Latest on Jimmy Howard and Dustin Byfuglien, plus an update on the Pittsburgh Penguins defense.
Could Jimmy Howard be a long-term option for the Oilers?
Would Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard be a good trade option for the Edmonton Oilers?
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples takes note of speculation suggesting the Detroit Red Wings could put goalie Jimmy Howard on the trade block if Petr Mrazek takes over the starter’s job this season. Rumors list the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres as possible trade destinations. Citing Howard’s age, performance and contract, Staples doesn’t consider him a good option for the Oilers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Howard gets shopped at some point during the upcoming season or next summer, there will be teams desperate for a goaltending upgrade willing to take a chance on him. If Cam Talbot struggles as a starter this season, Oilers management could consider Howard among their options, perhaps believing a change of scenery might do him good. Still, Staples makes a good argument against acquiring him.
Should the Jets trade or re-sign Dustin Byfuglien?
SPORTSNET: Ryan Dixon wonders if the Winnipeg Jets should re-sign defenseman Dustin Byfuglien to a long-term deal or trade him and save some money. Byfuglien’s rocket shot, size, physical presence and versatility makes him a worthwhile asset for the Jets, but he’ll be seeking a big raise over his current $5.2 million annual cap hit. Given the Jets depth on defense and their reputation as a cost-conscious club, it might make sense to shop Byfuglien to address other roster needs. Dixon suggests the Jets sit tight and see how this season plays out.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Of next summer’s star-studded class of potential UFAs, it’s Byfuglien who’s garnered the most attention in this summer’s rumor mill. That’s because of the Jets’ reputation as a budget team, their increasing blueline depth and questions about their goaltending and scoring punch at forward. I don’t think the Jets will shop Byfuglien now, preferring to see how this season shakes out, but I certainly wouldn’t dismiss the possibility of a move near the trade deadline.
Could the Penguins shop a forward for a defenseman?
NBC SPORTS: Mike Halford reports blueline depth is the biggest question facing the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015-16. GM Jim Rutherford is willing to gamble on his young defensemen (like Olli Maatta and Derrick Pouliot) stepping up this season. If necessary, Rutherford feels he can draw up his forward depth to acquire a blueliner.
SPECTOR’S NOTE; Rutherford could attempt to move a pending UFA like David Perron, or perhaps an aging veteran like Chris Kunitz or Pascal Dupuis.
I don’t see Buffalo being interested in Howard. They just made a commitment to Lehrer, along with having a number of kids in the system who will be looking for a chance to get to the NHL. You don’t want to block the road for a youngster who may earn a shot at the big club.
As for Buff, I believe he will use his get out of Winnipeg pass to leave the Jets.
Pascal Dupius, if healthy could be a great addition to just about any team. Never understood why the Thrash traded him away, but that was Waddell. Ironically, he let Kunitz go as well.
By saying Byfuglien will use his get out of Winnipeg pass are you suggesting he doesn’t like Winnipeg? If you are you be wrong. Dustin is from Minnesota, he enjoys the summer and winter sport and lives very close to home. I do think its a risk for the jets to wait until the trade deadline because they might not be able to trade him at that time due to the standings and then he’ll walk at season end.
Cape, it’s not wanting to leave The Peg, it’s more a chance at a final big money contract. Not sure the Jets will be willing to give him the bucks he might be able to get on the open market.
Frankly, I think his game has totally come together with the Jets. He is better physically on a consistent basis, compared to his start in Chicago and his time in Atlanta. But I believe he will want to put his services up to the highest bidder and avoid the hometown discount.
i think he will want to stay if he wants to win! jets have some off the best prospects coming up with ehlers,morissey and helleybuck plus trouba and shieffle (sp?) coming into there own
Dupuis was considered as just a throw in in the Hossa to Pittsburgh trade. Even with Hossa leaving shortly after the Penguins definitely won that trade as it and the Hal Gill deal in the same day got them to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Agreed the Pens need one more veteran dman so Scuderi doesn’t have to be in their top 6. They should look at the Jets Clitsome or Spurgeon in Minnesota.
Jets imo have to sign or trade Bufyglien asap. make it so there is absolutely no chance the lose him for nothing. Would it be reasonable to offer Buff and Ladd matching deals? something like 6 years $39M ($6.5M per)? if Buff wants a cent more trade him.
Trade Bufyglien+ to the NYI for Hamonic and Pulock??
I totally agree that the Jets should be trading Byfuglien ASAP to maximize their return and avoid any situation where they may lose him for nothing. In saying that though, there is ZERO chance he lands Hamonic and Pulock, in fact the Jets don’t need D back, they need top six forwards badly.
Maybe there could be a larger deal that involves Byfuglien and Okposo?
Byfglien, Burmistrov, Petan, Chariot, 1st 2016
to the NYI for
Okposo/Hamonic ???
Scuderi already is not in the top 6 and the Oens tried all summer to trade him. Starting with the Kessel deal. But he refused to wave his NTC so we are stuck with him for now. Maybe after not playing too much he will get softer on the idea of moving on. The Pens top 6 D looks like this:
Letang Maata
Cole Pouliot
Dumoulin Lovejoy
Yes it’s a young group but it’s a highly skilled, very fast, very talented group, I really like it but I would be open to upgrading Lovejoy to a bigger guy.
sorry bud. pens aint benchin all that money. lovejoy sits over him based on that. not saying its right buts truth. scuds has a modified ntc clause and can chose so many teams he can be traded to. if he doesnt play he certainly wont get moved.
Well that is weird logic. Yeah play a black hole just because he gets paid more than your future stud young guy. Last year Despres carried Scuderi until he was traded and then no one was left to carry him and he looked horrific. They are going to have enough issues with the young guys making mistakes. They don’t need to have to deal with his uselessness as well. He sits until there is an injury.
I agree with that. My apologises for the misinterpretation of your statement.
Howie won’t end up in TOR. He never fully recovered last season. That being said, the Wings need to move whomever isn’t the starter on day 1. It’s going to become a distraction. PM has the inside track in my opinion but Howie is going to rebound and be an excellent keeper for someone. 1st rd or 2 and 3 rd pick is a fair price.
I don’t see howie getting a good return he is overpaid and inconsistent teams can find a cheaper goalie to do the same as him and with mrzaek looking good it brings down howies value also
Can’t see where an expensive goalie is exactly a fit in TO. with Vernier just resigned for 2 3 decent young goaliesin the system and an affordable backup in Reimer….they have enough goalies.
The Penguins would be greatly and I mean GREATLY foolish to move any forward for a D-man. They have 10 in the system that could be effective and do the job. If they want a d-man the only way they should obtain him is threw moving Scudari. To leave him on the roster and not use him at least as a bottom pairing d-man would be a great waste.
Everyone is overlooking the fact two years ago Martin stunk too, but yet had a bounce back year the following season and no one looked back. Am I saying Scudari is going into a stud, hell no. But am I saying will he be at least serviceable, Hell yeah. To shorten the bench once again and I mean ONCE AGAIN would be foolish and truly stupid. They are better holding with what they have knowing that injuries will happen during the season and there is NO DEPTH AT FORWARD in the minors for the Penguins. Yet there is for d-men and they have it in spades.
I don’t remember Martin ever stinking. 2 years ago 2013-14 he only played 39 games due to injury but when healthy he lead the team in TOI/GP & was his usual solid self. Niskanen well Martin was injured stole his pp spot altering Martins role to more defensive role when he did play.
Martin was a complete bust in his second year of his four year deal with the Penguins. Everyone wanted him either bought out or traded. The penguins opted not to and keep playing him. The third year of his four your deal was his break out year.
Rob Scuderi should not be a bottom pairing dman on the team. Hell I don’t even want him to play if the Pens have an injury. His contract hurts, but it hurts worse when he gets on the ice and plays terribly every night like he always does. There is also no way Scuderi has a bounce back season he is further losing the ability to play and with that said he is far from serviceable.
You can feel how you want but the pens are not going to let 4.5 million sit on the bench night in and night out. If that was what they were looking to do they would have bought out his contract.
what is the proof he is worse than the average bottom pairing guy? there isnt any. he is just massively over payed for his role.
Martin actually struggled the first year of his 5 year deal with the Penguns but hey time flies.
Moving Howard with 4 years remaining at a cap hit of 5.292 for 4 more seasons is no easy feat. That said Mrazek looked great but with only 40 games of NHL regular season experience I don’t see Detroit moving Howard & rolling the dice Mrazek’s ready for full time 55 game + a season duty. They will platoon for at least this season but the writing appears to be on the wall for Howard. It will be fun to watch it play out.
I believe many of these higher paid players, who’s roles no longer match their salary’s will simply be exposed in the expansion draft in the summer following the 2016-17 season. Howard being a perfect example potentially.
What I do know is that with only 30 teams, soon to be 32 that getting a quality goalie doesn’t mean having to expend over 5 million per season. Hell Anaheim was the best team in the west last season, 3rd in the entire NHL & took the eventual cup champions to 7 games & their starter was paid 1.15.
I can see paying the creme de la creme over 6 million, Rinne, Lundqvist, Price, etc but it really starts to blur in the middle & a good goalie aka a Halak, Dubnyk, Hiller, Niemi etc can be secured under 5 & frankly I see that as a way better use of cap dollars.
I doubt that aging veteran forwards like Kunitz and Dupuis would bring the Penguins anybody much better than one of the aging veteran defensemen who are now free agents. However being that longtime-productive players like these are very well paid, trading either of them might free up enough cap space to sign Franson (if he’s not already a Sabre).
Agreed. Their ages, both essentially being 36 now, their health issues combined with their respective cap hits of 3.85 for Kunitz & 3.75 for Dupuis both for 2 more seasons would make either very hard to move unless packaged with a sweetener. There might be a market for Kunitz if he shows his past potential but if he does, there is no point looking to move him.
The Pens don’t need Franson or a Franson-Type d-man. The Pens need a stay-at-home d-man who can play on the pk and log solid minutes like the Seidenbergs/Scuderis a few years ago. No need for overated offensive d-man!
Though you’re sure to think I’m wrong, I believe that the term “Stay-at-home defemseman” is an anachronistic cliche that doesn’t readily apply in today’s fast-paced game. Now, it means someone who is too unskilled or slow to get involved in the play and, therefore, waits for the play to come to him Thus, it means a defensman who can’t play hockey the way Mike Johnston wants his defensemen to play hockey. It means someone like Lovejoy or Scuderi. Franson may not be the answer, but it is rumored that the Pens are interested. Johnston’s stated strategy requires defensmen who can participate offensively.Comment
The team stay at home d-man is mostly referring to a d-man that takes his point and protects the zone. A d-man that rarely gets involved with offensive play other then protecting that point and has a solid defensive game. Honestly what the penguins are truly lacking is a d-man that could take the other teams best player out of his game. Basicly a shut down d-man. Really a dominate d-man that can cover for our offensive d-men incase they get caught in the offensive zone. Someone truly defensive minded in the game of hockey.
The term defensive defensmen means Marc Methot, you look to his partner to see who fits the term offensive defenceman. Although I do agree that in todays game a defensive d-man needs to do more than be a bruiser and hold a guy on the boards. He needs to be quick on his skates and be able to make a first exit pass.
Could Jimmy Howard be a long-term option for the Oilers? It would be foolish of the Oilers to take on Jimmy Howard. I have always thought he was overrated but looked good behind a deep defense. There is not a deep defense in Edmonton to make him look good. Talbot will be just fine in the mean time until Edmonton can secure a long-term fix.
I think many would argue Talbot till proven otherwise is Edmonton’s long term fix.