Updates on the Flyers, Canucks, Devils, Senators and Maple Leafs in your NHL rumor mill.
Flyers, Canucks and Devils yet to decide if they’re buyers or sellers.
Could the Flyers attempt to move defenseman Mark Streit at the trade deadline?
PHILLY.COM: Sam Carchidi speculates Flyers GM Ron Hextall will likely be a seller at the NHL trade deadline, listing blueliners Mark Streit and Nick Schultz, along with winger Matt Read, as possible trade candidates. If Hextall decides to become a buyer, “Hextall may try to upgrade the offense by adding a winger (Kyle Okposo? Andrew Ladd?) for the stretch run – or see if he can pry 20-year-old Jonathan Drouin from Tampa Bay.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers’ performance over the next three weeks will determine what Hextall does. Fall further out of contention, and he hangs out the “For Sale” shingle. If they claw their way into a postseason berth, he could seek affordable rental players.
I don’t see the Islanders parting with Okposo now. Ladd could be available but the asking price could be too rich for Hextall. Drouin’s certainly available, but the asking price is rumored to be either an affordable defenseman with a right-handed shot (Streit and Schultz shoot left), or a couple of top prospects. Don’t think Hextall gets involved in that, especially for a player who, while promising, has yet to fully prove himself at the NHL level.
THE VANCOUVER SUN: Brad Ziemer reports the Canucks play eight of 11 games this month at home, which could determine if they become buyers or sellers at the Feb. 29 trade deadline. Winger Radim Vrbata, defenseman Dan Hamhuis and forward Brandon Prust are the likely trade candidates. Others could include Yannick Weber, Alex Burrows, Matt Bartkowski, Chris Higgins and Linden Vey.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ve said for weeks now that if the Canucks remain in playoff contention by the deadline, they’ll hang onto Vrbata and Hamhuis. If they fall further back in the standings, they’ll be sellers. As Ziemer noted, their upcoming homestand will determine what they do on deadline day.
NORTHJERSEY.COM: Tom Gulitti believes New Jersey Devils GM Ray Shero owes it to his players to be a buyer at the trade deadline to boost their offense and improve their chances of clinching a playoff spot. Shero said he’s unwilling to moves assets for a rental player, leading Gulitti to suspect the Devils GM would prefer a younger top-six forward who fits into his long-term plans, like his acquisition last summer of winger Kyle Palmieri. Such deals at the trade deadline aren’t impossible, but Gulitti notes they’re also not common.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Shero won’t part with a first- or second-round draft pick, a top prospect or a promising young player for a rental player. However, if he has the opportunity to land a top-six forward for, say, a third-rounder, I think he’ll go for it. That depends, of course, on who’s available at the trade deadline and the asking price. Shero could play it cool, hoping that a team desperate to move out a player lowers their price before the deadline. That’s how the Canadiens landed Thomas Vanek at the 2014 trade deadline.
Updates on the Senators and Maple Leafs.
THE BOSTON GLOBE: Fluto Shinzawa believes the small-market Ottawa Senators would like to free up more salary-cap room in order to re-sign key restricted free agents like Mike Hoffman. Defenseman Jared Cowen has a year left on his contract worth $4.5 million.
Shinzawa believes pending UFAs P-A Parenteau, Shawn Matthias and Daniel Winnik will fetch the highest return for the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline. The Leafs could also find it difficult to move goaltender Jonathan Bernier.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cowen’s been a fixture in the trade-rumor mill this season, but that salary could prove difficult to move. Perhaps an off-season move is possible, provided they take back a salaried player in the deal or absorb part of the contract. They could also try peddling Cowen this summer to a budget club that needs to reach the salary-cap floor for 2016-17.
Winnik isn’t a UFA, as he has one season left on his contract. It’s rumored the Leafs could try moving him, but given the decline in his play this season, his value isn’t as good as the others.
Parenteau, Matthais, Winnik – add to that list Polak, who may well fetch the highest return, along with Grabner, Boyes and Spaling and maybe Clune, Marincin, Hunwick (one more year left) and even Holland or Komarov can’t be ruled out.
Some of these guys they won’t be able to move and some of them obviously if you can move them it’s for a 5-7th round pick. We have 11 picks for next year and I expect us to add 3 or 4 picks.
The top returns if we move them would be Komarov, Polak and PA if he stays/gets hot at the right time and things stay tight like they are now.
polka and komorov would get the best return imo they don’t move komorov. i don’t think PA gets more than a 3rd his last 15 games he has 5 points he is an inconsistent scorer
I agree, Bigbear – that’s why I worded it the way that I did.
PA needs to get hot at the right time and Komarov probably doesn’t move, but for the right over-payment, which might be a 1st, the Leafs would have to consider that.
i agree dan… an overpayment you have to move komorov
Your not getting a top 6 forward for a 3rd rounder.
And if I suggested two years ago the Canadiens would get Thomas Vanek for a conditional second-rounder and a marginal prospect, you would’ve said the same thing. Yes, the likelihood of getting a top-six winger for a third rounder is remote, but even I can admit that, sometimes, crazy things can happen on deadline day. My point remains, if there’s a deal Shero can make for a rental player that doesn’t require parting with a quality future asset, I think he’d go for it. If not, he won’t.
Isles waited too long to trade Vanek. Can’t wait till the last hour to move a guy that should have gone much earlier in the day, maybe even sooner.
Your not getting a top 6 forward for a 3rd round pick.
Sure about that? Admittedly it’s rare, but it has happened in the recent past.
Yes. Your not getting a top 6 forward for a 3rd round pick. Do you have an example?
Vanek was great value for a 2nd but that’s still not a 3rd & a very rare occurrence & most like 4th Hanson brother implied think Snow blundered & should have moved Vanek sooner but he didn’t it still isn’t a 3rd however.
Here’s what Bryan Murray said when he acquired Hemsky: “”An offensive type player, a guy with good puck skills, certainly can play in the top six forwards,” Murray said. “We think he can make plays, score some points for us down the stretch.” Hemsky moved for a third and a fifth. Again, you’re splitting hairs, Striker. My main point was, if Ray Shero can land a top-six forward for an affordable return, I think he’ll go for it. If not, he won’t. I tossed a third-rounder out there as an example. Perhaps he gets one for a marginal prospect and a low-second, like the Habs did with Vanek. Again, a rare occurrence but it did happen.
with the likes of parenteau,tikinov,moulson mcginn and Raymond as top 6s i could see a 3rd landing them
Hemsky moved for a 3rd & a 5th. Not a 3rd. That’s not splitting hairs. He wasn’t a top 6 winger when he was traded but a top 9. He went onto Ottawa to play as a top 6 & Ottawa missed the playoffs by a significant margin. 5 points.
You are splitting hairs, Striker. You’re taking something that I simply tossed out as an example and blowing it out of proportion. Again, if Ray Shero can get a top-six forward at an affordable price, he will. If not, he won’t. And again, regarding Hemsky’s status as a top-six forward in 2013, it was Senators GM Bryan Murray who called Hemsky a top-six forward. He got him for a third and a fifth. If Shero can land a top-six rental forward for the same price (a third in one season, a fifth in another), I think he goes for it.
Totally agree, maybe two second rounders and even then your top six guy will be a 6 -9 guy. Every GM says they are not going to trade anything of value.
In the end if you want your team to be better , you have to give up something of value.
If the Oilers still suck when they finally get a healthy team back minus RNH who might not bother coming back for the last two weeks, then expect a big name to be moved.
PC will start to build the team he wants, not the team he was given.
If anyone takes Cowen I think it will be for the cap relief his buyout would allow for. As reported by Frank Seravalli from TSN. Cowen is under 26 so his buy out is only a 1/3 his salary but for some reason provides at 650,000 cap credit in year 1 of the buyout. Even though his buyout would be 750K for each of 2 years.
Nj 3rd round picks would be Ottawa or Detroits in the case of third round picks Detroits could be one of the last 8 to 10 picks in th third round, and Ottawa would be in in the bottom half as well being only 4 points out of 11th overall…those are some pretty late picks to aquire much of anythin, once you start talking picks in the range of 80th
If the Canucks are not sellers already then they are doing something wrong in that office. The Pacific division gives you a false sense that you are actually a team that can win, but come playoff time do we really want to just scrap in for the chance to play LA, Chicago, St. Louis (and at the expense of a probable top 5 lottery pick based on our overall standings in the league?)
Let’s see now…
-Tied for 4th worst number of wins in the league
-23rd overall all in the league in points (4 out o7 teams below us have games in hand)
-Tied for 4th in our division (ANA and ARI have games in hand and are ahead of us)
-5th in Western conference wildcard standing (2 out 4 teams ahead have games in hand)
-3rd or 4th worst home record in the league
This team is not going anywhere and if they do squeak into the playoffs then they will get 2 games at home (yes the owner will be somewhat happy), but we are doomed to the grey area again of no playoff success and a poor draft pick number.
I agree. I’m a seasons ticket holder & I want what’s best for the team long term. Move all the UFA’s for the best deals available. Specifically Vrbata & Hamhuis. If the others are movable, Bartowski, Weber, Prust & Beiga move them to.
Give Virtanen a regular shift with the Sedin’s, call up Shikaruk to be the 13th forward, Subban & Fedun to flush out the D. If you win with the depleted roster great but better to improve the draft position in hopes of getting a really good prospect as opposed to an average 1.
It’s about asset management & holding onto Vrbata & Hamhuis isn’t good asset management. Nor does picking mid to late in the 1st round. To rebuild properly you need to accept being bad for a few years so you get a few selections in the top 5 each year & a decent shot in the lottery.
After watching the Rochester Americans play the other night, it’s a little scary that they don’t have a ton to offer the Buffalo Sabres. Aside from center, I don’t think Rochester is strong in any position. I am not taking account anyone in Juniors, etc.
Since Buffalo is pretty solid at center and so is Rochester, hopefully it will allow us to put together some solid packages at the deadline.
I don’t know if I’m the only fan that is still not satisfied in Goal? I’d be in the market for a goalie, come the trade deadline.
Sabres’ prospect pool isn’t as deep as people think. Alotta third and fourth line talent in the pipeline. Murray isn’t as good as people think he is.
Buffalo’s best prospects are all playing regular roles in the NHL. Eichel, Reinhart, Ristolainen, Girgensons, McCabe & Larsson. All are just kids.
There are no potential top six forwards or top 4 defenseman in the Buffalo system.
C – Connor Hurley
RW – Justin Bailey
RW – Nick Baptiste
Add to this the fact that the Sabres don’t have much to sell at the trade deadline.
They don’t need much now other than time for the young players that are playing in the NHL to mature & develop. Murray has done a decent job of re positioning this team moving forward & they are going to be selecting a few stud prospects still for at least 2 more seasons. The 2016 & 2017 entry drafts.
I would like to see them resign McGinn he’s been a pleasant surprise.
If there is ever a team that needs a top 4 left handed defenseman it’s Buffalo. I think they needed to keep McCabe in Rochester for another year. I am with you on McGinn, as long as his back holds out. He has been a nice surprise.
Anybody that watches the Islanders and watches the game, not just numbers, knows that not parting with Okposo before the deadline is the biggestimate mistake that Snow can make. I called the Islanders a borderline playoff team here about 3 months ago and I was laughed at. Half the season is gone and they still look like a borderline playoff team to me. The team needs a shakeup.
You can have Moulson back – we will drive him to the airport.
Odds are that you’re still wrong. Even not playing at 100% they’re still top 3 in the Metro and have been there all season. They aren’t going to go into full on sell mode without a catastrophe and really wouldn’t trade Okposo to Philly. Whether they trade him somewhere else, probably other than to Metro playoff contenders, is still up for debate. But, you gotta think, that if the Isles do shore things up or just stay where they are, they don’t trade Okposo.
MJS, they never play 100%. That is the problem. I didn’t say sell mode. Okposo has value. Trade him and his wannabe finesse game and get someone that can help. Every hardcore Islanders fan I know wants him gone. He used to be my favorite Islander but watching him the last 2 seasons has been painful. He showed up for 2 playoff games last season, made a big impact, and then disappeared again. Whoever signs him is likely going to be very sorry unless his new coach can get him to play to his strength, a power game, which he seems to have no interest in.
NYI is 1 of only 4 teams having played 47 games. They sit 7th in the East with 2 games in hand on 6 of the teams in front of them & 3 on everyone fighting for a spot behind them but Pittsburgh 1 & Carolina 4.
There in a great spot. Boychuk will be back very soon, that will help & surely Tavares will be better. Leddy seems to have finally found his offense. Like Boston with Eriksson moving Okposo considering both teams situations is tough. Either of these teams could make a run if everything fell into place. Where as a team Like Vancouver with Hamhuis & Vrbata has no chance of getting by Chicago, LA, or StLouis & others in the West. Other than Washington the East is wide open & NYI & Boston have the personal to potential surprise come playoff time.
Striker, I completely agree about Leddy and Tavares but they have too many passengers and need an NHL coach. Grabovski, Lee and Bailey are just wasting roster spots. If any of the teams under them going on a run my guess is they still won’t have a playoff spot locked up with 2 weeks to go. I will not be at all surprised if the Pens heat up and finish above them.
In fairness I don’t watch NYI play that often. Maybe once every other week the odd time twice so I’m not really in a position to comment on what they have other than what the stats tell me & my impression of their roster.
It appears to be a very good young hockey team that has a # of players who are better suited to playoff hockey than perhaps regular season hockey. Playing against Martin, Cizikas & Clutterbuck isn’t fun for anyone.
This summer Lou [TML] has to begin focusing on the 2nd more crucial part of their rebuild, & that is to start piecing together their (long term) roster.
I can see Nylander, Brown, Leipsic, Lievo & the 24 year old Russian D they will be signing; all making the team next season.
Building around JVR, Reilly, Komarov, & possibly Kadri if they can sign him to an affordable contract (he could turn out to be their 3rd line Centre depending on how the June Draft rolls out)
Next season they will start competing again, moving up a few notches in the Standings, & two years from now they will be ready to compete for a playoff spot.
Not knowing the in and outs of the CBA, I read an article yesterday (about Chara) in regards to players 40yrs of age or older, it said any player that is of 40 year of age that their actual salary becomes the salary cap hit. In Chara case in 2yrs when he is 40 and the last year of his contract his cap/salary is 4.? (forgot) not the 6.9 it is todat. Can someone tell me if this is true?
i always thought the cap hit avg didn’t change regardless of age? i really don’t know tho
I’m not aware of any such exemption. Can you post the link to the article? Would certainly like to read it.
I think you’re wrong but if you’re right I would change my mind on moving Chara. I would like to know also if someone knows the answer
I read that article too. I interpreted it the same way. Any player contract signed 35+ is supposedly like that. There’s no escape from the cap hit (regardless of whatever) and any cap hit is not the contract AAV but the actual salary. Hopefully we both read that article right. I don’t have the link to it, I just googled the thing and read it.
Top 6 forwards for 3 round picks… Where are those trades happening?
March 5, 2014: Senators acquire Ales Hemsky (then considered a top-six forward) for a third in 2015 and a fifth in 2014. He nets 17 points in 20 games with the Sens.
April 3, 2013: Penguins acquired Jussi Jokinen (a second-line center/winger at the time) from the Carolina Hurricanes for a third-round pick). He nets 11 points in 10 games for the Pens, then tallies 57 points in 82 games the following season.
Well, that puts that argument to bed.
No it doesn’t. Hemsky moved for a 3rd & 5th. & I would also argue that Jokinen wasn’t a top 6 forward when Carolina moved him. Do you wave top 6 forwards? Carolina waved Jokinen on March 26th, 2013 & he went unclaimed by 29 other teams. At the time he was traded it was for future considerations; NHL Guide & record book, which according to Wikipedia became a 6th or 7th round pick in 2013. Wikipidie doesn’t show a 3rd, 6th or 7th from Pittsburgh used by Carolina in the 2013 draft!
Jokinen was aquired for a 7th round pick and car held onto half his salary.
You’re right. I misread the trade tracker. My apologies for the confusion. Still, it was a move that worked out for the Penguins.
Very much so & Jokinen played great for them the remainder of that season & even better the next. That deal worked out great for Pittsburgh & they got him for nothing. Jokinen is playing a significant roll with Florida now as well.
He did say it was rare but has happened in the recent past.
I would also argue that Hemsky wasn’t playing as a top 6 forward in Edmonton when he was traded. At the time of his trade Hall, RNH, Eberle, Perron, Gagner, Yakupov & Smyth were all playing ahead of him.
Senators GM Bryan Murray in 2013 disagrees with that assessment.
So that brings me back to you might get a player that you could play in your top 6 who really isn’t a top 6 forward but a top 9 1 who in the right situation plays well for the team he went to. It’s happened many times but a a real top 6 forward? I don’t think so.
Hemsky didn’t move for a 3rd & at the time he was moved he hadn’t been playing in the top 6 in Edmonton for so time.
Jokinen wasn’t wanted by 29 teams on wavers. Nor did he play as a top 6 forward in Carolina when he was moved. Top 6 forwards don’t get waived then Carolina had to eat 1/2 his salary just to get someone to take him.
Next example?
Hemsky was still considered a top-six forward, hence the reason the Senators acquired him and placed him on the same line with Spezza. Here’s what Bryan Murray said when he acquired Hemsky: “”An offensive type player, a guy with good puck skills, certainly can play in the top six forwards,” Murray said. “We think he can make plays, score some points for us down the stretch.” So, your argument there flies out the window.
As for Jokinen, I obviously misread the NHL trade tracker, and for that I apologize for the confusion. Still, as the Hemsky deal indicates, and as I noted earlier, such moves -though rare – can happen. As usual, though, you’re splitting hairs, Striker. My main point, which I must repeat to you again and again since you obviously missed it the first time is simply this: If Ray Shero can land a top-six rental forward for an affordable price, he will. If not, he won’t.
Here’s what Bryan Murray said when he acquired Hemsky: “”An offensive type player, a guy with good puck skills, certainly can play in the top six forwards,” Murray said. “We think he can make plays, score some points for us down the stretch.” Hemsky moved for a third and a fifth. Again, you’re splitting hairs, Striker. My main point was, if Ray Shero can land a top-six forward for an affordable return, I think he’ll go for it. If not, he won’t. I tossed a third-rounder out there as an example. Perhaps he gets one for a marginal prospect and a low-second, like the Habs did with Vanek. Again, a rare occurrence but it did happen.
Lyle.
We agree to disagree & that’s all good.
Hemsky din’t move for a 3rd but a 3rd & 5th. That’s not a 3rd.
Can you acquire a player that you put in your top 6 for a 3rd? Sure Your just not getting a top 6 forward for a 3rd. I would say that if your buying a declining asset like Hemsky & hoping to resurrect his career or expect him to right what’s wrong you miss more than you hit. Ottawa didn’t get better they got worse.
What’s Murray supposed to say? We took Hemsky as he had slid down Edmonton’s line up & wasn’t suited to being a 3rd line RW & we had an opportunity to get him from them for virtually nothing as they didn’t want him anymore.
Hemsky put up points with Spezza but provided nothing for Ottawa in the win loss column. They didn’t get better & missed the playoffs by 5 points. Murray thought so much of the acquisition at seasons end he let him walk with out even trying to sign him!
A third, a third and a fifth. Who cares, Striker? My original point, again, since you continue to ignore it, is if Ray Shero can get a top-six forward for an affordable return at the trade deadline, he will. If not, he won’t. Got it? What part of that statement do you not understand? You’re taking an innocuous comment and blowing it out of proportion. As for Hemsky, again, Bryan Murray called him a top-six forward at the time of the trade. Just accept it. Whatever you believe Hemsky was or wasn’t at the time is irrelevant. They plugged him alongside Jason Spezza and he netted 17 points in 20 games. He was also considered simply a rental. Murray did look into re-signing Hemsky, but the latter’s asking price was too much. Those are the facts. Accept them and move on.
Salary dumps will get you a top six forward who is underperforming.
I’m sure a lot of teams would love to dump someone making too much in their top six.
If the bruins were to trade for Vatanen (or any small dman), I would suggest they then turn around and trade Krug. Don’t see the need of two smaller point producing dman. I would see if I could flip Krug to TB for Drouin. TB would get their young dman and still have control over him.
And so put Drouin in the hands of Julien and Neely – the two who made a mess out of the Seguin situation – yeah, that’ll work in the Bruins favour!
True George, but did you know there was only one person in the Boston organization against this trade? That was Don Sweeney. Maybe its handle different with Sweeney at the helm.
There is no way for us to know who supported the Seguin trade or not. The rumor is that it was all on Neely yet everyone lays the blame with Chiarelli. We will never really know.
I still would have preferred they retained Seguin & moved Krejci playing Seguin at C not RW & if they were going to move him he like all players he should have been auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Now I’m not of the camp like most of you that this was a brutal deal. You can’t really win these types of trades unless your getting the best player available. Dallas got that player but the assets Boston got in return are years from being fully developed & I accept there was a multitude of other factors in play. Seguin’s maturity, salary cap issue’s, etc.
Boston traded Seguin & Peverley who still had 2 more years on his contract at 3.25 per after that season for Eriksson, R. Smith, Morrow & Fraser. R. Smith was moved with Savard for J. Hayes. Hayes & Morrow are just kids & won’t be fully developed for 3 or 4 years. Smith was a great young player for Boston & is now for Florida, he is still at least 2 years from being the player he will be. Dumping Peverly & Savard’s contracts even though Savard could be put on LTIR solved cap issues. Savard could not be put on LTIR at time of filing your 23 man roster with the NHL the night prior to the start of the season. The player can be moved to LTIR the day the season starts. This was problematic. Moving him has helped solve player personal issues re waver eligibility & allow Boston to stay cap compliant.
If Eriksson resigns, the main asset that Boston received in this deal great. If not Boston will move him at some point for something. We won’t know the final results of this trade for about 5 years. The time Hayes & Morrow need to develop.
Sweeney has commented that he wasn’t ok with being impatient and trading away young promising players and alluded to recent trade mistakes Bruins had made, obviously implying Seguin trade. There has been articles covering the fact that Cam Neeley was a driving force behind the Seguin trade even though it seemed like a Chiarelli mistake in the media. This is an old issue but the truth is out there nonetheless. From what is known and has been written about, Caper basically got it right.
I don’t think Drouin in Boston makes any sense.
I’m not sure if Drouin can play right wing I thought I read he’s a left wing.
Boston is loaded on the left side and badly needs a top right wing as Connelly and Hayes haven’t made the jump.
Balesky,Eriksson,Marchand,Vatrano all left wings.
Siedenberg and Subban to Edmonton for Eberle.
Edmonton sign Talbot to an extension, don’t see them wanting Subban.
It’s only 3 years that’s when Subban will be ready to be a number one. He can backup Talbot till then.
Eriksson can play either side. Vatrano is really a C but no room at the inn for him to play C in Boston currently. Belesky is a LW as is Marchand but can Marchand is a UFA after next season. Can Boston afford his next contract?
Eriksson sucks on the right side another Boston mistake like playing Seguin and now Spooner on RW.
That makes no sense. Ha-ha! Vatanen is going to demand a significant raise as is Krug for that matter. Both are going to get 4.5 or more depending upon term. If TB isn’t interested in Shattenkirk for cap reasons as Lyle has stated & he’s only making 4.25 yet is 1 of the best offensive Dman in the game why would they want Krug who’s going to get more than 4.25? Yes Shattenkirk only has 1 more season left & will be getting a significant raise into the 7 million range but TB’s cap problems are now, this & next year. They can’t afford Krug or Vatanen.
Unless they let Stamkos go that is. Then their cap problems are solved. Please don’t tell me you want another premadona in Boston. I sat with a Boston scout on the plane yesterday, we got almost 3 hours together. His opinion of Seguin’s life style choices didn’t paint a very nice picture. Hamilton’s either for that matter.
Fully aware of Seguin life style; could you imagine if Chicago took the same stance with Kane as the bruins did with Seguin. I think we forget sometime that these are kids that been given what ever they wanted for a young age and were always told how great they are. Some mature quicker then others, some not at all. Seguin himself has came out and said that the trade was awake up call for him. We’re asking teenager to be polished and mature and forget that they’re just turning legal drinking age and in some cases a couple years away from that. I know what I was like at 18yrs old and my College days. We shouldn’t be judging the teenager that hard.
id like to know what that scouts name was and what his lifestyle was when he was that age! lol
I agree but it often takes that player having to be moved to trigger that wake up call. Seguin wasn’t the 1st to be moved partly for persoanl reasons & he won’t be the last.
Simmonds, Carter & Richards were all moved some what due to lifestyle choices. We just judge players harsher as their in the limelight. I’m not joking when I say the 80’s were a blur. 18 to 28 years of age. Those were some serous party years. Totally out of control. It took my parents threatening to disown me at 25 to even start to wake up to the terrible choices I was making.
Maybe Shero takes a run at Drouin. They have the depth on the blue line to make a deal that’s for sure.
If you’re referring to Larsson or Severson, it’s not going to go straight across for Drouin IMO.
There is almost no player in the league that Shero will trade Larsson for at this point unless it was “too good to be true”. If any move was to be made with Larsson going the other way it’d be something like the Jones/Johansen swap, and even then I can’t see the Devils doing it. It certainly won’t be for Drouin. I do think the Devils are in a position to make a move for Drouin and it would make a lot of sense, but it won’t be for first round picks or Larsson.
Bruins don’t need or want Drouin they have plenty of young players ready to make that next step. Boston needs a solid D- man and and a first line right winger. They have two first round picks and some very good young talent if the year keeps going as it is they may make a move.
Obe agree I was thinking of moving Siedenberg instead of Chara and trying to sign Byfuglien. I would love a guy like Eberle on the top RW. Maybe a package with Siedenberg who would really help Edmontons defense. Subban would be a nice piece. Maybe someone like Maquaid.
I think Boston is going to try & sign Yandle as a UFA. I think much like the Hamhuis situation when he left Nashville, Hamhuis took a very cap friendly contract as he wanted to play in Vancouver. I think Yandle wants to go home to Boston & I think he would be a great fit although I have concerns as to the cap hit & term. I’m hoping for about 6 years at 6.75 but their might be teams willing to pay significantly more come July 1st.
again if your correct then you don’t need krug.
You need more than 1 Dman that can help drive the offense. Krug is small but numerous Dman are showing that in today’s NHL you don’t have to be huge. Size & skill trump skill any day though.
Finding quality Dman of any size is a challenge. Let’s keep the 1’s we have. Having as many as you can is a positive. When you look at the best teams in the NHL what do they all have in common? Most have a stud work horse & 3 other solid Dman, some like Nashville & StLouis have a plethora of riches at D. It covers for a ton of other deficiencies.
Wow is Yandle really gonna get that much.
I didn’t think he was that good.
6th highest scoring Dman over the last 5 years.
and terrible defensively I don’t think he gets more than 6 per year
I am not sure you can judge any players defensive abilities from playing in Arizona. Yes Yandle is 1 dimensional but he is also 1 of the best offensive Dman in the NHL. It is way easier to find checkers than point producers.
Why Vigneault is playing Boyle ahead of him on the number 1 PP in NYR makes no sense & I do not think he is happy there the reason there has been no contract negotiations. NYR had better hope they can get something in return for Yandle before it is to late as they paid a fortune to get him.
Yandle will be getting more than 6 million. If he makes it to July 1st there will be a number of teams lining up to bid on his next contract.
you sure do pick and choose what stats you can and cant use! he plays in ny and hasn’t played well at all defensively and is 22 in dman points if he gets more than 6 it will be a mistake whoever signs him
Yandle has been a plus hockey player since arriving in NYR. In last seasons playoffs he had the best plus minus; plus 7, for all Dman in NYR. Granted he takes softer assignments & deployments but Stall was minus 8. Any way you want to slice it that’s 15 more even strength goals Stall was on for in 19 games.
His ice time in NYR from his final season in Arizona is almost; 10 seconds from, 5 minutes less per game getting 1/2 the power play time! From 4:25 in Arizona to 2:23 with NYR.
Yandle has been even or better in 7 of 11 seasons. Karlsson has been a plus player in 4 of 7. Do you want to guess what Arizona’s goal differential was in Yandle’s final season in Arizona? Minus 102.
Now I’m not disagreeing with you specifically. Yandle isn’t being paid to be a shut down defensemen. He’s paid to drive offense & he is going to jump into the rush a ton & that’s going to get him caught out of position allot & most coaches are going to accept that as few players can help drive offense as well.
I just don’t perceive him as brutal & when you reduce a players quantity & quality of minutes as significantly as Yandle’s have been under Vigneault his production is going to drop. His last 2 seasons in Arizona his plus minus was brutal as was Arizona.
When Yandle lands where ever he ends up next season he will be the #1 offensive Dman on that team & I have him returning to the top 5 in scoring baring injury.
Time will tell who’s right.
Winnipeg should try to land Drouin. They could package Ladd along with a prospect and perhaps a pick for Drouin. Ladd is as good as gone anyways.
TB can not afford Ladds next contract. Their going to have trouble finding the money to pay the players they have now who are up this & next season.
I have a scary bad feeling he’s going to hang on to Cowen, and trade Ceci.
sighhh
I still think that Toronto should try and acquire Anderson out of Anaheim. Anaheim is going to need someone who can hit and put up points, prospect(s) and maybe a draft pick(s). Something along the lines that I posted not too long ago.
To Toronto: Anderson
To Anaheim: Komarov + Gauthier + 2nd Rounder
Anaheim, again gets someone that can hit and score (prime for the Playoffs), a former 1st rounder (21st overall) and a 2nd rounder.
I don`t know what they move to get him but I agree with you. Andersen is the best goalie option that should be available. It`s obvious Gibson is the go to guy now. Toronto, Calgary & Carolina should be all over this option.
Why? Toronto`s at least 3 yrs away from being any kind of a playoff contender let alone a Stanley cup contender. You wanna give up assets for a good goalie. The only thing Anderson is going to do is maybe win you a few extra games each year, which hurts your draft position. You have to ask yourself is Anderson good enough to take to the prom. I don`t think he is and neither does Anaheim and a lot of other teams, If he was Anderson would be one hot community and Anaheim wouldn`t be trading him, they would be trading Gibson. In 4 yrs maybe you give up the assets. Not now Bernier and Reimer will do just fine. The bigger problems are defence and a severe shortage of scoring
Andersen is only 26 years old, he could provide a lot of depth for the next 6-7 years, which is great for a drafted or soon-to-be drafted goaltender to evolve and become our #1. On top of that, with our new management and coaching in place, star players will be a little more inclined to want to play here. You just don’t pass up opportunities like Andersen. Seriously, who will be available down the road? With goaltenders being the biggest hot commodity, teams will be quickly re-signing them. I don’t think/believe Bibeau or Sparks have enough potential to be a #1, more like a decent backup. You can still rebuild around a good goaltender (ie. NYR and Lundqvist, NSH and Rinne, etc.).
Geez lots of difference of opinions today. The usual suspect(s) involved lol! but it makes for interesting reading. I’d like to get involved but learned my lesson that no matter what you say some people will never take their blinders off. lol!
Hockey, it can bring us together and tear us apart !