Latest on the Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks, plus a look at the status of some pending UFAs.
Highlights from Friedman’s latest “30 Thoughts.”
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman touched on the Columbus Blue Jackets futile attempts to land a defenseman.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ll touch more on that below.
The Chicago Blackhawks are shopping for a defenseman, but that won’t be an easy move with their limited cap space. They might call up promising Ville Pokka. A rival club apparently expressed interest in Pokka but was rebuffed.
Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler’s new contract could affect St. Louis Blues captain (and pending UFA David Backes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman wrote this before it was revealed Blackhawks star defenseman Duncan Keith will miss four-to-six weeks recovering from knee surgery. It could increase their pursuit of a depth defenseman, though whoever they find won’t replace what Keith brings to their blueline. My guess is they’ll carry on with what they have for now, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Pokka gets called up.
St. Louis Blues defenseman Carl Gunnarsson might be available later in the season if promising Colton Parayko maintains his current pace. Gunnarsson is a UFA next summer. Friedman also wonders if the Carolina Hurricanes might move defenseman Ryan Murphy, whose entry-level contract expires next summer. Murphy has struggled to hold a spot on their blueline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Friedman noted, Gunnarsson won’t be going anywhere while Kevin Shattenkirk is currently sidelined. Perhaps he moves later in the season. Murphy has really struggled to reach his full potential with the Hurricanes. At 5’11” and 185 pounds, he’s an undersized blueliner, but the Hurricanes could remain patient with him.
Friedman also wonders how the new contract for Montreal Canadiens center Tomas Plekanec (two years, $12 million) could affect New York Islanders center (and pending UFA) Frans Nielsen, who historically isn’t a big point producer. Sames goes for the effect of Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler’s new deal (six years, $41.25 million) could have upon comparable centers and potential UFAs like St. Louis’ David Backes and Winnipeg’s Andrew Ladd.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Plekanec’s and Kesler’s new contracts will have ripple effects upon this summer’s crop of comparable UFAs. It remains to be seen if the Islanders, Blues and Jets will pony up similar deals for Neilsen, Backes and Ladd.
Blue Jackets seek a defenseman.
NBC SPORTS: James O’Brien cited TSN’s Bob McKenzie reporting Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen is in the market for a top-two defenseman. McKenzie expressed skepticism Kekalainen will find such a blueliner this early in the season, when most teams are still evaluating their rosters. The Jackets GM is unwilling to move promising youngsters Alexander Wennberg and Zach Werenski.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman also touched on the Jackets’ futile efforts thus far to bolster their defense corps. “There are two problems. First, when you’re struggling, other GMs throw anvils instead of life jackets. Second, it can be very difficult to find trading partners this early.” Friedman speculates the Jackets might inquired about Anaheim Ducks defenseman Shea Theodore, but he doubts the Ducks part with him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Kekalainen wants a top-two blueliner, he’ll have to overpay. And if he does that, it could be a move that hurts the club down the road. If there’s no trade to be made, the only other option is a coaching change.
** UPDATE** The Blue Jackets fired head coach Todd Richards this morning, replacing him with John Tortorella. Details in the “News” section.
This early in the season its not going to matter what you are looking for, the cost is going to be very high. Look around the league and guys missing significant amounts of time already and teams digging themselves holes to climb out of. NHL Roster type players come at a premium this time of year. Good luck not giving anything significant up
Yeah, landing a top two defenseman is probably unrealistic at this point in the season on any terms and, if it’s possible at all, it would cost a fortune.
Which team has a surplus of top pair defenseman? Don’t see it. Maybe WPG could be a trading partner, moving Byf?
As long as the Jets are in the playoff hunt Byfuglien won’t be going anywhere. That could change at the trade deadline if they are struggling by then, but right now there is nothing in their system that would be a viable replacement for Byfuglien and they sure aren’t going to get back an adequate replacement in any trade at that position.
I expect Lou would give Jarmo Kekäläinen a call to see what he might offer for Phaenuf. Could be an interesting conversation, although after the Clarkson deal I expect he’d consider more carefully next time.
I don’t think the Clarkson deal was a bad deal for him. He didn’t need the cap space, got a player who likely is worth 10-15 goals and got rid of a player who will never play again at basically a wash on cap.
The Leafs would be wise to move Phanuef for a young piece/picks and get the tanking started early this season. I think they’re in jeoprady of finishing outside the top 5 drafting positions as things stand now.
Columbus is a budget team that’s close to the cap. With a few long term contracts already on the team, I doubt they take a contract that big. Especially with Murray and Johansen getting raises over the next two consecutive years.
this would be great. in one foul swoop we could:
trade phaneuf
open up captaincy
save some millions on salary long term
get prospect(s)
tank more while hopefully columbus moves ahead of us
make my day
or offer up gardiner
wishful thinking but hey
Could be great! Take bourque, Calvert a pick and prospect back. More pieces moving from Toronto. Columbus needs to do something. Their defence is a train wreck to watch. Maybe move gardiner and polak? Spitballing here but still. Toronto, much like other gms should smell blood here.
There’s spitballing … and then there’s pie-in-the-sky wishful-thinking. You don’t think Columbus could get a lot more for such assets than Gardiner and Polak??
Why did Columbus move Wisniewski? They now appear to be searching somewhat for what he was. Granted he was 1 dimensional but not entirely. His contract was reasonable in real dollars & the cap hit for his offensive contribution & minutes played was solid. On top of that the return was brutal. W. Karlsson, taking on Rene Bourques contract & a swap of picks. Columbus got Anaheim’s 2nd, Anaheim got Detroit’s 3rd previously acquired by Columbus, both in 2015.
Now I’m not saying Wisniewski solves their defensive woes but but this has more to do with team defense & bad goaltending than just Columbus’s current D situation.
Dan Girardi is a top pairing D- many Ranger fans be fine if he departed for Columbus like many a recent Ranger.
Haha, Girardi is terrible and is 2 years from behind by as useless as Rob Scuderi. Very similar players actually.
LOL. Comparing Girardi to Scuderi is an absolute joke. It is pretty obvious you haven’t seen Girardi play a single game!
Moving Girardi at this point leaves a gaping hole in NY’s defense. Who takes his place, McIlrath? I have done a 180 on that guy, but not sure he is capable at all of being a top 4 guy this year, or ever. Skjei is a left handed shot, that eliminates that possibility. That leave Diaz. AV has finally reconfigured the D pairings and moved Girardi to the 2nd unit with Yandle, Klein on the 1st unit with McDonagh, and Staal to the 3rd with Boyle. Small sample size, but it looked pretty good against SJ. It eliminates having Yandle and Boyle on the same line which has been problematic. If NY were to fall out of contention, I wouldn’t mind losing Girardi. He has a LOT of miles on him, especially over the last 3-4 years. But I just can’t see it at this point.
Sorry, should have said Dan Girardi is 2 years away from being as useless as Rob Scuderi. Very similar players.
Yes, they both have 2 arms, legs and feet….but that’s about where that insane comparison starts and stops!
I saw Girardi anchor the Rangers defense (last year I believe) for many games when McDonagh and Staal were both injured. He was Rangers best player on many nights. Everything went through him from D position. Girardi is pretty similar to McDonagh what Seabrook is to Keith – in sickness and in health. Girardi is a no2 on many teams in NHL. The only other D-men I can think of are Phaneuf, Yandle and MAYBE Ekholm in Nashville. Ekholm is good enough to become no1-2 and might be the odd man out during the summer.
my personal view is that if you got a top team that is consistent then you don’t change anything
if it ain’t broken don’t fix
In Columbus Richards is out and Tortarella the anti Christ is in. What a horrible, knee jerk, disaster move. http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com/content/blogs/puck-rakers/2015/10/richards-out-tortorella-in.html
I’ve posted my take on this move in the “News” Section.
i like torelli and iron mike too
real coaches yell!
Hey Lyle,
I’m still having issues with blocked comments.
We’re having ongoing issues with our anti-spam software and we’re working on it. Any posts that don’t appear go into our spam folder. I’m checking it regularly and reposting any that appear there.
Thanks!
lyle no security is better than security
my advice after 20 years in I.T
I’ll give them Chara and Subban for their #1 pick.
Columbus won’t move that pick as it’s looking like a top two.
There has to be a fit between Philly and the Blue Jackets. Any of the 7 Dman on their roster should be available. They will also probably be willing to hold back salary on Schenn or Streit (although Streits cash value remaining on his contract is less than the cap hit.
I’ve read and heard a lot of comments in Winnipeg about Byfuglien and most were that the jets cant lose him for nothing. I wonder when is it too late to move Byfuglien if you don’t resign him? Or has that window already closed? Winnipeg at present is in a playoff position and I think they’ll be in that spot or battling for one all season. How can you move big Buff now or at the trade line if that is true? Unfortunately by not trading Buff in the off season Winnipeg may find themselves in the same position as Frolic who signed with Calgary as an UFA. Not saying he cant be move but difficult because of the unique player he is, would have to bring back something of equal value I would think or loss him for nothing at season end; also they still have their captain Ladd to resign but most feel this will get done.
I’ve just deleted two posts which had nothing to do with NHL hockey or trade rumors. I ask that you keep your comments on topic and find somewhere else to air your political views. I will not have these threads highjacked by off-topic commentaries.
Thank you
understood
Sorry about that Lyle. Just that my blood hadn’t stopped boiling.
The Blue Jackets have no leadership on the backline – an issue that was evident prior to the season. Time for JD and his GM to start taking some heat.
Ramo on waivers, wow. Buffalo would be insane to pass.
Or Columbus !
Saw Torts on NHL Live last night talking about the Columbus situation. Sounds like he was already in negotiation with the Jackets to take over the job. Interesting…..
Agreed – watch out for BUF to make a move on Ramo
columbus has zero cap space
top 2 dmen cost 6+ million
good luck with that
tortorilli will delay the dman trade somewhat though
I don;t remember all the salary cap particulars (i know GMs circumvent salaries in the past (NJ?) and performance bonuses are in place) but
nhl should go back to fluctuating salary per yer over a contract:
1st year 5 million; 2nd year 4 million; 3rd 3 million…
and/or and a set salary & cap overall with a salary bonus systems that doesn’t impact team cap:
ie kane = 6 million salary each year (fluctuating or not) & cap with unlimited $ in performance bonuses
this would open up the money and trade restrictions
The NHL should allow one player to be exempt from the cap something like a franchise player tag that each team is allowed to have. Make that the only contract that is allowed to have no movement or no trade
Thing about “franchise tagged” players they become top 5 type paid player at their position.. could create more headaches than solves when it comes to a small cap and a sport with few positions.
Not sure a team would want use that tag very often if the rule was similar to the NFL (the union would 2ant it written the same Im sure) and would result in lots of guys leaving via UFA.
Owners would never go for that-you just reduced their income by that amount-why would they put that in the CBA. Players would be all over that.
well anything we come up with is gotta be better than the current system.
how about any player 30 or over with 5 years server of a long term contract are an extra buyout
anything to get phaneuf off my team 😛
I think I’ve come up with the perfect solution! No salary cap!!!! Philly, Nyr’s Toronto can spend as much as they like, and Edmonton, Carolina, etc can pick top 1-5 picks every year. So not much will really change at all in the league.
Soft cap with taxes devided up amongst the small markets… never going to hapen but realistically would make for a better game.
There is such a huge disparity in revenue between the higher grossing teams and the lower in the league. No system could take care of that to make it work and make it fair. The differences are simply too huge.
Hamhuis/Jensen for 2016 1st/Connauton/Bjorkstrand
Spitballin only lol
JB not pullin an early trigger.
I could live with the pain if Hamhuis would be moved at TDL anyways. Predicated if out of the playoff hunt n also IMO missing out is not the end of the world. 1 more good draft for JB n the cupboard looks awfully nice.