I watch him regularly and he hasn’t showed any consistency, something Kari hasn’t had either. At the moment Jack is playing stellar into the AHL playoffs. If he can show he can win a series and possibly take the Texas Stars deep he could be the backup in Dallas. He’d be one step closer as the started in Dallas if so. He’s had his ups and downs with confidence as well, but he’s looking more like the goalie that won the world junior lately.
I don’t believe the Avalanche will make the same mistake like they did with Statsny, but I don’t believe they’ll trade arguably their best player in O’Reilly, either. If the Avalanche organization gives a damn about having success, having a chance to win, they’ll be smart and re-sigin him.
I am not sure many would agree that ROR Is arguably the best player on a team with Duchene and MacKinnon.
all around game he is definitely with those guys
Avs need to address their issues on the backline; ROR as an asset may be the best way to do this.