Latest speculation on Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal and the Ottawa Senators search for a top-six winger.
Will the Hurricanes trade or re-sign Eric Staal?
TORONTO SUN: In his recent preview of the NHL’s Eastern Conference, Mike Zeisberger speculated on the fate of Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal. Given the center’s output, Zeisberger doesn’t consider him an $8 million per season player He wonders if the Hurricanes try to trade him this season (which won’t go over well with Eric’s brother and teammate Jordan), or do they extend his contract despite limited financial resources.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: While the Hurricanes have a number of players eligible for UFA status (Cam Ward, Eddie Lack, Kris Versteeg and John-Michael Liles), Staal is their primary concern and the most expensive to retain. Staal’s agent and Hurricanes GM Ron Francis insist they’re having an open dialogue on the matter. The Hurricanes have just over $32 million invested in eight players for 2016-17, so they have the room to re-sign Staal. The question is how much and for how long. If Staal’s willing to accept a pay cut to $6.5 million annually on a four-year contract, a deal could be reached. If not, they’ll try to shop him leading up to the Feb. 29th trade deadline.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators GM Bryan Murray still hopes to find a top-six forward, either in training camp or via a trade. Murray said he spoke with some UFAs and attempted to make a trade during the offseason.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Murray’s been searching for a top-six forward for several years now. Maybe this is the season he finally finds what he’s seeking.
I wonder which of the Senators current top 6 Murray doesn’t feel are adequate or ready to be top 6 forwards.
MacArthur, Turris, Stone.
Hoffman, Zibanejad, Ryan.
Hoffman appeared to be Camerons whipping boy last season as neither his quality of icetime; PP, or ability to hold his spot was ever secure. When the line struggled even though Hoffman wasn’t it was him Cameron moved down the line up. Michalek got his PP time & when he did get on the PP he manned the point. Starting in the playoffs he was playing on the 4th line, when moved back into the top 6 he produced. When Zibanejad & Ryan were the problem it was Hoffman that paid the price.
Does this make sense to anyone elseÉ
Makes perfects sense to me if he isn’t picking up his check when the other team has the puck. Many people got all over Ryan for his inconsistency in scoring – and rightly so for what he’s being paid – but look at his back-checking. I can vividly recall at least 3 times when his hustle took away almost a sure goal. Some teams insist on a two-way effort – Ottawa’s one of them.
Sorry George I’m missing your point. I know Hoffman was given very favorable offensive zone starts. Haven’t looked at Ryan or Zibanejd’s but they came off plus 5 & Hoffman plus 16. Plus minus isn’t perfect but it reflects even strength goals for & against or if your scored on short handed but it does suggest Hoffman was fairly proficient defensively.
What it suggest to me is that Benjamin Disraeli was bang on when he said there are three kinds of lies – lies, damned lies and statistics. I refuse to believe that an NHL coach would cut off his nose to spite his face by holding back a player from PP time and top line play who’s capable of scoring goals the way Hoffman did, simply because “he’s got it in for him” or any other such nonsense. That kind of attitude is a sure fire one-way ticket out of town. They pour over game film for hours pinpointing flaws they see in a player’s ice time, taking into account opposing players and their relative strengths and weaknesses and ice time is predicated upon their overall findings. Things we’ll never see.
Yes, I agree. Plus minus is not one of the most telling stats to base an opinion on.
I think in the case of a top 6 winger I could see that it’s only part of insurance. I mean even Clark MacArthur isn’t exactly a top line winger. I mean he’s effective but if we could get our hands on something better.
It’s not a knock on our left side but Hoffman still has to prove it and compete a little harder to become a more complete player.
When push comes to shove this team wants to take the next step. And if we suffer an injury we are looking at michalek or Pumpel to come in? That might work but no guarantee. Maybe they are being a little impatient in trying to get to the next level but I couldn’t blame them for trying to find an upgrade for a top line LW. Just don’t show up with a trade for an ok top 6 just to show you’ve made a trade. make it an upgrade.
I hear yeah. Ottawa isn’t a team I see live often. Maybe 3 or 4 times a year & say 6 to 10 tops on TV. I like Ottawa’s top 6 & see no reason to add to the mix. Stone, Zibanejad & Hoffman are just kids Hoffman being a late bloomer & all have years of growth potential. I don’ t think Turris has peaked yet either. With a little more time 2 maybe 3 years the top 9 in Ottawa with Prince & Puempel coming should be solid.
The centres are good but not the strongest though an upgrade there may be impossible to find. Mac is good as is Hoff but upgrades could be found. Competition for the spots at least.
Lots of potential, but as a group they are not that overwhelming. The only one who could not be bumped out of the top 6 is Ryan, but there may not be stronger players available right now.
You want to be stuck with a $7 mil 3rd line winger for the next several years? They have to hope that Ryan’s offensive output last year was an aberration and that he gets back to his close to 30-goals a season range. Real quick.
I would suggest it is pretty obvious that it is Hoffman that they’d like to upgrade. He got 27 goals once. Perhaps he can repeat the feet. What else does he bring that another top 6 player can’t and we are not even sure if he will repeat with 20+ goals.
Problem we have, is Hoffman a legit top 6 forward or not? Late bloomer or one hit wonder? I’m hoping Puempel or Prince finally strut their stuff and we have the option of moving Hoffman and one of them around the line up of needed.
Although I haven’t seen his name mentioned in trade rumours I have to wonder what the trade price on JVR would be. If the leafs are truly in a long term rebuild than they might be wasting his best years on a rebuilding position while not capitalizing on his trade value.
Top LW guy, perfect for Ottawa. I know a trade between those two teams is as unlikely as they come but weirder things have happened. It’s not like both teams are actually competing for the same spot.
So I know this isn’t going to be popular but what would it take to get JVR out of Toronto? I understand that the leafs aren’t trying to shop him but if the leafs are truly in a 5 year rebuild they are wasting away the best years of his career and not maximizing the return they could get for a player like him that could get them further down the road.
I know the chances of Ottawa being a trade partner are close to nil but he’d be a perfect fit for our left side.
I imagine it would probably take a 1st rounder, an young NHL player and a top prospect right?
I’m interested by what that could look like. I imagine lazar would be included on what’s asked for but I doubt that the sens would ever do that. I’m reluctant to part ways with chabot also.
Would wilkstrand a 1st and Pumpel do it? That’s amongst some of our most promising guys. Maybe not enough. Add a second rounder?
How about trading Hoffman? with a pick for Van Riemsdyke.
Ya, I thought of that but I’d like to keep him to have him on the third line and to be honest you need more than 2 Top 6 LW just in case of injuries. I’m also not sure Toronto would do that.
Yeah, Toronto fans make ridiculous trade proposals.
Off topic: How in the world does Klefbom command a 7 year deal? If Klefbom turns out to be as good as the hype, it may be a very good deal. If not, this is just putrid! It seems much hasn’t really changed in the management team.
They are betting on their own player. Montreal got bit with Subban signing him to a two year deal. Florida may get bit signing Huberdeau to a 2 year bridge. Edmonton is simply declaring they believe in their player. They like what they seen from him and yes it is a gamble but one they are willing to make. Time will tell but Klefboom is projected as at least top 4 and could very well be a top 2 guy so 4 point something is going to be pretty sweet in 7 years even if he is only a top 4 D.
I hear ya, I did say it could be a very good deal. But I think giving a guy with 77 career nhl games, a 7 year deal is a little absurd. Sure, If he becomes a top 1-2-3 guy they will save huge on some UFA years. If not, they wasted a few years of keeping him cost controlled and even more years behind that if he totally flops. Gambles like this should be on a casino table, not on a unproven guys contract. Edmonton likes to hand out these kind of deals, WAY too often.
Turns out the problem wasn’t just changing the GM.
Massive overpayment for a guy with so little NHL experience. You do a bridge deal. Quite honestly even in two years time even as a top 4, is he worth some ridiculous contract? Not really. He’s more likely to be at 4-5 mill guy on a long term contract then anything higher. He’s no subban, or karlsson or anything like that.
Makes absolutely no sense at his point.
Have you been to Edmonton in January? Until this team wins it is going to be hard to attract and retain talent at reasonable costs.