Latest on the Rangers, Panthers, Stars and Maple Leafs in your NHL rumor mill.
Suggested Rangers trade targets.
Another disappoint playoff performance could spell the end of Rick Nash’s tenure with the Rangers.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: Pat Leonard wondered what Rangers GM Jeff Gorton will do to address his clubs persistent unsettling results when he has a solid core of talent but also carries limited salary cap space and an unimpressive trade market. Leonard suggests St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk as a possible trade option, speculating the Blues (if willing to deal) could ask for Rick Nash or Chris Kreider in return. Nash no longer has a full no-trade clause and “reveres” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock. Leonard believes trading Nash or Kreider could hurt the Rangers in the playoffs this year, but if Nash comes up short in the postseason again, he wonders if an off-season swap of Nash for Shattenkirk makes sense.
He considers defenseman Keith Yandle the Rangers’ best trade chip right now, but doubts they’ll get a better blueliner in a deal. The San Jose Sharks need blueline help and left wing Patrick Marleau reportedly included the Rangers in his list of trade destinations, but the Blueshirts can’t afford his $6.6 million cap hit next season. Leonard also wonders if Gorton might dangle defenseman Dylan McIlrath and a first-round pick to Tampa Bay for holdout Lightning winger Jonathan Drouin. Winnipeg Jets left wing Andrew Ladd would be a good fit, but the Rangers cannot justify parting with a first-rounder for a pending UFA.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trading Nash, particularly in a swap for Shattenkirk, is a move that happens in June, not during the trade deadline. I don’t think the Blues want to move Shattenkirk this season, preferring to keep him for the playoffs to see how things turn out. If Nash has another disappointing postseason, I wouldn’t be surprised if Gorton shops him during the NHL Draft weekend.
I don’t see Gorton trading Yandle just to get something for him, rather than risk losing him for nothing at the trade deadline. Ultimately, it’s about making a deep playoff run this year for the Rangers. If Yandle won’t fetch the type of return that addresses that need, there’s no reason to move him. I’ll be very surprised if they part with McIlrath and a first-rounder for Drouin.
Latest on Andrew Ladd.
NBCSN (via TODAY’S SLAPSHOT): TSN’s Darren Dreger claims the Winnipeg Jets aren’t shopping pending UFA left wing Andrew Ladd yet. If they do before the trade deadline, he speculates the Florida Panthers and Vancouver Canucks could be interested.
MIAMI HERALD’s George Richards reports the following via Twitter: “Have read stuff regarding the #FlaPanthers and Andrew Ladd…have been told “zero interest” on their end.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks won’t want to part with much for a playoff rental like Ladd. And if they slide in the standings between now and Feb. 29, they’ll move from buyers to sellers. As for the Panthers, back in early-December, GM Dale Tallon said he’d like to add a scoring forward. Given the club’s improvement since then, maybe he’s changed his mind. Still, it wouldn’t surprise me if Tallon tried to add to his lineup before the deadline. Whether Ladd becomes one of his trade targets remains to be seen.
Don’t expect Bruins to ship Loui Eriksson back to Dallas.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Responding to a reader’s e-mail wondering if the Dallas Stars could swing a deal with the Boston Bruins to bring back winger Loui Eriksson, Mike Heika doesn’t imagine that happening. He does wonder, however, if they might pursue Eriksson via free agency.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars could go after a big-name defenseman like Winnipeg’s Dustin Byfuglien or the NY Rangers’ Keith Yandle if they hit the trade market. Don’t see them going after a winger right now.
Updates on the Maple Leafs.
TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons joins in the popular Toronto guessing game: “Which players will the Leafs move at the trade deadline?” Simmons considers defenceman Roman Polak and forwards Daniel Winnik, Shawn Matthias and P.A. Parenteau as the most likely to be dealt, and doubts anyone will have interest in Nick Spaling, Brad Boyes or Martin Marincin.
Wonder how many people will be in love with Komarov and his 10 goals next season ? Over 20 minutes in ice time last night no shots and exactly 0 goals and 1 assist in the past 5 games despite getting tones of ice time….move him while/if you can. No need for 3 million dollar 30 year old 3rd liners.
I agree, +20 SH% isn’t going to last very long. However, the question is what do you move him for? I don’t think you take a late 2nd for Komarov. That would be trading a character guy and contributor for maybe a 20% shot at a low end NHL player 5 years down the line…
I’m thinking with the number of teams in contention and poor market right now, we may be looking at outsize returns Shticky.
There is nothing wrong with another pick.
That analytical guy the leafs hired over the summer would love it. After all it was his kin that released the study claiming that 2 earlier picks are better than 1 higher pick.
The more picks Toronto gathers up the more likely it is they will obtain quality NHL players from the draft.
Building through the draft is what they claim to be wanting to do. So yes getting more than just a pick would be ideal but it isn’t that bad an idea.
Toronto can also use all those picks in a move to bring in other more established players.
I agree with you that more picks are better, Jeff. We have 11 now and I think last deadline, we added 4 or 5 more.
All I’m saying is I’d like more than a late 2nd for Komarov. For me, we need to see at least the Winnik return of a 2nd and a 4th or a prospect. Or, even better, a single A-/B+ prospect.
I agree completely
LOL
You’re doing a good job spearing heading the trade Komarov movement.
I signed up.
If he moves off of the top line & stops getting 2nd line PP time his points will go down as would anyone’s but if he continues to play his game, solid 2 way hockey hitting everything that moves I see that as great value at 2.95 cap hit.
Komorov’s 216 hits rank him 2nd in the NHL for forwards & 3rd overall, yet he only has 22 penalty minutes. That means he hits clean & doesn’t take stupid penalties. He also plays a key role in the penalty kill & apparently has a ton of character. The reason Babcock plays him the way he does.
I don’t trade Komorov unless the offer is to good to refuse or his future salary demands become to onerous.
you are always right–ive been reading everything on spectors—for 5 years—we agree on everything—true hockey fan–i have been a leaf fan for 35 yrs—
Someone has to set an example for these kids coming in & I prefer Komorov in that role to Winnik, Spalling, etc.
You can find examples 2 weeks after july 1st once ufa frenzy ends that will put up10 or12 goals next year year and not cost 3 million bucks, chances are pretty good that they would want to move Komarov next year of not this one, so do you want to potentially gey a 5th or 6th round pick (if anything) for him as a 10 goal 3rd line guy or a higher return while you can and sign another cheaper example and movethat player for basically the same return at next years deadline… sayfor argument sake they get a 2nd for Komarov, and they sign a guy who works out to bea decent thord liner next year to a 1 yyear deal and move him at that deadline the return become a 2nd this year and another pick next year. It makes no sense to hold on to hold on to guys and wait for their value to drop before moving them when you’re the 3rd lowest scoring team in the league with the least wins.
Yep and plenty of ufas will be looking for jobs with a flat cap…good year to sign another cheap or trade for a sjort term example type 3rd line guy to a short deal, amd maybe flip him for a pick next year.not like Komarov is here long term. This year or next he is moving, Id prefer the return fot 20 goal Leo compared to 10 goal rental Leo
Wrong,Wrong, Wrong, do not trade Komarov unless another team overplays substantially.
Komarov is the quintessential Babcock type player and with all the European and Russian kids coming up, Kapanen, Nylander, Valiev, Soshnikov, Zaitsev, Timashov, Dzierkals and others, not only does he speak the languages fluently, he sets the perfect example of what Babcock expects from his players.
You want to trade that for a second round pick? Every team needs some veterans to lead the whole and Uncle Leo is it!!!
Funny the Marlies where the majority play don’t seem to have these language issues…perhaps because Kapenin speaks pretty good English and that Swedish kid was born in Calgary and has spent most his life in north america….other teams have players from Europe and don’t give guys contracts to babysit or be interpreters
trading komorov is a bad idea ive said this from the start you need guys like him for the young kids coming up! we have a bunch of picks already keep him
I hear he plays piano too, maybe they should keep him around for parties and to help relax with some smooth jazz after practice…
lol why trade him shticky? cause you think they should? get over yourself lol
the piano playing is a better point to keep him than your reason for trading him?? lmao
What are you talking about.? Seems to me and well a lot of others that to rebuild thru the draft you probably need draft picks…the reason you deal Komarov is to get a draft pick . Ya you’re right what a silly reason to trade Komarov a rebuilding team doesn’t need draft picks it needs a 30 year old 3rd liner who speaks several different
languages and has 1 year left on a contract….just what the Dr ordered. Good chat
the majority would agree the oilers have needed a good vet to go a long with the kids! you don’t trade a hard working player who has stepped under babcock making under 3 million for a 2nd rd pick just stupid
I haven’t been on here forever but I see Shitiky is still ruining the site with his behind the curve thinking. He wants to trade Leo for a 2nd round pick that most likely will never play in the NHL all because Leo makes $3.0M. Shitiky is suddenly worried about shedding salary during a long rebuild period but wanted to over pay guys like Kessel and Phaneuf two years ago when the Leafs were horrible and were on the verge of blowing the team up. The guy is constantly on the wrong end. Buy high sell low right Shiticky? BTW I do remember you saying what a great deal it was to get Leo for five years at $3.0M. lol
Actually no I dont…I do agree that 3 mill is cheap for what Leo brings and the goal scoring now makes him valueable to other teams, more so than to a rebuilding team and more than he will be next year as a rental…that imo is why you move him now, either way Komarov is going to be moved do you take more for him or less? Its the long term out look more than the “shedding salary” he is 29 this year 30 next 30 10 goal guy…3 million bucks is what you pay for a player like
that it doesnt make him “cheap” you can find another guy for the same amounts of money or less.
Nope, I dont .and still dont mind Kessel or Phaneuf deals at the time. Wrong end of buy low and sell high? Since it has been forever since youve been back.
who has more value a typical 10 or 12 goal, 3 million dollar rental pawned off at the deadline. Or a 3 million dollar guy having a career year close you 20+ goals and 1 year left on his deal…explain your view on sell high
Seems some are mistaking my opinon on trading Komarov as being due to some dislike…I like Komarov and 3 mill is probably about what he is worth, that is not “cheap”. He has out played his contract and thats not going to last He is not going to get another contract in Toronto and will likely have little to no impact on this team going forward for that reason you trade him.
I would trade Leo for a 1st rd pick but I wouldn’t give him up for a second. Demographics become important for this Leaf team and they need a strong pool of 2016-drafted players to be the core of a very good team 4-5 years from now. And to accomplish that they need to hedge their bets with as many draft picks as possible. Recognizing Leo’s contribution to the team though, he’s worth more than a 2nd to us.
Exactly…I just cant see him getting a first, maybe a couple of seconds or some other combination but I think a first is a stretch. My saying a second was for argument sakes, if I said a first those 2 jambrones would have been screaming I overvaluing Komarov. Similar to big bears view up here that Komarov is so important and valuable yet down below he says a gm dealing a back up goalie for a package that includes Komarov with a second and a prospect should be fired
shticky its nothing to do with komo being valuable on the ice!! if your not getting anything but picks for him its just stupid to trade him makes no sense at all you just don’t get it!
Komarov is not the only guy in the NHL thats good in a room, if its not about what he does on the ice than why keep him use your own example with the Oilers was Ryan Smyth not a good room guy hard worker, how bout Ferrance? That didnt exactly help the Oilers much now did it? The Leafs coulf sign a UFA thats a good room guy and it costs them nothing, or take a contract back in another deal there are other ways to get good room guys, Winnik is a good room guy Polak is a good room guy Clune is a good room guy, Spaling is a good room guy…they have a few of em, yet I dont hear anyone saying shouldnt move them? So if its not about on the ice, whats the difference between these
guys? What makes zkomarov untouchable? (I cant evrn believe that as I write it, just looks stupid untouchable Leo Komarov should never be in the sam sentence) Again I like Komarov but fact is heis a 10 15 goal 3rd liner on most teams and he wont get another contract in Toronto when he is turning 31.
I really do not think Ladd will fetch a 1st rounder at the trade deadline. Only one 1st round pick was involved in last year’s trading deadline deals. Ladd has a couple Cups and playoff experience, when we was young but not the past few seasons. Buf, on the other hand might just get the Jets a number one.
I wondered when Nash’s name would finally enter the conversations.
That’s technically true if you look at a 1 or 2 day window but not all teams wait right to the deadline. There were 3 trades made within essentially 2 weeks of the trade deadline where 1st’s moved. Vermette, Sekera & Franson/Santorelli. There were numerous others where 2 2nd’d, 2nd & a 3rd’s, 2nd’s a solid prospects etc moved.
GM’s can’t contain themselves when they think they have a shot at the cup. Similar compensation will move this season & not all teams will wait right until the deadline but for me these are still trade deadline deals. UFA’s or players with decent contracts for possibly 1 more season moving to provide teams going for it more depth to try & get thru the 2 month grind to the cup.
You must me a carded member of the Shticky small window club. He loves looking at things in very small windows. Like 1 game defining a players whole season & future career.
I missed the Yandle trade to. That’s 4 1st’s
I am looking at the deadline deals only. I am really interested to see if teams are willing to part with their number one’s moving forward. Maybe Ladd will fetch a number one, who knows.
Will Chevy will have a fire sale, who knows.
Glencross got a 2nd & a 3rd. Connolly 2 2nd’s although being an RFA as opposed to a UFA factors into that compensation. There are almost 2 dozen others at similar price points & that’s just last season.
It’s semantics. For me the deadline isn’t the last day or 2 but for several weeks leading up to the deadline. The smart teams get the player they want sooner not risking being outbid at the last minute maybe paying nominally more than they might have had they waited it out.
My discussion was more centered around giving up number one picks, not 2’s and 3’s. The smart teams do their deals in advance, with the hope of getting good value on one side and not overpaying on the other. I remember seeing the Glencross trade, believing the Caps overpaid for a guy that was clearly on the downside. sellers have to worry about not waiting too long and giving up a guy for lesser value – Thomas Vanek comes to mind. If you are making a deal in the last hour of the deadline, you probably waited too long.
what were the Preds thinking when they gave up a #1 for Franson and Santorelli?
Actually I could definitely see him fetch a mid to late 1st round pick. After all the Oilers got a late 1st round pick + a 3rd/4th line player from the Penguins last year for Perron.
There’s 5 1st rounders moved last season leading up to the deadline.
And that was considered a really deep draft year. I have heard that this years draft class drops off after the top 5 or so.
101 out of 100 GM’s will assert to anyone that will listen that the proper way to build a team is through the draft. Some believe it. But building through the draft can be either drafting and developing prospects for you team, or drafting and developing the best prospects available then trading them for the pieces you need. Trading away draft picks is less successful. And a 4th-7th “throw-in” as a deal sweetener is a slap in the face to your scouting dept. Yes – the anecdotes will flow about how I’m really really wrong. But if we had fancy stats for such things I think history favors holding lots of picks, drafting and developing, vs trading them. Teams built through acquiring lots of spare parts are usually one year wonders. The “hockey trade” players of known values that fill needs for both clubs, is much less risky than the “players for picks” deal. For example, a casual “swap of first rounders” unremarked at the time was the difference between LeCavalier and Legwand (guilty on my own anecdote, of course) Seems to me, at crunch time, most GM’s undervalue the draft picks they assert are the way to build a club.
If you’re looking for scoring, Ladd is not who you want. Nash for Shattenkirk? Absurd. For Kreider, maybe, if Rangers sweeten it with someone else.
Why do so many think Eriksson is some kind of a stud? $6 mil a year? What has he ever done is his career to get that kind of $$$?
Well in his 9 year career he has 6 20 goal seasons. He was on pace for 20 plus in the lock out shortened season as well as this season. 4 of those seasons he scored over 25, 1 over 35 well playing a solid defensive game & if not for 3 concussions in the 2013-14 season would have scored 20 as well. He has 3 70 plus point seasons & a 63 point season. The 2 seasons where he wasn’t a 20 goal scorer were his rookie season & sophomore season where he was earning his opportunities.
He won’t get 6 million but it will be close.
And if it’s over $5m per year, I hope its with another team.
I agree but that’s based on personal bias of a players worth. I don’t think any player in a 71.4 cap world should be getting over 8 million per season.
If UFA status wasn’t achieved so young now, the most inflationary factor on NHL salary’s he wouldn’t get it but that was the trade off by the NHL to get cost certainty, the cap.
Someone will overpay for Eriksson if he becomes a UFA. There are just so few 20 goal scorers; 92 last season an average of 3 per team, in today’s lower scoring more balanced scoring NHL & scoring is down again this season & what scoring is being generated is being spread over a larger group of players as more teams are rolling 4 lines more consistently than even a few years ago.
Being a Bruin’s fan I’m hoping Eriksson will take a nominal home team discount & sign a 5 year deal at or near 5 million per, if it pushes 6 I’m with you, trade him for the best deal available & let the chips fall where they may as it relates to this years & future playoff runs.
He’s also slow,has no physical game,has concussion history, is getting older,and some games is a no show. Not worth anything close to 6 million. As a Bruins fan I say trade him for whatever you can get. Use the cap space for a defenseman.
Worse trade in history thanks Chiarelli no wonder he’s scared to move anyone with skill out of Edmonton.
Dave when your boss comes to you and tells you to move a certain player as fast as you can for the best deal you can get Quick this is what happens.Then later when you tell your boss i can not work like that anymore,you get fired!Do not blame Chiarelli for that trade,there was more going on in private then you know!
I dont think Ladd is exactly a “goal scoring winger”. I know he has cracked 60 points once and in some peoples books that makes him a 60 point winger but well over 740 games and not 200 goals. Decent player but goal scoring winger he is not.
Sorry was meant to read well over 700 games (740)
St.Louis has Backes & Brouwer as UFA’s of significance that either need to be resigned or replaced. Schwartz is an RFA & is in for a substantial raise. Even moving Shattenkirk out getting Nash’s cap hit in under the cap would be a serious struggle. It could be done if StLouis is willing to give a ton of rookies & young players regular roles. Rattie, Jaskin, Fabbri, Barbeshev, Linbolm, Edmundson, etc.
Now you want to look long term? There is that selective processing again working the opposite side of the ledger. Ladd didn’t become an NHL regular until his 5th season, 1st in Chicago & even then it was as a 3rd line checker. He was 9th for TOI/GP for forwards in his 1st & 2nd seasons in Chicago well averaging 0:22; 15th, & 0:33; 16th, PP TOI/GP respectively. Zero quality or quantity of minutes.
Ladd wasn’t moved into a top 6 forward position with power play time until getting to Atlanta in 2010-11. His 7th year in the league. I posted Ladd’s #’s for the 5 years following but Lyle has it being vetted before posting. What those #’s show is 29, 28, 18; lockout season, 23 & 24 goal seasons & 59, 50, 46; lockout season, 54 & 62 point seasons.
Selective to me is looking at a few years compared to a career he is a 20 goal guy, which in my books doesnt= goal scoring winger, as I said devent enough player but still a 20 goal guy Im not nit picking why and and picking and choosing what seasons do and dont count like you are that to me is being selective. 740 game 195 goals what does that equal 21 goals a year. I would suugest a goal scoring winger wouldnt take 5 years to be an NHL regular then put on the 3rd line. I can slant some stats of smaller samples if you want too
Striker making excises add picking and choosing what seasons should and shouldnt count is being selective. I would suggest a goal scoring winger does not take 5 years to ne an NHL regular thenit on a 3rd line, and if the player is puts up only 2 seasons during his prime years of 25 goals and never broke 30 in 10 years in the league he is a 20 goal guy (not there is anything wrong eith that) 740 games 195 goals is a 21 goal guy for his career, the jets have played over half the season this year Ladd has 10 goals, ona pacr for less than 20 if you want to look at small recent samples or be selective
Ladd. Last 5 years heading into this season.
2010-2011 Atl 81 29 30 59
2011-2012 JETS 82 28 22 50
2012-2013 JETS 48 18 28 46
2013-2014 JETS 78 23 31 54
2014-2015 JETS 81 24 38 62
The lock out season skews the #’s but what these #’s show me is a player that has missed 5 games in 5 years playing a very physical brand of hockey. I would say they show him as a 20 to 25 goal scorer that can score 55 to 60 points but if you were to factor points per game in to account for the lock out shortened season it would put him over 60 points a year on average.
Think of him any way you want but that’s 5 pretty impressive seasons, especially for a player that hits & blocks shots as often as Ladd does.
Pretty impressive, when you look at the player as you have laid out the info.
Yeah if you’re looking for goal scoring Ladd is definitely not your guy. He does have the ability to get the odd greasy clutch goal but even that has tailed off this year. If Ladd however cannot get a 1st rd pick I would say that Chevy keeps him and risks loosing him to free agency. The only way he is moved if its a 1st rounder or a top prospect. I think Buff resigns before the deadline.
In the last 5 seasons Ladd sits 32rd for goals. 1 behind Crosby & Bergeron, 2 behind Sharp & Couture, 3 behind & Vanek, 5 behind Giroux! There are numerous other solid names mixed in there as well. Yeah not a goal scorer, really!
I do the math. 30 teams divided by 32 goals scorers at par with Ladd or better. That makes him a soft #1 goal scorer or top flight #2.
LOL! Really?? But what about ice time? And all the other stuff you go on about? How many games has he played in the past 5 years compared to Terasenko Geudreu Tifolli Kuznetsov Kucherov Johnson and (many) others? Ladd is not one of the best goalscoring wingers in the game give yourself a shake. Jezus man
He is 90th in goals per game over the past 3 seasons and alot of the guys in front of him get less ice time. By my math 90 guys on 89 guys with a higher gpg clip divided by 3 teams means just about everyteam in the league has 3 guys who scores as much or more than Ladd and alot of them dont get as much ice time over those past 3 years. Tyler Bozak has more goals he elite too? Nonsense
Ladd is having a brutal year. There are rumors he’s plying thru some form of leg injury impeding his already limited skating ability. His shooting % might have a minor correction as he’s below his career averages but that’s a maybe at this point.
Regardless I have made my position clear as it relates to Winnipeg with both Ladd & Buff. I trade both of them for the best returns available & move on.
Winnipeg isn’t making the playoffs at least not this season & in the current market conditions can’t afford to spend to the cap ceiling nor any where near it for that matter. The MTS Center only seats 15 thousand & change. Corporate income both for box’s & sponsorship is limited in the smallest NHL market in Canada.
Winnipeg needs to be happy to some extent just having an NHL team, stay young to keep salaries in check & hope they get lucky make the playoffs now & again with that roster make up.
It’s going to be virtually impossible for Winnipeg to retain their stars long term for numerous reasons not the least of which is revenue streams but also geography. I love Winnipeg for about a month a year. Some where between mid to late April & mid to late May. If there isn’t still snow on the ground.
The 2 years I spent there in my youth working for the railroad was not all that enjoyable. If I want to see snow & be cold I’ll go to the mountains on a ski holiday. It’s bad enough spending 40 to 50 days a winter in & out of the oil patch in Alberta. Ha-ha!
Has anyone of those young stud future superstars even played 5 years?
I never said Ladd was 1 of the best goal scorers. I just listed the facts for others to make their own determination.
I didn’t say he wasn’t which is what you said & implied.
Yes he is & has earned is quantity & quality of icetime, which with out no 1 can produce & have success.
Sorry for commandeering you post for you news section lyle but perhaps this will put to rest the debate on this rumour site as to whether Ottawa is a budget team.
Here’s looking at you George.
OTTAWA SUN: Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson said his club must grind out its wins because they’re a budget team and lack the high-skilled talent of other clubs. Meanwhile, long-time Sens defenseman Chris Phillips might not play a single game this season because of a nagging back injury.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some could interpret Karlsson’s comments as a subtle slam of management and ownership, but he’s simply stating a fact. The Senators are a budget team and cannot afford to load up on top-flight talent compared to deeper-pocketed clubs. As for Phillips, it’s an unfortunate end to his long NHL career. As he nears 38, his chances of getting back into the game seem slim.
Ottawa’s cap hit this season is 66.370 & all those monies are paid in US dollars. Actual salary’s being paid is nominally less. At a conversion rate of 1.4 the current rate of exchange to buy 1 US dollar that’s 92.918 million Canadian. That’s quite the budget.
Melnyk, on the other hand, says he will do what’s necessary to make them better. Empty rhetoric? Time will tell, but if the past is any criterion it will once again boil down to “talk is cheap” without anything substantial taking place. That’s his history unfortunately. Of course, if the fans are happy with a team that operates below the financial Mendoza line, makes the playoffs in alternate years, and “puts up a good show” in round one – maybe into the second round even – then fine. But the empty seats (except when the Leafs and Habs are in t own) shows there just aren’t enough of that kind of fan to make the operation financially viable, and if Cirque de Soleil wins that bid for the Lebreton Flats project, which included a new arena in their case, over Melnyk;s bid, look for Eugene to do a 180 and start accepting bids on the team because he’s made it clear he isn’t interested in playing in “someone else’s building.” Maybe Cirque de Soleil will buy the Sens – they’re certainly rich enough – and re-name them the Clowns.
Lol, good one!
There are only 5 teams in the NHL with a younger average age than Ottawa now. This directly relates to monies teams are paying their players, as many of the players are on their ELC’s or 2nd contracts & not yet getting top dollar. Ottawa will have no choice to spend more next season or they will have to move out assets.
Hoffman & Ceci are both RFA’s as are others but these 2 players are going to get substantial raises. The only UFA’s are Phillips; 37, & Neil; 36, both of which make nominal money. Remove them from the roster & this team gets significantly younger & close to 1 of the youngest teams in the NHL.
Just Hoffman’s & Ceci’s raises are going to eat up the entire 6.197 Ottawa sits below the existing cap of 71.4.
I don’t think these small market Canadian teams specifically Ottawa & Winnipeg can afford to spend any where near the cap in this cap market with the Canadian dollar looking at further declines. Even with their share of revenue sharing. Both are going to lose money.
They have no choice but to move out big veteran contracts to try & stay financially viable. That’s easy for Winnipeg. Let Ladd & Buffy go, take the best offers you can get & move on. Ottawa is facing having to let Hoffman go as moving Michalek or MacArthur is problematic; injuries, $ & term, & moving Methot would leave this D weaker than it is already.
No point complaining about it. It is what it is. Be happy you have an NHL team as if you expect these 2 teams to spend to the cap in this market these teams will both be facing relocation with in 5 years.
Hopefully they can move out Cowen as well.
With that interesting Cap situation with Cowen’s contract some team may well take him as a rental for the remainder of this season so as to buy him out in the off season & get that 650000 in cap relief next season.
Getting his 3.1 off the books would really help. If he’s not traded I see Ottawa buying him out.
It would be hard to I imagine the other bid will be accepted when Melnyk has the hockey club. If so their will be an obvious power struggle over control of the team.
Melnyk’s bid may not be accepted either but I travel to Ottawa a couple times a year for personal reasons and have to say when I was last there in December the area they have dug up is huge and a great location. It would certainly be a financial boon to the team to relocate there. It would also make it much easier for chaps like myself who play tourist to go to a game.
The fact that they have already started tearing up the area and are preparing to develop it leads me to believe that one of these bids will be accepted. Yet time will tell.
Except that the current PM favors the “artsy-fartsy” approach to things and, coming from Montreal (as do Le Cirque), it’s not hard to see in which direction he will “encourage” his Cabinet Minister responsible for the NCC to “lean.”
That is ridiculous. I have no idea where you get the notion that our PM favours the “Artsy-fartsy” approach to thinkgs. I also have no idea who ones “Artsy-fartsy” approach has to do with deciding on the winning bid. I have not looked in to how the actual bids are decided but I would imagine that it be done on the municipal level and any influence from montreal a city in another province would factor nothing in the decision.
It’s like you are telling me that Obama sits down and decides what the Capitals do.
Says the fawning “his hair is so nice” sycophant
And pay attention to the facts Jeff .. it has NOTHING to do with municipal decisions. The land is owned by the Federal Government and administered by the NCC – just like the canal. And if you truly don’t think the PM will “lean” towards a “cultural” entity like the Cirque de Soleil rather than a capitalist like Melnyk – well, good luck.
Melnyk has a bit of a history of not getting his own way in Ottawa under other Governments previous ornot at all associated to this one… not sure but if he doesnt get his way this time either maybe its because the other bid makes more sense financially than his more than it has to do with youre opinion on the Government and their out look on the arts?
I’m retaining this thread and filing it under “we’ll see.” As for “previous governments” Melnyk never before tried to obtain federally-administered land. His problems to this stage have been with the Watson municipal government (i.e., trying to get a casino license for the Kanata site).
Dang it
I guess it didn’t end the debate.
LOL
Alls good. thanks for playing.
Sharks like Yandle. Rangers pick up Wingles.
If the Canucks were to spend $6 million on a 30 year old forward, I’m sure they’d want Eriksson to play with the Sedin’s rather than Ladd to play on the 2nd or 3rd line.
Its too bad the Islanders are having issues with healthy dmen right now.
I’d love to see Ladd go there with Morrisey in a deal for Hamonic. Most likely be more to the deal but to me Ladd would be a good fit in Brooklyn.
The Jets don’t need a Dman either so Ladd would have to go to them for something other than Harmonic or another D.
You can never have “too many” D – especially good ones.
Under a cap system and when you are a budget team like Ottawa yes you can.
I did I just do that! haha
However I do think the Jets are loaded at RW so if he is a LW D then he may fit.
All the wondering that Pat Leonard of the NY Daily News is speculating is frightening. Giving up McIlrath and a 1st for a malcontent is ridiculous. Nash or Kreide for Shattenkirk? Please…And the worst of all of his wondering is Marleua..OMG no..not another old man with a huge salary cap hit…I’m hoping Gordon/Sather have learned their lesson…
ugh.
Can Boyes play LW? If so, I bet Philly would consider adding him. They need a forward who can contribute offensively. And they’d like to do an upgrade on the cheap.
It’s time for the Rangers to start keeping their draft picks, building from with and stop this non-sense of trying to bring in all these has-beens..and there have been soo many. Look at Chicago..their team is built on draft picks, amazing concept, too bad, the Rangers just don’t ‘get it’.
Send Komarov + Prospect (Gauthier/Harrington) and whatever else (2nd or 3rd round pick) for the Duck’s goaltender Andersen.
I think the Ducks would want – and very likely get – a LOT more than that package for Anderson.
They wouldn’t get more, as he only makes $1.15M…because a players worth is also based on his contract dollars = trade return value. Yes, it also has to do with performance (he helped bring Anaheim to the Semi’s). That too brings worth/value. But he has since been outplayed and lost his #1 spot, which now lowers his value. And his value draft positioning-wise, isn’t that high, drafted 187th overall in 2010 by Carolina, then came through the draft again in 2012, where he was drafted 87th overall by Anaheim. With that said, Komarov (180th overall) + Gauthier (21st overall) and a 2nd round pick, is quite enough.
the ducks would get more than that for Anderson Gibson is a better goalie that doesn’t lower andersons trade value! if the gm settled for that he would be out the door
So an important guy like Komarov a high second round pick and a prospect wouldnt be enough to land aun proven backup goalie and would get a GM fired? Hmm ma6be Komarov isnt all you make him out to be?
lol it has nothing to do with his skill he is cheap and will be good with the kids? oooh a 2nd rd pick!! and a c prospect!! wow the gm should jump all over that….jezus man
Talbot was a 2nd 3rd and a 4th, Bernier eas Fratin a 2nd and Scrivens, Lack hot a 3rd and a 7th…not that I think this trade happens but what do you exactly think backup goalies go for? If Komarov being involved in a deal for a back up goalie getd a GM fired ejat does that say about how important he is?
Good with kids describes why you would buy a dog…I’m not sure there is going to suddenly be a bunch of kids next year…maybe a few but the younger guys who make the team will be guys from the AHL and I’d be willing to bet Komarov won’t get another contract in Toronto. So why keep him? Nylanders Dad played in the league for a long time Im pretty sure he has a pretty good idea what its all about so maybe Komarov babysits 2 possibly 3 rookies? Not worth it
just like kessel wasn’t a cancer in the locker room eh shticky!! keep reading your stats
I have the feeling the Leafs are going to run with Reimer, and try to move Bernier. Interesting to note that even with Bibeau and Sparks healthy, the organization continues to hang onto Ray Emery.Backup for balance of season?
Reimer might want $3-4M money after the season, like the Talbots and Lacks of the world. If that is the case, Leafs won’t resign.
I am sure Frankie Corrado and the entire population of Woodbridge is praying for Polak to be traded. If they do, it will be a big loss in many ways, but he might be the Leafs biggest trade chip.
People are overvaluing goalies these days. Frederick Gautier (underrated based on his mediocre offensive stats), a high 2nd round pick and Komarov is far too much to pay for any goaly who is not an elite starter