Latest rumors and speculation on the Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers and Washington Capitals in your NHL rumor mill.
Stars.
How much could it cost the Stars to re-sign captain Jamie Benn?
SPORTSNET 960 (via TODAY’S SLAPSHOT) Elliotte Friedman doubts a new contract for Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn starts with a 10 (meaning $10 million per season) like the LA Kings’ Anze Kopitar or Chicago’s Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane but feels it could start between $8-$9 million. He speculates Benn will receive between $8.5-$9.5 million on a long-term extension.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Mike Heika speculates the rise of promising young defensemen such as Stephen Johns, Esa Lindell and Julius Honka could mean none of their pending UFA blueliners (Alex Goligoski, Jason Demers, Kris Russell and Jordie Benn) could return, as they could potentially stand in the way of their younger rearguards. Re-signing the four could also take up a good chunk of cap space. If so, he speculates the Stars could add a veteran defenseman by targeting a team with limited cap space and depth on the blueline, such as the Winnipeg Jets or Tampa Bay Lightning.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With all due respect to Friedman, I see Benn’s new contract starting with a 10. The guy won the scoring title last season, came second in league scoring this season and is a Hart Trophy finalist. He’s going to get at least $10 million annually because he’s the Stars franchise star and one of the league’s elite players.
As for the defense, Heika is merely speculating that the Stars might cut loose all four of their pending UFAs. I can see them keeping at most half of them. Perhaps Goligoski and Demers if their asking prices aren’t too expensive. Of course, that depends on how active GM Jim Nill might be in the trade market before free agency opens on July 1.
Oilers.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jonathan Willis believes the Edmonton Oilers and right wing Nail Yakupov would be better off without each other. Willis also weighs on on recent speculation by the Boston Globe’s Fluto Shinzawa suggesting Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins could be a fit with the Minnesota Wild, who need depth at center and are deep in defensemen. He points out the Oilers need a top-four right-handed shot, which leaves only Jared Spurgeon of the Wild as the best fit. However, he doesn’t think Spurgeon is a good enough return for Nugent-Hopkins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s only a question of when, not if, Yakupov is traded this summer. My guess is no later than the NHL draft, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s bundled with the Oilers first-round pick (fourth overall). I also expect Nugent-Hopkins to be shopped for a defenseman. Willis’ comments now makes me question my previous belief that the Wild could be a trade partner for the Oilers to address their blue-line needs.
Capitals
THE WASHINGTON POST: Ben Raby and Isabelle Khurshudyan report Capitals GM Brian MacLellan will attempt to bolster his checking lines in the offseason. In his first interview since the Capitals were eliminated last week from the playoffs, MacLellan said he’s “pretty content with the core” but he thinks “the ninth, 10th forward are where we’re going to look to improve.” He’d ideally like to add more speed and scoring to the third-line center position. His first priority, however, is re-signing restricted free agents Marcus Johansson, Dmitry Orlov, Tom Wilson and Michael Latta. Khurshudyan also reports Capitals pending UFA winger Jason Chimera hopes to return with the club next season.
10 million should have Stanley Cup attached. Benn extension and in particular Stamos contract will be interesting for the current market conditions. Hopefully it is a single digit cap hit on average. ….Throw in a bag of pucks for Yakupov.
Completely agree. If Stamkos isn’t worth 10 mil because he hasn’t won’t a cup than neither is Benn. Personally, if I had to chose paying either player that much money id rather pay Stamkos based on position, as good as they both are it’s harder to find an elite centre. Benn will get 9mil/8yrs imo
I am not sure anyone would take Stamkos over Benn. Benn is worth more
Durtmchurtt. What if you already have the elite Centre. I mean you have Seguin. Would you still rather pay Stamkos more than Benn because Stamkos is a centre? I think in Dallas’s case Stamkos is worth little to them where Benn could very well be worth the 10 million cap hit. I do agree though in general a Centre should have more value if your team is starting out with both positions blank. However one should not claim Stamkos should be paid more simply cause he is a centre. Each team will place a different value on a player. Dallas surely values Benn over Stamkos.
I’m not taking Stamkos over Benn center or not & winning the cup has very little to do with what players get in salary, there is some tie in but really not that significant a factor. Yes those that do demand more but their are allot of very high paid players that have never won a cup & are essentially right at that threshold & probably never will. the 10.5 Toews & Kane are making per season will probably be broken this summer if not the summer following expansion.
Jeff you make a very good point. Of course Dallas needs Benn more than another centre. You got the jist of what I meant though, all things being equal, or if your team is starting from scratch.
Benn has so many other elements to his game that stamkos doesn’t, even if he isn’t a centre.
Yup, that has been my argument with Stamkos. The difference, Bolts look like they can survive without Stamkos; the Stars cannot survive without Been.
I completely disagree. Dallas hasn’t even been a contender for years. How in the world can you pin Stanley cup expectations on this guy. Ditto Stamkos. Yes they have been a contender for 2 years, but in Stamkos time in Tampa, they’ve been out as much as they’ve been in .
Mike Rupp had a Stanley cup clinching goal and 2 Stanley cups. Was he worth 8-10 per in his day?
If I recall correctly Benn and Seguin were both benched at one point (early) in the season for not back checking. Not saying they’re bad players, but let’s calm down here.
Lol you didn’t compare Stamkos and Benn to Mike Rupp did you…..not even close the cup factor I think only really applies to elite players yes Mike Rupp has two cups has he ever scored 50 goals or led the league in scoring?
Nobody should make $10M/year, too much of the cap on one player – not unless their name is Orr or Gretzky.
However, if a team is going to entertain the thought of paying $10M/year the player better be a proven leader who has won at least one Stanley Cup – recently.
If what you actually got out of that was Rupp being an equal or better player I guess you don’t get the point. What my point was…is how does a Stanley cup increase your value? Plenty of bad players (Rupp) have a cup or two and plenty of good to great players have none (Stamkos, Benn). Their careers are far from over either way…. We’ll see.
Ray Bourque was pretty good, was he not? Minus the trade to Colorado how many cups was he winning in his career.
Messier had 6 cups, Gretzky 4. Was Messier worth more? Was he the better player? If you’re going to gauge value by one cup, why not value by who wins more?
Bottom line, one player doesn’t win championships. Especially young guys (Benn/ Stamkos) that haven’t exactly been on dynasty type teams. Or consistent playoff teams.
But I do have to say, with that type of GM thinking UFA would be VERY interesting. “Negotiations with Stamkos, Benn, Giroux, Pavelski, Karlsson, Gaudreau, Kuznetsov, Price all broke down today and all are hitting ufa. Sources say management couldn’t come to terms with the fact these guys have not won a cup yet and are much better off moving on rather than building around these key pieces”
NYR-if you are going to dedicate $10M of your $70M cap to one player, he had better be player that can take or has taken you to the Cup. Benn has the potential to be that kind of player. But you better be sure if you are gonna dedicate that much money for a long time. Mike Rupp is not part of this conversation.
@4th Hanson,
I agree. But I don’t even know I pay Gretzky 10 per today. Because Gretzky today, isn’t putting up 200 points imo.
Ideally I’d like to keep my best player or players @7.5-8 per and under. Not always going to happen. I also am not bringing how many championships you haven’t won to the negotiation table. Especially if they have done everything they can and play at a high level. Ultimately it’s managements job to surround their great players with a supporting cast and not put the weight of winning or losing on one player. The building blocks or core have to start somewhere.
So the player should be pointing his finger at the GM in negotiations and blaming him for not putting together a better team?
And Mike Rupp is as much of this conversation as Lemieux. They have the same amount of cups. Nowhere near the same player. Hence why I say, this is NOT part of negotiation when talking contracts. By that logic, 85% of the NHL or better are over paid.
Are you letting EVERY player that comes to RFA or UFA walk away because they haven’t won a cup?
A Toews, Crosby, Malkin, Lemieux, Gretzsky, Messier aren’t readily available to all teams. You deal with what you have. Not what could be….or what might be.
My argument was never about $$$ amount.I’m not putting a value on Stamkos or Benn. My argument was / is the ridiculousness of bringing championships to the negotiation table. Especially when talking about a player like Benn, who has had ZERO chance of succeeding with the team around him. I could add 200 players to this list without much thought.
It’s interesting to argue over who is worth more, it’s has been going on since salaries became disclosed, but it does come down to position, your status(UFA, signing an extension,age etc) and the team that ultimately signs u (contender , rebuilding club etc). I know of a certain team that will pay Stammer 10 or more, cup or no cup, blood clot or whatever. They r probably not alone.
NYR – your salary suggestion is ideal. problem here is the Hawks have already broken the $10M for two players.
The cap brings a whole new light on individual salaries and term. Term is coming into the convers even more now, especially with defensemen who lose their foot speed when they get over 30.
Only 1 team can win the cup & with the NHL’s ridiculous format of division match ups for playoff seeding you get stupid scenario’s where some of the best teams in the entire NHL are facing each other in the 1st round, never mind 2nd. You need superstar players just to get to the playoffs never mind advancing out of this idiotic format each round. There is a ton of luck that comes into play as the format is flawed & not equal for all teams.
In round 1 you had the 5th best team in the NHL Chi playing the 3rd best team StL. In the 2nd round you had the 4th; Pit, best team in the NHL playing the 1st; Was, & 3rd best; Stl, playing the 2nd; Dal. The other teams got easy match ups by comparison & an unfair advantage to advance. I’m not even sure how the NHL thinks this makes sense.
I don’t like conference match ups any better. I’m a proponent of 1 plays 16, 2 plays 15, 3 plays 14, etc. This would be fair & help balance out the crazy travel discrepancies that exist between the eastern & western conferences that puts western based teams at a disadvantage due onerous travel schedules. Only lawyers can think this sh-t up.
Salary’s paid to players are earned during the regular season. By no means am I saying winning playoff games doesn’t help get you more money but abilities, contract position, UFA status, arbitration rights, etc & market dictate salaries not cup wins specifically. Although the certainly help. Toews, Kane & Kopitar would have gotten their money cup wins or not as they are superstars. Toews not solely by points as his contributions like a number of players has far more to do with a whole range of abilities that help your team win.
So 4th Hanson,
You’re only signing players that guarantees a cup for 9 million,
Good luck with that!
I’m sure the next cba will have a broken dreams and promises clause. You don’t deliver a cup in 4-6 years…. No pay for you!!!!!!
In the mean time… Price, karlsson,,Benn, stamkos ,etc won’t garner market value because of lack of Stanley cups? Lol. Every NHL team becomes the oilers!,
Benn’s contract will also depend on how bad he wants to stay in Dallas. If he likes it there and enjoys playing with Tyler he may sign for a bit less. They also have Tyler’s contract coming up in the not so distant future.
Seguins contract expires at the same time as Spezza….so that would not be an issue.
Benn has publicly said that he likes it in Dallas, wants to stay there, and hopes that a contract extension gets done this summer. Nill would be foolish to not start Benn’s new contract with a “10.” Jamie is one of the elite players in this league and you can argue that his contract should be in line with what Stamkos will make. He plays with the same intensity every night and you can tell he’s a natural leader in the room. It will be interesting to see what they do with Jordie. Can we expect a “brother clause”?
The Oilers seem to be hung up on the fact Yakupov was a # 1 pick and seem to be holding out for a comparable return. Just get rid of him and his cap hit and move on – IF they can find someone to take him t $2.5 mil. To me he isn’t worth that much.
George O.
Absolutely agree with you… the organization I feel is trying to recoup some of the value (1st overall) they used in acquiring Yakupov. I could understand if the player was still on an ELC, there’s value in that and giving the player a chance but the Oilers signed him to an extension that still has another year left at $2.5 mil. After his contract is up he’s an RFA… who says this guy doesn’t simply flee back to Russia to the KHL much like Khokhlachev is reportedly going to do this off season. The player can’t be too pleased about his first few years in the NHL… speculation surrounding trades, movement up and down the lines, also his own personal performance… I could see him jumping ship after next season.
I still think Yakupov has the ability to turn his career round. I am by no means claiming he will ever be an elite forward like many 1rst over all picks are. Yet he could easily become a solid contributor potting 60 points a season. If I was Oiler management this is would be my dilemma. Do you give him up for practically nothing or do you work with him and his potential and chance an acceptable return of value.”
I’ve watched the Oilers play a fair amount and I never felt he was a horrible player. I always felt the Oilers overall game was the issue. Somehow, I see things differently from the rest of the world. Guess I am wrong but the Oilers aren’t simply going to give Yakupov away. He may be added in a package to garner a bigger return in another trade but they won’t simply toss him out like yesterdays trash.
Jeff Noel,
Honestly feel he’ll be nothing more than a 3rd line winger in terms of production and performance. For that I would trade a late 2nd round pick to give Yakupov a chance… but he’s going to have to be resigned next season and could easily flee to the KHL.
Also, I don’t watch nearly as many Oilers games as available because I live in New Hampshire and the time difference would kill me… but I feel for a team full of young and talented players, being behind in most games, a lot of times early on in the 1st period it would ultimately lead to a more wide open game IMO… which would result in inflated numbers for a lot of players on their team. The team being down goals would turn to playing more open, all offensive, less defensive… Yakupov would get more opportunities to score whereas a playoff contender or stanley cup caliber team plays a more sound system, defensive a high priority, ect. Just my thought though, I play a lot of hockey so just speaking from experience… not of the NHL level though lol
He has NO on-ice “hockey sense” – everything he accomplishes is the result of an opposition mistake and/or knee-jerk reaction. Just like Cowen had no on-ice “hockey sense.” It happens and isn’t always readily apparent in junior where 90% of the players don’t proceed beyond that level to any great extent.
I’ll give the Oilers a 3rd rounder for Yakupov and a 4th rounder with them keeping 50% of his salary. Then, if (when) he fails I can dump him to someone else for a 5th or so and it won’t really be that bad of an impact on my team overall. (3rd for a 4th and 5th and the dice roll)
Then the Oilers won’t trade him to you. Yakupov salary isn’t an issue . There is no way the OIlers will hold money back.
Then they’re stuck with him until his contract expires.
George O the great scout that watches yak play 0 games has come up with this great comment.If you have watched him play a lot you can see this kid!!! has hockey sense and a lot of talent.You have to be careful with young guys of this skill level because they do not always mature the same.He is going to be a very good player if not with the oilers than with someone else.You do not give this type of asset away and stop with the holding salary back and all this other stuff,will not happen.
Spud, the great expert …. nah, not going into a flame war with you. I made my point – and stated my opinion – and since you know absolutely NOTHING about my viewing habits I find it hilarious you can open your “opinion” with a statement like that. But if that makes you feel superior, fill yer boots.
Lol Spud come on now… Not saying they will give him away or hold salary but let’s not get carried away with Yak and “his great hockey sense” funny when people can’t point to goals assists or defensive abilities they then go to hockey sense, I’d argue if the kid had such great hockey sense all 3 of the previously mentioned points wouldn’t be quite so glaringly bad. Yak will be packaged up and given another chance somewhere else no they won’t give him away but I doubt another GM mortgages the farm on him as well
Goerge is bang on, as are almost every TV and radio analyst here in Edmonton that have finally come to the conclusion that this isn’t going to happen with Yak in Edmonton.
The kid has a great attitude, works hard, has quickness and skill. Not great in his own end but works at it and should improve. The issue is nobody can play with him. Or as George says “no hockey sense”. Having seen him 20 plus times live, I agree 100% (Not that my opinion matters).
Best descriptions of Yak “moth around a light bulb” & “chased by bees”.
Yak has actually been a decent point producer whenever he is paired with a good centre. He showed that this year when he started the season with McDavid (ok fine, most guys can get points with 97), and even last year his production ramped up quite a bit when playing with derek roy.
He is not an elite player, but can be a good nhl player if put in the right situation. I think most people who have watched him play a fair bit would agree with this.
Starting with a 10 – sounds like my golf game.
I think if a team like Chicago can trade for Yakupov he would thrive there. With a coach like Quenneville and playing along side a center and a strong leader like Toews is what Yakupov needs. At a cap hit of 2.5 for only 1 more year is not a bad risk to take on a player who has all the skill, just not good hockey sense.
Yakupov is destined for the KHL
Who does or what does Chicago send back ?
Yak is Radulov – lite.
lol
Or “Nikki doesn’t do rebounds” Filatov!
There is still something missing in Washington – saying the core is OK is a mistake, IMO. A current core player should be used to acquire a comparable player with leadership abilities.
Ovie is a great player, but he is not a leader.
Neither, apparently, is Stamkos! They don’t seem to be missing him much and, with a lucky bounce, could just as easily be 2-0 in this series.
what the heck. the first elimination game Ovie put the team on his back and pushed them through to the win. He led pretty well from what I could tell. Being a good leader doesn’t mean you are responsible for every victory. The Caps need a better supporting cast.
That’s what I am saying Jeff – they need at least a little shake up in Washington – and let the coach have some input.
If Washington is looking to improve their bottom line, I think they should look no further then Matt Martin, he be a nice addition to any team but a real good for the Capitals.
I want the Sens to go hard after Martin – then send Chiasson packing.
Why, isn’t Martin a goon type player. Are you wanting The Sens to get him to replace Neil or something?
No he is NOT. He is a hard-hitting perfect addition to the 3rd/4th line who finished second in legitimate hits this past season.
Love that Islander 4th line – keep your head up.
Lets just agree to send Chaisson packing. Martin would be nice to though.
I think there are going to be PLENTY of teams chasing after Matt Martin this offseason and he would slide into just about every team’s 3rd line (and definitely 4th line) and contribute immediately
I don’t see how the Isles break up that line’s chemistry and not resign fan favorite Martin, but the organization has proven time and time again that it’s clueless so it wouldn’t surprise me if it happens even with new ownership in place
Well Willis won’t need to worry about RNH being moved for Spurgeon. Minny isn’t giving up Spurgeon their #2 Dman & #1 pairing Dman even though a smurf like many of the NHL’s new breed of 2 way Dman. See Vatnanen, Ellis & Krug, etc.
Minny has to move players out before the expansion draft or risk losing a good young talent as you mentioned previously. What about working a deal around the 4th overall pick, other moving parts for a d man. I prefer Minny move Spurgeon as he is set for a nice raise.
Now it would cost Minny more IMO if they try to move Scandella for the 4th. Your not moving Suter, Brodin and I’d keep Dumba.
I think Brodin or Dumba will be moved. Possibly in a deal structured around RNH or Eberle. Minny almost has 2 move 2 D out or if they choose to use the 8 skaters format so they can protect 4 Dman they are going to lose some good forwards which is problematic if they bring another forward in. Minny may be the worst positioned team currently for expansion. I think their praying expansion is delayed until at least 2018-19.
Even if the buy out Vanek they have to many keepers at both forward & D. Not a pretty situation & I can’t wait to see how these teams get out of these situations.
I think expansion will happen with play staring in 2017-18 by at least 1 team; Las Vegas, but I’m leaning to Quebec City being included as well. The east west balance will still exist by 2 teams but when Seattle finally has a home for an NHL team, Carolina’s lease will be up & they can be moved to the west creating 2 balanced conferences.
Brodin is too cap friendly to move. Dumba should be as well.
Benn is 1 of the 5 best players in the NHL at forward today. It will cost at least 10 million for 8 years to resign him possibly nominally more 10.5 maybe even 11. His contract if he’s signed after JUly 1 this season will have been signed 2 years later than Toews & Kane. Surely there has been some inflation. Sooner or later someones setting the new standard & it may well be Benn. A complete hockey player who does everything. He was the best skater on the planet last season & easily top 3 this season. With or with out Seguin. He scores by himself regardless of who he plays with. A true superstar he makes everyone around him better.
I agree Benn is in the top 5 today.Can the Stars afford to pay him is the question.
They can absolutely afford it. The question is can they afford it and still stay competitive or just muddle around in mediocrity? My biggest fear is that they waste a true competitor like Benn’s prime years being just mediocre and not giving him the chance to win
No. Few teams can afford to tie so much money up in 1 player & expect to flush out a roster that can truly be a cup contender but he’ll get it regardless as the entire salary structure in the NHL is based on comparisons & Stanley Cup victories have very little impact on those comparables. There is some but the superstars are getting their money whether they have won a cup or not. It’s impact is felt more by the borderline 2nd & 3rd line players. See Kelly in Boston. perfect example.
Chicago has Hossa & Keith on contracts signed before contracts were restructured to a max of 8 years allowing them to circumvent the cap legally. This opportunity doesn’t exist any more for any team.
LA’s window has closed but they also have a player who was part of the old system in Carter playing out an 11 year contract allowing him to hit the cap today for several million less than he would have gotten on a shorter term contract. They are in complete cap hell moving forward & like a whole bunch of teams have painted themselves into a corner overpaying some of these players for their cup victories.
It’s 1 thing to pay your studs big money but when you cut checks for 8 years at 5.875 to a player like Brown the system is broken.
I don’t think he will make more than Toews or Kane on a new contract. One factor that I think could keep his salary lower is the taxes in Texas which are much lower which means he gets to keep more of his salary. The difference on a 10 million salary between Dallas and Chicago would mean Benn would pay something like 375K per year less than he would in Chicago. I’m basing this off this site for income tax http://gavingroup.ca/personal-income-tax-rates-in-nhl-cities/
These types of benefits are gravy to the player. His agent won’t care. His job is to get Benn as much money as he can squeeze out of Dallas. Benn will get at least Toews & Kane money unless he willingly takes a discount & it won’t have anything to do with tax’s.
Dallas is in cap hell because they have to much money tied up in 2 average goalies & top end talent. I don’t see either Goligoski, Demers or Russell being retained. They will all simply be offered to much money as UFA’s to play else where. If any were going to have been retained for a home town discount or below market value they would have resigned by now.
Dallas is a terrible team defensively right through the line up & dressing 3 kids next season at D; Lindell, Johns & Honka with Klinberg, Oduya & Nemeth & Oleksiak; who are kids themselves, is going to make that far worse not better. After their own 3 UFA Dman the overall depth of D available is solid but not in top 2 or even solid top 4’s but soft #4’s down thru 6/7. Goligoski is the best 2 way Dman available, Demers 1 of the best 2 way top 4. They lose these 2 players & goals against is raising substantially in Dallas next season.
Goligoski was Klingberg’s safety net for all of Klingberg’s young NHL career. With out him or someone like him Klingberg’s plus minus is going to dive substantially. Like numerous #1’s he’s essentially all offense all the time. He’s young & will get better defensively but he’s never going to be good defensively. You simply can’t be when you engage in the offense all the time & with players like that they shouldn’t play any other way you find them a safty net but those players aren’t cheap. They need to play 20 + minutes a night.
Lindy has his work cut out for him. His team is not like the some of the marginal teams he had in Buffalo, where he had to work to keep the team together. He is going to have to win with the cards dealt.
Can’t rely on Kari.
Benn will be worth 10+ million on the open market but should give Dallas a discount. Players like Benn, Stamkos, Traveres, and Seguin can get their money like Toews and Kane but look what it does to the team. They could all sign for the maximum annual salary for the first two or three years then let the annual salary be reduced so the team has a reasonable cap to work with. In Stamkos case he could sign for a cap hit of 10 million but take most of it up front. in this case he would probably make more in endorsements if he signs in Toronto?
Yakupov has talent how often has he had a stable consistent line to play on. Once that happens I suspect he will be a top six forward. Drouin had talent too but he needed to go up. Oilers wont get much for Yak now but put in the right situation he will realize potential. The best players (Galchenyuk, Reilly, Forsberg, etc) in that draft went later. Kinds of reminds me of earlier drafts where there was no obvious generational or potential superstar talent.
Oilers should be careful about jumping the gun on this roster. Sign a couple good free agent Dmen like Goligoski and Demers then let the young talent develop?
If neither Kane or Toews were willing to give Chicago a home town discount why would Benn take 1 from Dallas? Kane & Toews are playing on a team that can compete for the cup for about another 5 years legitimately & that wasn’t enough enticement for them to take discounts.
Dallas isn’t getting better next season. Team defense with solid depth every where & very good goal tending wins cups. Dallas’s team defense is brutal & it’s actual defense next season baring Jim Nill pulling off some form of miracle is going to be substantially worse.
The environment could hardly have been less ideal for Yakupov to develop. We’re talking a 22 year old who has already played 250 games for an awful team with a revolving door of coaches, just one of a long list of young talents who were mismanaged. Yet this guy has obvious talent and under the right circumstances should be a top 6 winger. It’s not hard to imagine him thriving with a change of scenery, or he might be a complete bust. What team is going to gamble large with that risk? If I’m Edmonton I don’t trade him for anything less than a young serviceable NHL player or the equivalent of a mid-first round pick in trade. Otherwise I would hold onto him. They have too much invested in him (1/1), he still has too much upside and is still affordable. If the KHL is a threat I would rather he played out his contract and fled for the KHL than trade him for nothing and watch him flourish in another NHL city.
With the possibility not signing Backes/Brouwer and maybe moving others out….Yakupov in STL makes a good fit with guys like Tarasenko and Steen (as well as others) to share their leadership with him and get him back on track. STL risks nothing by offering a 3rd and mid prospect for him.
Benn is worth around 10 but not more.
If he really wants to win a cup in Dallas he should take a discount to make the team around him better.
8.5 per sounds fair for both sides.
Wish players were more interested in Winning than how many millions they get.
i see Montreal taking a look at Yakupov, if they can’t find a more establish add to their top 6. I see Edm being more comfortable adding him to a bigger trade. I do not see PK Subban as part of any serious discussion.
Montreal would likely have interest in Eberle and the 4th pick… Maybe RNH if they move out Pleks. Edm may have interest in Eller, Beaulieu, Emelin, 9th pick,
Fucale.
Yak + 4th to Mtl
Eller+ Bealieu + 9th to Edm
Thoughts? Edm would only consider if they exhausted options on packaging the 4th pick for top 2D. Leaves more gaps in Mtl top 4D but they may be able to address via UFA or trade.
The Oilers are looking for a right-pairing top 4 dman and there is no way this deal helps them get that. I also don’t really see a role for eller amongst the current oiler forwards, so basically they are just downgrading their 4th overall pick and not getting any assets that really upgrade their roster.
I do see the possibility of montreal having some interest in yak- particularly since he and galchenyuk are former linemates.