Latest on the Blackhawks, Ducks, Capitals, Predators and Canucks in your NHL rumor mill.
What moves will the Blackhawks make?
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Mark Lazerus reports the Blackhawks need a left wing to play alongside Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa, pointing out how the offense suffered when rookie winger Artemi Panarin was recently sidelined by illness. How well they play without Hossa (currently sidelined this week) will be telling. Erik Gustafsson’s inconsistent play highlights the need for a No. 4 defenseman. Given their limited cap space, however, they probably can’t afford to address both needs. Lazerus believes addressing the wing position is the priority. He notes Winnipeg Jets captain (and former Blackhawk) Andrew Ladd is believed available, but he could prove costly. He expects high asking prices for Tampa Bay’s Jonathan Drouin, Arizona’s Mikkel Boedker or Calgary’s Jiri Hudler. He suggests more affordable options like Carolina Hurricanes winger Kris Versteeg (another former ‘Hawk) or Toronto Maple Leaf P-A Parenteau.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I concur with Lazerus. If the Blackhawks go after a winger (and I expect they will) at the trade deadline, it’ll be an affordable option like Versteeg or Parenteau. Indeed, with the Hurricanes jockeying for a playoff berth, Parenteau could be a more likely option.
Andersen could be a trade chip for the Ducks.
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Eric Stephens reports Anaheim Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen could be an attractive trade chip as the Feb. 29 deadline approaches. Andersen is a restricted free agent who could become expendable now that the club has invested a three-year deal in John Gibson.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks could trade Andersen, but I’m guessing they’ll retain him for the rest of this season and consider moving him this summer.
Capitals could pursue a depth defenseman.
THE WASHINGTON POST: Isabelle Khurshudyan reports the Capitals are unlikely to make a splashy move at the trade deadline as it would mean significantly altering the club’s currently successful team chemistry. Noting their depth at forward, Khurshudyan speculates they’ll pursue a depth defenseman. While Vancouver Canucks blueliner Dan Hamhuis is believed the best available, he also carries an expensive cap hit that would necessitate the Canucks picking up part of it. Instead, she suggests they might look at a more affordable option like Buffalo Sabres rearguard Mike Weber.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speculation the Capitals might pursue a notable defenseman was based largely on Brooks Orpik and his $5.5 million cap hit remaining on LTIR for the remainder of the season. With $1.2 million in deadline cap space and Orpik’s return imminent, that’s no longer an option. Going after a more affordable option seems their best bet.
Will the Predators pursue a goalie?
THE TENNESSEAN: In his recent mailbag segment, Adam Vingan expressed doubt the Nashville Predators might pursue a better backup goalie to spell off struggling starter Pekka Rinne. “The Predators will ultimately go only as far as Rinne will take them, something that’s he proven year after year. Would a more tested backup ease the pressure that Rinne’s facing and give the Predators a “Plan B” who can eat more starts? In theory, it makes sense. But even then, it would still be Rinne’s team.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Talk of the Preds pursuing a goalie was merely a couple of pundits making the suggestion they could use a better backup. GM David Poile recently said he’d be watching the market to add another scoring winger.
Burrow denies he’s willing to waive his no-trade clause.
THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma reports Vancouver Canucks winger Alex Burrows denied speculation suggesting he’d be willing to waive his no-trade clause if asked by management to do so. “I’ve never talked to management or coaches about it or to teammates. Last time I talked to my agent was to wish him Merry Christmas,” said Burrows. “The deadline is in two weeks and you might try to get a rumour out there and see what happens.Sometimes the media has it right and sometimes wrong,”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kuzma points out it’s still possible Canucks GM Jim Benning approaches Burrows about waiving his clause, but it appears the recent reports were premature.
Nashville’s back up Craig Hutton has played great. In 9 starts he’s 6-2-0-1 with a 2.10 GAA & .924 SV% & 2 shut outs.
Nashville’s back up isn’t the problem. Rinne’s been brutal & Hutton should be getting more starts.
Replacing Hutton solves nothing. I’m with Lyle Nashville is going to live & die with Rinne but I would have sat him for several games in a row by now in hopes of waking him up.
Goalies, as someone once said, are “wired differently.” I remember not too many seasons back that there was a stretch where Price couldn’t stop a beach-ball. Then he became regarded as “the greatest goalie in the world” – by some. Carolina would have been doing cart-wheels had someone taken Ward off their hands not long ago – now he’s been instrumental in keeping them in the playoff hunt. Rask has long been regarded as a premier stopper – this year he’s been as inconsistent as Craig Anderson in Ottawa. SO one night followed a blow-out the next. Dubnyk and Hammond had incredible runs last year to get their teams into the playoffs. This year both have been less than ordinary on most nights they play. As Yul Brynner said repeatedly in Anna & The King “it’s a puzzlement.”
Don’t know that Rinne necessarily needs “waking up” – He’s 33 and has battled hip problems in the past. His “spirit” may be willing, but you can bet the rigors of his workload are surely exacting an increasing toll on him. He just can’t be expected to face 60+ starts a season and then contribute sound goaltending deep into the playoffs (as well.)
The Preds just can’t ride him like that, anymore.
33 is still prime for goalies. Most don’t become full time starters until their 27. Rinne’s hip surgery may be an issue but he came back & played 64 games last year like the Rinne’s we all know. I’ll go with system’s 1st.
Laviolette plays to score. Trots played to not let the other team score. Laviolette’s system has a pattern of working in his 1st season just not over the long run for what ever reason.
Might it be just an age issue? I have no idea but it hasn’t been good & Hutton should be getting more starts than he is.
Agreed. Chicago had the same doubts about Crawford at one time and that turned out okay. I do think that if Andersen was cheap enough he would be a better alternative as a backup, possibly stealing a game when Rinne has an off start. Hutton is as good as any of the rest of the available backup on the block so a trade there would be a push at best
Agreed. Chicago had the same doubts about Crawford at one time and that turned out okay. I do think that if Andersen was cheap enough he would be a better alternative as a backup, possibly stealing a game when Rinne has an off start. Hutton is as good as any of the rest of the available backups on the block so a trade there would be a push at best.
Remember that conversation about goalies with big contracts? Rinne is exhibit A way worse than Lundqvist snd the Preds are pretty much forced to play him since he makes 7 mill….I know some dont like numbers but since its striker
NSH allow the fewest Shots Against, fewest Scoring Chances Against, and fewest High Danger Chances Against… rank 16th in Goals Against.
Since 2011-12 in 266 GP – Pekka Rinne has a .908 Adj SV% in all-situations. That’s worse than Ondrej Pavelec and Cam Ward.
Rinne’s current Adj SV% = .893… Adj SV% in 2013-14 = .891…. Adj SV% in 2012-13 = .904
Not good and been that way for awhile
Thing about normal Sv% vs Adjusted Normal sv% dosent account where the shots are coming from or the Defense in front of them. Youcould lliterallyput almost any “starter” in the league in the Preds net and the results wouldnt be much worse than Rinne.
lol Shitcky, I just read that exact 2nd paragraph word for word on my twitter feed. Cut and paste?
lol some times its just easier caper… all week people been yelling and screaming that I make this stuff up when I do it from memory or lokng at a graph lol this way I can be sure my numbers are right. Burtch Berkshire are pretty good with this stuff and were discussing it last night War on Ice Sportslogiq are some other resources I tend to use and look at, for now if you folllow this stuff.
I agree. You know my position on goalies. I’m not paying any goalie more than 5 mil a year on a 3 year deal & that’s if your a stud goalie. With only 30 teams & the # of good goalies out there you can find a very good goalie for 4 million. A difference between a really good goalie & a decent 1 has more to do with team play than the goalie himself.
He ranks 42nd out of 51 goalies with 4000+ mins since 2011-12 in Adjusted SV%… closesest compareables Al Montoya, Darcy Kuemper, Jonas Gustavsson Rinne makes 7 million dollars for 3 more years.
What’s the chances that Chicago tries for Parenteau and Polak. They need both positions upgraded and Toronto has room to take a prospect and a salary (maybe Bickell).
that is the first comment on here from a leaf fan that actually makes sense.
With unwarranted and unprovoked comments like that maybe the Leafs fans aren’t the problem.
I think Bickell is in the minors, meaning they would be taking on both contracts with no cap hit going back. They’re not as tight to the cap as they have been in the past, it could still work. I wonder what they’d give for JVR…
I personally don’t see them trading JVR unless it is a tremendous offer, but the proposal above makes a lot of sense to me
He implied Bickell going back.
That trade proposal has merit. Parenteau & Polak for Bickell, R. Hartman & a 2nd &
& 3rd as Chicago’s picks are very late.
Bickell can protect Nylander & which ever other prospect gets a shot next season.
I dont think Chicago has a 2nd this year. I have said in the past that Polak is a good fit there and all it would take is a second but they dont have it.
Id try to get Johns and avoid the mess of picks amd prospects, amd if Bickell os comimg bac I would want more for the salary dump, seems like that deal is doing favors for the Hawks. They Dump salary pick up 2 decent rentals and the Leafs get a really late second and 3rd with a prospect? No thanks pass lol Deal Polak amd Parenteau seperate and they get a return like that with out the salary dump (Bickell)
Striker, Bickell cleared waivers and is in the minors, he doesn’t count against their cap. Trading him doesnt free up any space.
I found a good article on Bickell, he’s not the player he used to be. Not sure he’d “protect” Nylander. http://www.chicagonow.com/312-sports/2016/01/the-sad-story-of-bryan-bickell/
Did someone say they need protection said John Scott
Make it 2017’s 2nd then.
Chicago only gets 950k in cap relief. The remainder of his salary counts against the cap.
John’s went to Dallas in the Sharp trade didn’t he?
Thinking back on that you could be right Striker (eek that’s a bad trade) but either way I think that a late second and late third might be close to if not lower than the value of Polak and Parenteau in the first place so I don’t see how taking a bad contract like Buckles only is worth a prospect…No thanks it would need to be more and certainly more than picks that are over a year away.
Johns is indeed in Dallas. I’d move both Polak and Parenteau for Ryan Hartman and the 2017 2nd rd pick.
I think you guys are overvaluing polka 6th dman and PA who has been let go from his previous 2 teams
I agree. I was supporting Leafsfantothebitterend’s post. If you get a decent prospect that might actually play in the NHL it might justify it with the picks. Most of these prospects that get moved with picks at the deadline never so much as see a cup of coffee in the NHL. Just a body to balance out the 50 contract issue present under the CBA.
It will depend on what’s available but his trade proposal makes sense to me. If Bickell were to accept his role as an enforcer/protector.
With only 1 season left on his contract after this season Bickell might be movable at next seasons deadline. The issue isn’t so much Bickell’s contribution to a team he has attributes many would like to have just not at more than a million to million 5.
Why Chicago ever agreed to give him 4 per for 4 years after 1 good playoff run is 1 of the 7 mysteries of the world.
scottie perhaps bit of you look at a deal like that chicagos pocks are near the bottom of the round essentially thats a 3rd a 4th amd a contract dump? So If they are of no ise or have so little value why would the Blackhawks be interested in the first place? Not saying the Hawks are but a team that is willing to do a trade like that would obvioisly see some value in the players teams domt just trade for guys for the sake of trading. If a team sees value in a player or 2 there is generally a reason why…Winnik is a 3rd line winger uet someone seen the valie to give up 2 picks including a second ID suggest that Polak has a better comtract than Brauden Coburn who recieved a first a thord and Goudas not like Coburn os a top pairing guy on alot of teams he is a bottom pairing aswell. Teams make deals to address needs and if the need is hogh enough or important enough they will meet the asking price….again the Leafs will not be desperate with giving these guys away just for the sake of doing so. If that was the offer from the Jawks they would shop around I am sure. There are other teams that could use cheap D depth and really cheap top 6 depth. It wont matter that he was traded before its not like the team who trades for him next has any obligation to keep him. Parenteau also cost 4 million a year before, he dosent now.
Scottie sounds real familiar………..
very weird comment yankee……
Durtmchurtt. Bickell is in the minors. But hawks only save $900,000. He makes $4 million. I believe the hawks have around $2 million in capspace.
Minny is 6pts back of a wild card spot, 8 game winless streak, can they afford and wait until the deadline? With 8 games left before the deadline, they could be seller by then. Wonder if they don’t pull off something this week?
5 back with a game in hand. Who are they going to sell? They are plugged up at forward & Vanek & Pominville both are overpaid & have term essentially unmovable.
They could move a D for a forward but it’s all ready crowded on their scoring lines. Yes refused to bench the real problems. Zucker can’take get a sniff of quality ice time yet could score if given the chance consistently.
Striker look no further than Toronto, with all that cap space available. We have a deal for you. Cap space for hire, specially with the rumours that the cap maybe going down as much as 4 mill. Liking that Dion trade better all the time.
I agree anything is possible in today’s cap world if you compensate the team taking the problem.
With the cap having hit a brick wall it is going to get harder & harder for teams to get out of their mistakes & if the cap were to decline next season as some imply it’s going to get really interesting.
lmao, still sticking to my crappy Arm-Chair GM trade!
To Toronto: Andersen
To Anaheim: Komarov + Gauthier + 2nd Round Draft Pick (via OTT)
Goal is a tough one. I’m leery of giving away much for a sort of unproven back up. We’ve been down this road several times and it hasn’t worked out. raycroft, toskala, bernier…
Gerber Aubin Giguere Telqvist…dont give up anything signoficant for the next ngreat backup, Try and resign Reimer with some term (cheaply) or just go with Bernier again, no hurry for goalies. There are always the next great starter playing backup somewhere.
I would like to see them get Anderson as well but ideally not at the expense of Komorov.
Wait till the off season & offer up a decent pick package. The market was some what set last season with Lehner & Jones moving for picks.
This early in the rebuild they shouldn’t be giving up assets for Anderson. Goaltending isn’t the problem in Toronto, Reimer will do just fine for the next couple yrs.
At what cost being a UFA having never played more than 37 games in a single season, with 6 years of NHL experience?
In fairness he did play 31 in the lock out shortened season but how much money do you want to fork out to retain Reimer?
Striker I`d rather over pay Reimer for a couple of years than start trading assets for a goalie that you don`t know whether he`s going to be a fit in 2 yrs. If Anderson`s not the one then what. Trade more assets for another goalie. You end up right where you started minus a bunch of assets. Who knows maybe Reimer is the answer.
Chara and Eriksson for Fowler and ? BTW. Let’s put Rask out there This team can’t play D or stop goals.
Anaheim isn’the taking on Chara’s contract. They have an internal cap. No GM better manages the cap than Murray in Anaheim.
Boston isn’t playing as dedicated a defensive system as in past years. Sweeney has had Julien open it up some what as with 1/2 the active roster rookies, sophomores or 3rd year players they’ll need years to figure out their defensive responsibilities regardless.
Boston has the 3rd best offense in the NHL & 8th best goal differential. They look like a lock to make the playoffs.
Being a life long Bruins fan I love what they are building.
Joe funny you say that about Rask. I was hoping when we got Jones that we keep him and move Rask. Could’ve had another 6m in cap space. Striker fails to mention that Chara salary and cap goes down the next two years, this is very doable for Anaheim. The trade really makes sense for both teams. We just need to slip the paper under the GM’s door.
Supposedly teams aren’t willing to part with high picks for rentals. Wondering if players with term might get moved this year. Obviously with the cap being a major issue they would be reasonable salaries.
From a selling team players like bozak, komarov, jvr, hunwick. All reasonable term and dollars. Teams would be willing to give up assets when they get the players longer.
That was a quote from 1 of 30 GM’s. Do you believe him? 30 Gm’s 30 opinions & no history of restraint at the trade deadline as yet.
6 1st’s & dozens of 2nd’s & 3rd’s moved in the 3 weeks leading up to the deadline last season.
Lamoriello will reap the biggest dividends by holding off trades until the deadline now. When push comes to shove, too many GMs toss their caution to the wind, especially those who are in a rat-race for a playoff spot and whose team is suffering key injuries at the deadline. It will be surprising what the Leafs actually get back for guys like Parenteau, Polak and even Komarov if someone makes him an offer he can’t refuse. At that point you’ll likely see Nylander up for a good look-see over the last part of the schedule.
Nylander won’t get more than 9 games. Their not burning off a year of his NHL free agent eligibility.
I’d be surprised if he gets even a game. As I said to Shticky the other day. It will be & is the checkers, more developed lower end prospects & warm bodies coming up. Orcobello, Greening, Lepsic, Leivo, etc. Hell they even signed Clune to fill a roster spot to keep the real prospects down & developing.
Toronto doesn’t want to do anything that might improve their chances of winning today & their really good prospects will be held down as long as possible. You don’t want to expose them to this much losing at so young an age.
You’re right about not wanting to waste a season of Nylander’s eligibility of course – but 9 games is a pretty good “look” – and at that point I doubt he’s unaware that this is a pretty lousy collection and will develop “bad habits over a 9-game test.
Just announced Stamkos won’t be traded at deadline, headed for UFA
Heading for a resigning with TB
Agreed.
Could be, with the uncertainty of the cap one would think Stamkos might be persuaded to sign. How about a 3 yr 27 mill. A good compromise for both parties
8 years at 9.75. No trade, no movement & tons of guaranteed bonus monies making up the deal.
He won’t re-sign in Tampa. If they wanted him that much and if he wanted to remain a Lightning that badly, a contract would of been done and signed by now. He’ll head into the off-season as a UFA and sign with the Leafs!
You may be right. I just see it as part of the business of the new NHL cap world. We will know with in 5 months. Lots of time to come to terms & it will help to know exactly what next seasons cap # will be. That # will be known before July 1st.
If the cap were to decline then that seriously alters the financial landscape & makes com-parables far harder to look at as they were signed in different economies.
Would Toews & Kane who both signed in July of 2014 when the Canadian Dollar was 93 cents still have gotten those contracts in today’s economy. They have now set the scale for all future stars, see Kopitar who due to his UFA status left no time to really negotiate or address such issues. LA has no 1 to replace Kopitar.
Yzerman & Stamkos have all said the right things in public & I assume they are both doing so behind closed doors as well. Yzerman could lose Stamkos for nothing & TB will still be a great hockey team. Remove Kopitar from LA & that’s a serous blow.
I can’t see tampa letting Stamkos leave for nothing. Unless he absolutely refused to waive his ntc. Then they can’t trade him.
Good move Yzerman ” stop the chatter and let’s get atter” in regards to Stamkos . Sounds like patience Drouin.
There is a reason Yzerman won GM of the year.
Eliminate the discussion & distraction.
Drouin won’t be moved before the off season. Not enough teams can afford to bid when in playoff positions. Yzerman will wait until he can maximise his return.
May he rot in hell.
Please with ” there is a reason Yzerman won GM of the year….Torts won coach of the year once too and has a cup! Give me a break lol GM of the uear didnt realize he drafted a whiney self centered kid GM of the year gave a 4th liner 6.5 mill per now cant really afford his captain. Talk to ke when he does it a few times or at least more than once.
And all as I am getting at is that I am not sure 1 should get praise for fiximg their own mistakes. Drouin was his draft pick and the cap and Stamkos might not be such an issue if he didnt give out some of these contracts or pick up some of these guys in trades. Not like he inherited the situations he is in.
Yzerman isn’t responsible for the Canadian dollar, nor does he know where Jimmy Hoffa is. If the cap was still escalating like crazy money wouldn’t be an issue. I know far brighter people than NHL owners & GM’s who got caught unaware of the impending dollar issue.
He drafted these kids, built this team & how you might blame him for Drouin is mind boggling. There is no 1 to blame for Drouin but Drouin. TB is loaded at every position. They have solid prospects coming across the board at forward, D & in net. Even losing Stamkos for nothing would be nothing more than a blip.
But even should Stamkos decide to leave & I just don’t see it Yzerman has TB positioned to compete for the cup for years. If come mid June Stamkos simply can’t be retained for what ever the reason might be & it won’t be money, or no trade or movement clauses or even garunteed money, Yzerman will deal his rights for something & he won’t be the 1st team to lose a star for nothing in the new UFA world. He will get essentially 10 million in cap space & his cap problems will be solved.
What 4th liner is getting 6 million?
If Stamkos leaves even better GM of the year wasted a firstround pick on Drouin and losthis captain in the same year…lol youre not helping your arguement. No Yzerman isnt responsible for the Canadian dollaar but he is just as responsible for an overpaid 3rd limer as any GM in the league who sigms a 3rd line guy for over 6 million bucks, and if that wasnt bad enough goes out and gives up how much for Coburn? By the looks of the forwards woudnt jones maybe have been a litttle better pick 5han another forward? Thats not even getting in to sitting on the grenade that is Drouin s attitude…funny how when other teams draft and stuck with that type player generally its the GMs fault but oh no not Stevie Y! lol the ammount of fanboying that goes on for this guy is kinda unreal if his name was Joe Smith instead of Stevie Y I wonder what peoples reaction would be?
Calllahans cap hit is 5.8 mill for how mich longer? The guy has 5 goals, like many 4th liners f you are going to throw contracts like Brown and Richards when he was with LA as “bad contracts” Id suggest this on is right up there with them. He aint getting any beter currently sure he is a third liner lets see where he os playing in a year or 2. Save the hes a leader speech. He has 5 goals. Again how much did Yzerman give for Couburn? Needed D did he? Too bad he drafted problem child Drouin over Jones, cause obviously the Lightning needed more forwards. Srry I dont hate Yzerman or anything like that but it amazes me how much of a free pass he gets because thats Stvie Y! Thereis 3 examples of things that have put him in his position that would get alot of other GMs torched by many other ,edia and fans if it wasnt for hos name…the Canadian dollar has little to do with poor draft poor contract poor trade.
my friend plays for buffalo he played junior with a current player of the lightning some of the players are grumbling about yzerman and how he has been handling things? might be nothing
Great article over at TSN by Frank Seravalli on each teams needs coming into the trade deadline.
From a Toronto POV I only see a few teams that any Leaf UFA would fit into.
The best fit I see is Washington looking for a third pair defenceman. Sounds perfect for Polak.
The Caps have the 2nd rd pick I think it takes. They also have great depth at goaltending and with Holtby there until 2020 but I wonder if there would be any way to get Samsonov. Polak and ?? Leivo and a decent pick ??
The changing economy in the NHL has numerous teams in serous cap trouble. Few expected the change in market conditions present today. It has seriously altered the landscape financially & in the blink of an eye. It is a serous issue that completely alters the market place & not for the better.
TB has 6F, 5D & 2 G’s signed for next season at 47.884. Assuming no cap increase although the NHL is still claiming a nominal increase in or around 73 million at the All-Star break board of Governors meetings, TB has 23.516; at 71.4, to spend to sign 10 players. If Stamkos eats 10 that leaves 13.516 to resign Kucherov & Killorn the only 2 RFA’s looking at potentially significant raises.
Kucherov may have to accept a bridge deal as there isn’t enough money available to give him the Tarasenko deal he’s close to having earned yet & Killorn should move into the 3 possibly 4 million range depending upon term. All remaining RFA’s are looking at having to accept their qualifying offers. 10% raises on their existing contracts. Nesterov, Namestnikov, Pacquette, Brown & Vermin.
I don’t look at snap shots. Come September, the start of next years training camp I will judge Yzerman on what he’s accomplished with what he’s facing today. Even July 1st is 4 & a 1/2 months away, that’s a long time. All I know today is that I see 1 of the best young teams in the NHL with great young players playing in the NHL now & a ton more coming. They just got healthy & once Palat & Johnson are back up to full speed this is a tough team to beat in a 7 game series in the East.
1 cup appearance under Yzerman & the roster to potentially compete for several more for years to come. I say well done. His handling of Drouin. Again well done for not being bullied into making a bad deal. As for Stamkos I say well done again. Trying to convince Stamkos & his agent that in this economy 10 million for 1 player is problematic & not reasonable. Use all the time you have to try & get him to see the light & except a small discount to help the team. If not move him out for the best package offered in the off season take the savings & move on. Unfortunate but fiscally responsible.
The Canadian dollar is no surprise but is to those who don’t use history. A lil economics lesson is needed n research. Approximately every 15yrs a recession cycles around. Saying a GM didn’t see it comin is stupid n one more reason they create their own problems.
I wouldnt mind the Ducks taking a hard look at Hartnell. The Jackets need to shed a little money, and he can fit nicely with the Getzlaf line. He would make the power play better with his presence in front of the net. Then the Ducks could slide Maroon to the second PP line… The only thing is, the Jackets would need to take Stoner back in the deal. But that would free up 1.5 mil or so off the Jackets books.
I wouldnt mind Chara (in a deal I saw above). But not at the cost of Fowler. Boston would have to eat salary on that deal to make that work. I was asking for a trade to bring him in last year at the deadline when our d was horrendous.