Could the Washington Capitals pursue Dustin Byfuglien? Are the New York Islanders any closer to trading Travis Hamonic? Read on for the latest!
Byfuglien to the Capitals?
Don’t expect to see Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien joining the Capitals this season.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman noted colleague Damien Cox recently mentioned the uncertainty over Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik (injured reserve, lower-body) returning to the lineup and how his injury could be long term. He reveals a couple of sources told him if that’s the case to check into the Capitals interest in Winnipeg Jets blueliner Dustin Byfuglien. Friedman said the word is Orpik is expected to come back, meaning the Caps wouldn’t have sufficient salary-cap space to pursue Byfuglien. “Could you imagine him on that roster? They’d be a Stanley Cup contender for sure,” said Friedman.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yes, they would, but a quick look at the standings reveals the Capitals already are a Cup contender this season. If Orpik ($5.5 million annual cap hit) is out for the rest of the season, then I could certainly see them looking into the asking price of a blueliner like Byfuglien. Still, they’ve done well thus far during Orpik’s absence, and his return will give them a nice measure of grit and experience for the playoffs. Besides, the asking price for Byfuglien could prove too expensive for the Capitals, as there’s likely to be a bidding war on his services if the Jets shop him at the deadline.
A more pressing concern could be replacing checking line forward Jay Beagle ($1.75 million), who’s sidelined six weeks following hand surgery. If his recovery takes longer than expected, the Caps could pursue a short-term replacement.
Hamonic unlikely to be dealt this season.
NEWSDAY: Arthur Staple reports the recent injury to New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk means the club will rely more heavily on Travis Hamonic. It also means it’s increasingly unlikely Hamonic, who requested a trade for family reasons last summer, will be dealt this season. “So the Feb. 29 trade deadline may seem like the last day for Snow to fulfill Hamonic’s request, but unless a fellow GM blows away Snow with an offer in the next seven weeks, the real time frame for a Hamonic trade will start in June,” writes Staple.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given how specific Snow’s asking price is for Hamonic (a comparable defenseman), I didn’t expect him to be traded before the deadline. Boychuk’s injury just ensured that won’t happen this season.
With everyone looking for Defencemen and the flyers falling further out of the playoffs-there has to be a fit at the deadline. Luke Schenn, Streit, Schultz, Medvodev.
I could see streit and schenn maybe moving the other 2 plugs is doubtful lol
Youre probably right I could see the Flyers finally able to clear some cap at the deadline…maybe not much in the way of return but who cares really at that point. Addition by subtraction. Some of that blueline would do fine as depth D for some playoff hopefuls.
Clear some cap room-and more importantly roster space. With Ghostibere already there-and Provorov likely for next year, they need roster space.
I can see Streit getting a decent return though-he actual cash hit for next year is less than the CAP hit. The other would be depth Dman.
The Flyers have some other players who could fetch a decent return. I think a good 2-way player like Matt Read or Michael Raffl would be a valuable piece for a playoff contender. I’m sure teams looking for a young center would love to have Braydon Schenn or Couturier. Maybe if Hextall were willing to take less for a guy like Braydon Schenn or Couturier he could convince another team to take Umberger or Lecavalier in the same deal? …… Basically, if your last name isn’t Giroux, Voracek or Simmonds you should be considered “available” to the highest bidder.
I’d be fine with a ’16 defense that looks like this: Gostisbehere, Del Zotto, Medvedev, Provorov, MacDonald, and Morin. Perhaps Schultz stays as the 7th D.
Very much agreed
I forgot about Gudas! I’d rather have him than MacDonald or Shultz. Maybe MacDonald is your 7th D.
Hey Shticky,
The Flyers have always been in recovery mode since they decided it would be good for their image to elevate a number of former goons to management positions. Too many blows to the head does not = shrewd management.
Schultz doesn’t have a bad cap number and he’s only got one more year left. Besides, if for no other reason, it’s nice to see a guy skate around the Ice in a Flyers jersey with the last name Schultz on the back. …. Streit, Schenn and DelZotto all have value and dumping their salaries would be huge! The three of them combined account for a cap hit of 12+ million!
One of the MAIN reasons the Flyers are falling further out of the playoffs” is that their D is pathetic. Move them for what? Better D? A GM would have to have extra holes in his head to give away anything of substance for any of the 4 you mention. Streit MIGHT attract interest from some team needing a puck moving D – but the best the Flyers would get in return would be a 3rd round pick.
That being said George, I think with some of the young D in Philly thats all the Flyers would hope for. If they can find takers for Streit and one other D to someone as a kind of insurance policy even if its not for much Philly is in a better spot than they are now. Maybe use a buyout over the summer and that roster starts to get a little cleaned up rather quickly.
Remember George, Philly got a 1st, a 3rd and Gudas for Coburn. So I disagree when I hear you say Streit will only fetch a 3rd.
If Streit didn’t have another year after this at $5,250,000 cap hit – maybe. But who, among the so-called cup contenders has the space to take on that salary for one more year? Even Schultz has another year at $2,250,000 – and Ottawa can’t get any takers on a Greening for #2,650,000. The cap dictates those kinds of trades. As for Schenn ($3,600,000) and Medvedev ($3 mil) m- both are UFAs at season’s end, aren’t very good even as “depth” players, so they aren’t going anywhere ’til the season’s over.
Also, Coburn (who’s a UFA at year’s end)is just 30 y/o and is 6’5″ 225 lbs. Streit is 38 and not that big for a D at 5″11 191 lbs and is injury-prone.
Coburn was hurt twice last year before he was traded at the deadline. He was dealt with a year left, as you point out, on his deal. And if that 29 year old (at the time) 6’5″ 225lb defenseman was all that, he’d have been extended instead of being traded.
Why extend him when they got a return like that?
If he was a top pairing shut down player, he never would have been traded.
No one claims he’s a top-pairing shut down D – but then again neither are Streit and the other 3 mentioned and Coburn is head and shoulders over them. Do you seriously think a 38-year old fading D and 3 mediocrities would bring back the same return as Coburn?
will be interesting to see what the jets do; both Ladd and Byfiglein ufa’s at season end and Winnipeg at the bottom of the tough central. Do they hang on to a prayer and risk losing for nothing or go get some assets? personally I say sign Byfuglien and trade Ladd.
If the playoffs started today, Dallas would get Nashville, LA vs Min and Arz vs Van. Remind me why you want to win the division, Looks like Dallas and Los Angeles get the short end of the stick.
I’m sorry but I think Minny gets the short end of the stick, not LA. Trust me when I say NO team wants to face LA, just like last year when they missed there was a collective *sigh* across the league.
I think LA is in better shape this year than the last time they won the cup. Tiffoli Muzzin Pearson Mersh Weal Shore. All have developed so well and now with Lucic LA has crazy depth
I agree, I think they are deeper and a much faster team than the other cup wins as well.
Apparently Lombardi is going hard after another dman as well for more depth there. Maybe a deal for Polak could be worked out. He is exactly what LA loves and is lacking with Greene out long term.
The point being, when finishing 1st you hope to play a weaker team. In LA case Minny is much stronger the either Arizona or Vancouver. I would think both LA and Dallas would rather have Arz or Van.
The Islanders are a borderline playoff team and their hopes will likely fade if Boychuk misses significant time. Looks like another year without winning a playoff series. Once the new owners take over I expect that Snow and Capuano will get fired and McPhee will be the new GM. Capuano should have been fired a year and a half ago. The guy is just clueless behind the bench.
Now that Drouin asked to be traded Snow should try to get him and finally get Tavares the winger that has been missing.
Lol but why would anyone ever want to leave Tampa?
Someone better remind him of the no state tax before he does something he will regret later on…
cause everyone worries about money??
Tampa should trade Drouin to Nashville for Jones. Be a nice swap for Tampa; not so much for Nashville. Shows why drafting is so important.
Streit and Brayden Schenn to Tampa for Drouin?
not near enough for drouin
The fact Drouin has played like garbage and has acted like an entitled little jerk, and now demanded a trade, i’d say his value has dropped considerably since being drafted so high. I knew the second he was drafted before Jones that Yzerman was going to regret it bigtime.
I’m not saying this proposed package is enough to land him, just saying his value is low and Yzerman is definitely not in the drivers seat.
I agree his value is low but schenn isn’t producing like everyone thought and streit isn’t exactly young. his upside is still worth more than that
Yea I can’t argue with you there bigbear.
Generally, as soon as a trade demand becomes public a player’s value will usually drop.
Strome for Drouin straight up.
Need defenseman for a cup run call Boston.
Chara and Siedenberg would be nice additions and Boston needs to get something for them before they get any older. Boston isn’t a contender this season in my mind.
I would like to see Roman Jossi in a Bruin’s uniform for Louie Ericksson straight up and then Sweeney needs to move Koko,Subban ( who will never be an NHL starting goaltender),Connolly,(who reminds me of Byron Bitz except Bitz would fight)Rinaldo can skate and fight no finish,Talbot cannot do much of anything minus 4 against the Canadiens in the forgettable Icetacular,Morrow or Trotman whatever blah,Randle can finish and fight keep him,Kempainnen what does he do exactly?Two number ones next year and all those supposed prospects in the pipeline.No one else in Providence is coming up this year.Sweeney has to hit a grand slam in his next trade not just a home run.Get a young winger who can score ala Pastrnak with the aforementioned group of nothingness.I like Colin Miller put him on the fourth line for God’s sake.
As a Bruin fan, I have dreams too! I love Jossi for Ericksson straight up; however I don’t think anybody in Nashville likes it. Morrow needs to play, c.Miller is a keeper, K. Miller should be traded. Rayson Ferraro is a good pickup. Both Siedenburg and Chara should be moved at the trade deadline if possible, doesn’t matter the return, the savings alone will be worth it. Boston d should be solid in about 3 years. I hope they go hard after Byfuglien in the offseason if he is availiable. Next season, Byfuglien, C.Miller, Krug, Morrow, Mcquaid, Trotman. Nothing great but a start in the right direction until the prospects are ready.
Colin Miller can shoot the puck at 100 plus miles per hour,Marchand and Krecji are unavailable,Colin has 12 points and they bring up Cunningham and Kokolachev for what exactly ?, and send Colin down for one game WTF??? Montreal shows up and the Bruins don’t.Stupid,stupid,stupid.
That’s Julien for you!
Byfuglien is an adventure in his own end he sucks,no thanks.He takes dumb penalties and is fat really.At like 7 million a year no way Columbus can have him.
wensink, for Byfuglien is all about the term, 7yrs would be too long but if you can get him for 5yrs, he’s worth the gamble. I watch him a lot and their isn’t many in the nhl who can take charge of a game or change thinks very quickly. I would agree he still tends to have some brain farts. But boy when he is going, no one is stopping him. C Miller wasn’t happy about being sent down for the 1 game, and the winter classic at that. At least he has nothing to be ashamed of.
A 5 year contract for the right money is fair but Buff better not weigh in at 3 bills for any coming employer. He’s not getting younger. His weight and fitness commitment drove Claude Noel nuts at the time.
The only way Byfuglien signs a 5 year deal is if he gets $8+ Million per year other wise I seriously doubt that he would sign for 5 years he will want at least 7 years as this will be most likely his last chance to cash in on a big contract.