Latest on Marc-Andre Fleury, Tyson Barrie, Kevin Shattenkirk and Brian Campbell in your NHL rumor mill.
Marc- Andre Fleury to the Flames?
Could the Calgary Flames consider Marc-Andre Fleury as a “transitional goalie”.
SPORTNET: Eric Duhatschek suggests Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury could be a transitional netminder for the Calgary Flames, who need help between the pipes until promising Jon Gillies is ready. If there’s an expansion draft next summer, Duhatschek speculates the Penguins could protect Matt Murray, citing Fleury’s age and the possible salary-cap issues they could face down the road. Fleury has three seasons remaining on his contract at an annual cap hit of $5.75 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It remains to be seen if Fleury becomes available this summer if (as expected) there’s an expansion draft next summer. The Penguins could retain him for next season to ensure young Matt Murray is ready to become the full-time starter and move him near the 2017 trade deadline or via trade in the days leading up to the expansion draft. Fleury also has a modified no-trade clause listing 18 preferred trade destinations and there’s no certainty the Flames are among them.
Tyson Barrie to the Rangers?
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: Citing Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman’s belief that Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie could be available via trade, Pat Leonard suggests Barrie could satisfy the Rangers’ need to get younger while bringing puck-moving skills to the right side of their blueline. Leonard speculates Barrie could cost the Rangers a forward like Rick Nash or perhaps Chris Kreider.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t believe the Avalanche would have interest in Nash, but Kreider could entice them. They could also want a promising young defenseman as part of the deal. If Barrie hits the trade block, the Rangers will have competition for his services. Given the Edmonton Oilers depth in young talented forwards, they could win that bidding war.
Kevin Shattenkirk getting expensive for Bruins.
CSNNE.COM: Joe Haggerty reports St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk could be the Boston Bruins trade target of choice to upgrade their defense, but his playoff performance could be increasing the Blues’ asking price. The Bruins reportedly pursued Shattenkirk near the trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Shattenkirk’s among the NHL’s best puck-moving defensemen, so the Bruins were facing a steep asking price for his services even before the playoffs. If they do land him via trade, it could cost them upwards of $7 million per season to keep him off next summer’s UFA market. The Blues could seek one of the Bruins two-first rounds in this year’s draft, a top prospect and maybe a good young roster player in return.
Brian Campbell’s free-agent value.
TSN 1050 (VIA TODAY’S SLAPSHOT): Bob McKenzie examined the free-agent value of Florida Panthers defenseman Brian Campbell, who’s eligible this summer for unrestricted free agency. Despite Campbell’s age (36), McKenzie notes he doesn’t seem to have slowed, but he won’t get a long-term, big-money deal akin to his current contract. He doesn’t rule out the possibility of Campbell taking a lesser deal to remain with the Panthers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That wouldn’t surprise me. The Panthers are a rising club in the Eastern Conference. With their depth in young stars (Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad, Jonathan Huberdeau, Vincent Trocheck, Nick Bjugstad), they’re only going to get better. Campbell could accept a shorter-term deal (a couple of years) for around $5 million annually to stay in Florida.
Toronto needs a goalie bad, lots of draft picks kicking around, could they pick him up for Pits own 1st rounder and maybe a low to mid prospect.
If you’re talking about Fleury do you honestly think Toronto is not on his list of “no go” destinations? And you can’t blame him. Why would a veteran goalie agree to go to a re-building last-place team?
Fair enough, but with that said Calgary is in pretty much the same boat as the Leafs, so you can rule them out also.
What is the giant differenc difference between Calgary and Toronto? 8 points in the standings?
Yep 8 points, Leafs 69, Flames 77, and Calgary is a lot further along in their rebuild. Honestly I think with the 1st overall pick, and a couple decent UFA’s the leafs might not be as far away from the playoffs as some may think. Not saying their making the playoffs but I think the could just as easy finish 9th in the conference as they could 30th in the league again.
The major difference between Calgary and Toronto is… Calgary is competitive and the Leafs looked lost. And anyone who knows anything about hockey cannot say any different.
The Flames were in most of there games. The leafs…not so much
No one is disputing the pace of the Leafs re-build which could indeed see a significant jump in the standings. But I don’t see a veteran goalie of Fleury’s calibre agreeing to go there (or Calgary) at this stage of his career. Dallas would be a much more desirable landing place.
The giant difference is that Calgary was in the playoffs last year and has many high end prospects playing at an elite level already. Calgary is a good starting goalie away from being back in the playoffs. Toronto needs much more than a goalie to compete.
Leafs looked lost. And anyone who knows anything about hockey cannot say any different. Seriously Buddy Seriously, the Leafs from 2 seasons ago with Phil the thrill and Neon Deon were lost, this years Leafs had 10 times more structure with a fraction of the talent and skill as the 2015 Leafs. They were only blew out 3 times, and lost most of their games by a goal or 2 pending on if they pulled the goalie. If the Leafs were so lost do you think the coach of a 30th placed hockey team would be coaching Canada at the world cup!
The leafs do look lost on the ice when you talk about hockey sense or iq the leafs roster is lacking babs can only help so much
8 points is actually quite significant. Only 4 wins but it is hard to get those four extra wins.
MAF has had 2 concussions this season – the 2nd one has been lingering abit.
That’s a concern for any team giving up assets to get him, he is not a kid anymore.
Chaz.
The leafs often outplayed & out shot their opponents; they finished 6th in the NHL for shots per game, but a lack of talent & long term injuries to many of their scorers seriously hurt their ability to score goals.
Babcock has this team working their asses off playing a sound game. Toronto isn’t 5 years away from being a playoff team. They maybe in the rebuild for 5 more years potentially but Toronto will be significantly better next season. They won’t make the playoffs but they won’t miss by that much either. They certainly won’t finish last & I would be shocked if they finish lower than 24th overall.
With the new draft rules no team is deliberately tanking any longer so the standings are going to get tighter points wise.
Toronto almost certainly will not go and acquire an established top goalie this offseason. That would be the single worst move they could make to derail what has otherwise been an impressive robust rebuilding process so far.
It’s obvious to everyone that having a great goalie has the biggest impact on team performance and can arguably make up for an otherwise uncompetitive team – Montreal being a great example. This only means that you miss out on the high picks that you otherwise would get and need to get to become a true competitor.
The D, in particular, is going to take several years at a minimum to solidify for the Leafs. I expect this is where we’ll see management focus along with adding G prospects (rather than established vets) that will mature or bust in 5 to 6 years. Indeed, they just signed Zaitsev (D) and a new G prospect. We’ll probably see this strategy continue into the draft.
10-4 to that. The only reason for my thinking of Fleury to the Leafs was that Gran-pa Lou is known to build around goalies, and The Leafs have Pits 1st rounder, so I thought I’d throw it out there. Personally I think the Leafs will pick up a guy like Pickard or Freddy Anderson for the next couple of seasons
Narrow sighted though to think you can not build a team with top 5 picks. You’d think after watching Edmonton try to do it we would all learn that a team should always improve all areas of its game. That a team should never leave an area of its game subpar just to drop lower in he standings.
There are great players available throughout the draft, hire good scouts so that your only method to improve isn’t to hold your team back.
Dang I need to proof read. Lol. Guess that what happens when you try to post with your tablet while your nine month old climbs all over you.
I meant it is narrow minded to think thhe only way to develope your team is by holding it back to get higher draft picks.
Ian, Jeff, I agree with you that you don’t intentionally hold a team back and eventually they will need to address the G position if they are ever to become a contender.
Obviously if you can get a top young goalie, you don’t say no to that. However, I don’t think you go and get an established number one vet until you’ve built out the rest of your core.
I think with the Leafs, the vision for the future of the C position has firmed up, likewise on the wings and you’re left with holes on D and at G. I think you get your D pieces in this and next draft and lookout for that G next.
Dan39,
I would agree with you that the Leafs have shored up center and mostly wings as well… but I think defense is the toughest to find IMO, even more so than a center who can make plays and put up points. Also, if you can build a strong/core defense then you can get away with an average goaltender… but I don’t think you can do the opposite such as have a stellar goaltender and average defense. If I were the Leafs I’d focus on the defense and make it a priority.. just not sure it’s as easy as finding those players in this draft and next. Then again, Vatanen was a 4th round pick… anything is possible.
Chad, I’m in complete agreement with you except to say the goalies that can consistently post elite stats over long periods of time are just as rare as the equivalent D. They’re also arguably even harder to project when teenagers, Carey Price aside.
The D must be a focus, as you suggest. I think you basically have to take the approach of drafting a good number of D and hoping that one of them pans out. The 2012 class provides the most recent example where the kids are getting to a stage you can actually evaluate them.
The first three D to get taken as a group (Murray, Reinhart, Rielly) are probably going to be less productive players than the next three (Lindholm, Pouliot, Dumba) and you still had Trouba, Ceci, Maatta and Koekoe on the board at that point.
True, I do think it’s tough to gauge or project the talent of a goaltender, comparable to the other positions that is. But, I still think a team can get away with having an average goaltender whereas I don’t think there can be the opposite.
Goaltending is tough though, absolutely agree with you. I just went back and looked at first round goalies taken even over the last decade… slim. First there isn’t many taken in 1st round, second a lot of them haven’t panned out to be elite either… or even above average. A lot of average goaltenders taken in 1st rounds, and a lot haven’t made it to NHL. I feel it’s a lot like QB’s in the NFL… taking a QB in the 1st round is a lot of cases considered a reach unless it’s an absolute GIVEN, but even then that isn’t always the case. Yet, teams still draft QB’s high year after year with the hope that one becomes a franchise game changer.
I think Toronto will bring in a solid #1 goalie. Fleury, Andersen maybe even Reimer returns as a UFA or they try to secure 1 of the kids, Murray or Vasilevsky if those teams choose to stay with their current starters Bishop & Fleury.
You need the right foundation to develop your team. Having bad goaltending is disheartening & doesn’t help moral or the development of the team as a whole. Even rebuilding teams need solid goaltending.
I don’t care who you put in net in Toronto or any where else. Bad d in front of them both by the D & forwards makes any goalie look average to bad. See Edmonton, Dallas etc. Toronto’s D is going to struggle as it’s rebuilt but Toronto will want as good a goalie as they can get. They have to protect 1 come expansion & you don’t want to waste that keeper spot.
Fleury would be a great fit. Why would he be willing to go to Toronto. To get to play as a #1. There are only 30 starter jobs available. Only 3 teams truly need a goalie. Cal, Car & Tor. Dallas needs much more than goalie help to solve their goalie problem. No 1’s taking either Dallas goalie unless Dallas offers a significant sweetener.
Pittsburgh’s not taking 1 back to move Fleury at least not either of those goalies unless Dallas eats at least 1/2 their salary. Jim Nill is stuck with his mistake, Niemi. Lehtonen was signed before he got there.
I would like Fleury to the Flames. For salary cap reasons Wideman part of package going the other way with a 2nd Rd pick and a decent prospect. I find it hard to gauge Fleury’s trade value but likely not enough.
Dallas is another good destination. One of Dallas goalies heading back in the return to provide veteran back up for Murray. Valeri Nichushkin would be the ask from Pitts.
I could buy into Fleury to Dallas, goaltending is their downfall, but I don’t see Pits wanting to get rid of Fleury bad enough to bring in one of the Dallas goalies to make it work. There would have to be quite the sweetner involved for that to happen.
I find it tough to gauge Fleury’s trade value as well… is he worth a 1st round pick, less or more? The situation isn’t necessarily telling either because technically speaking as Lyle pointed out… the Penguins don’t have to move Fleury this offseason, there’s not an immediate need but on the other hand the Penguins could absolutely use the cap space as they practically have none at the moment. I just looked on General Fanager and they have $73.8 mil invested into next year already. They also have a number of players under no movement clauses and no trade clauses… including Marc-Andre Fleury.
Lehner moved for the 25th overall pick last summer! Fleury will cost more than that to buy.
Wideman? That’s a very one sided trade and the 2nd does make up for anything. If the Pens tade Fleury it’s for cap relief and a prospect and and a pick, a late first round pick that is. Why would we want an old, slow, garbage dman who is way overpaid? I myself could get a better deal done fo Fleury and I have no connections.
Pittsburgh has less than 100K in cap space at 74 mil next season. Moving Fleury to take Wideman even for 1 year solves nothing for Pittsburgh cap wise. Pittsburgh needs to move Fleury for assets that aren’t subject to having to be exposed in expansion & free up as much of Fleury’s cap hit as possible. Not to mention Pittsburgh has 6 Dman signed for next season not counting RFA Dman Schultz who I assume walks as Pittsburgh can’d justify qualifying him at 3.9 mil.
The Bruins can get Yandle without losing a key player in a trade for Shattenkirk.
How much better on his own end is Shattenkirk compared to Yandle?
I still will not be surprised at all if Yandle takes the hometown discount for the Bruins
ds,
I understand the comparison to Keith Yandle and even if he does take a hometown discount the contracts between the two players will still be similar. I’d much rather invest the money in Shattenkirk even if it’s $1 mil more per year because he’s starting the ’16-17 season at the age of 27 whereas Yandle will be 30 already.
Chad: I would prefer Shattenkirk but they will have to give up a decent asset or wait until next summer for him to be ufa. Depth is not really the Bruins strength
Ds, the Bruins have alot of depth with prospects to deal from. If you go by Hockeysfuture, they have the top 5 prospect system in the NHL, and also have two first round picks in this years draft. So if they want to make a deal for a D-Man, they sure can
DS,
I have to agree with Chad here as well. For the majority of his time with NYR, Yandle wasn’t used to his best ability (3rd pair, 2nd PP unit most of the time). Yandle is the best available defenseman in the UFA market, and he is going to get paid like it. Yandle will be 36-37 by the time that contract is up, and no chance whatever team signs him will be getting their monies worth at that point.
I’d much rather make the trade for a younger, more reliable Shattenkirk. Even if it means giving up one of the first rounders and a roster player like Spooner. Although I’m a big Spooner fan, Czarnik looks like the real deal and could slide in for the big club nicely in that 3rd line center position. I think Spooner will be looked at a lot as a potential trade chip given that he will be a RFA after this upcoming season
I’ve said it before on here too, but I think Sweeney should really look into trading David Krejci as well. Although coming off the hip surgery, the Blues may lose David Backes and could be in the need for a top line center. Krejci, a 1st/conditional 1st (2nd if Shattenkirk doesn’t resign with the Bruins), and potentially a prospect for Shattenkirk and a 3/4 round pick should get the job done, no?
Shawn,
7 of the 11 current contracts on the books going into next season has a no movement, no trade, or modified no trade clause built in… including David Krejci. They’d have to ask him to waive and hope he does. The St. Louis Blues are proving in these playoffs that they’re a legit contender and that could certainly entice Krejci into waiving… his cap hit though is over $7 mil per though which could create an issue especially if David Backes is walking because the Blues likely can’t pay him.
The other question is if St Louis keep Shattenkirk now for another run next season or not.
This is true, and I absolutely agree. I’m just trying to think of bigger picture ways to help this team get younger and shed some salary while doing it. If they are bringing in Shattenkirk, they need to clear some space and offering up a player like Krejci will allow them to keep more of their younger (and cheaper) assets than a package deal without him. Brad Marchand will get extended as early as possible and he is due a promotion and if Shattenkirk is landed, you’re looking at $13M between the two of those guys easy
I have little faith in Sweeney right now judging by most of the moves he’s made to this point, but if he can get the Seidenberg contract off the books and maybe even Jimmy Hayes, my mind could definitely be swayed
Shawn,
Sweeney has had a tough year I won’t argue against that… but ultimately I don’t think he’s been a train wreck either.
The Milan Lucic trade was absolutely the right decision to be made, and the net from that was quite substantial when you look at the dominos (Martin Jones trade).
The Reilly Smith trade was obviously tough to swallow after the completion of this season and seeing how Smith has fit in with Florida and the dismal season that Hayes had… but the Bruins also rid themselves of Savard’s contract (which, Chiarelli couldn’t seem to do).
Matt Beleskey signing has to this point (1 season in) been a good signing IMO. He had a career year in points and should settle in nicely next season. I see him getting better as well, more comfortable in the game plan and people around him.
Dougie Hamilton as much as people want to defend the player and/or attack the Bruins for the return… it was still a decent return. Now, could the Bruins have gotten more from somewhere else? Likely could have, reports said many teams didn’t know he was available. Ultimately the player didn’t want to play here and was unhappy for whatever reason. A first round pick, and 2 second round picks is more than they would’ve gotten for an off sheet… now some will say well let a team offer sheet and match and you still have Hamilton today… well why do you want a player who obviously didn’t want to be here on your team? You match the offer sheet, great you have the player now signed somewhere between $6-7.5 mil (likely area it’d be in) and the guy doesn’t want to be here… toxic situation NO THANK YOU.
The trade deadline was a bust for Sweeney IMO… the Eriksson negotiations and subsequent transaction or lack of around the deadline with him was a bust IMO… but I think Neely and Sweeney has set up this offseason nicely. Lets see it play out!
Chad,
While I agree on most of your points, I do have some rebuttal…
The Lucic return was great, but then he turned around and traded the best piece he got from that return. Martin Jones had an identical season to Tuukka Rask for half the price tag. Oh yeah, he also carried his team to Western Conference Final.
When you break down the Lucic trade now it’s:
Lucic for 2015 1st (Sweeney couldn’t package and move up to draft Noah Hanifin so Jakub Zboril who the jury is still out on), Colin Miller (high ceiling but not proven), 2016 SJS 1st (which is now a glorified 2nd), and Sean Kuraly (again jury is out)
Belesky was a great signing
Reilly Smith trade only looks bad in hindsight due to Jimmy Hayes looking like a disaster. Reilly has more talent and IMO this deal was forced and if Hayes wasn’t a local kid, I doubt it would have been made
I know Dougie had to go. You needed to get more for that player. What is everyone in the league looking for these days? A young, puck-moving, potentially franchise changing defenseman. You sold yourself short. I’ve heard rumors too that there was a better offer on the table from EDM but management refused to make a deal with Chiarelli. Obviously, I’m not in the know and just a fan, so this could be completely fabricated
Not moving Eriksson was complete nonsense. And then bringing in two aging veterans for significant draft picks that could have been used to rebuild or package in better deals for a team that was borderline playoff team and even if they got in would have bowed out in the first round is asinine. That is a move that you make if you’re a legitimate cup contender, not a bubble playoff team
You also failed to mention that the draft was also a huge bust for Sweeney. Even he didn’t think he was making all three of those picks, which would explain going off the board and passing on players like Kyle Connor & Mathew Barzal who were still available at that spot
Shawn,
Hindsight is 20/20… Martin Jones wasn’t proven and he was flipped for a 1st and prospect. Only NOW that he’s had a good season and their in the conference finals does it appear to be a bad trade. Just as you mentioned with Reilly Smith (hindsight).
The Dougie Hamilton return as I said likely could’ve been better… agreed there.
We definitely agree on the Loui Eriksson debacle
The draft I think it’s tough to gauge right now… I liked Connor and Barzal but Senyshyn arguably had just as good a year in a tough league. He scored more goals by far than either of those players you mentioned. DeBrusk had a down year, agreed, but Zboril is a defenseman and tough to compare to a forward. Also, the later drafts were filled with great hits IMO… JFK, Carlo, and Lauzon had arguably great years IMO also. Jesse Gabrielle (4th round) put up 75p in the WHL (40g 35a). I wouldn’t call Sweeney’s 1st draft a bust just yet.
StL can’t afford to retain Shattenkirk. Schwartz is looking at a huge raise; in or around 5 mil on another short term deal, more if longer, as a pending RFA coming out of a 2 year bridge contract. Backes, Brouwer, Brodziak, Ott & Upshall are all UFA’s & need to be resigned or replaced. Steen is a UFA the season following next, as is Shattenkirk & Elliott & I assume StL will move to extend Steen shortly after July 1st as allowed under the CBA.
I love what Sweeney has done for the most part. I just wish Neely would stop interfering. I would have preferred that Hamilton be shopped to the highest bidder but in 1 year Sweeney completely re-positioned Boston financially & started a full scale rebuild well staying competitive & banking a ton of future assets.
He’s no better than Yandle defensively. They are essentially the exact same asset. I support your argument entirely.
I don’t see the Rangers winning any type of bidding war for Barrie’s services. Are the Rangers even okay with moving Kreider… and it’d likely take much more than that. Their prospect pool is very thin and another draft year in which they have no 1st round pick… and haven’t since 2012 where they took Skjei, a defenseman. I don’t see the Tyson Barrie to New York Rangers making any sense. They need to get young, I agree… stop trading future draft picks for starters.
Rangers management saw the Cup window with Lunqvist’s prime years and literally mortgaged the farm to get through that window. The window has slammed shut and they have no Cup to show for it. Now they have overpaid aging players (Girardi, Nash), hardly any depth, no draft picks to rebuild. Trading for Tyson Barrie makes little sense for them and I don’t think they have the assets to do so regardless. If they could somehow get Girardi’s contract off their hands and maybe even move Nash then I’d entertain that rumor
Shawn,
Absolutely agree… even if they did have the assets, which they may, it would cost them more of a future than they already have mortgaged. Not having a 1st round pick in 4 seasons hurts a franchise regardless of cup window or not…
Rangers GM needs to make some magic this summer to get the team back to competing with the younger speed of the NHL. Moving at least Girardi or Staal contract plus adding some speed on the backend could be enough to keep them in the playoffs but not a contender.
ds,
Jeff Gorton definitely has his work cut out for him. Moving the Staal and Girardi contracts won’t be an easy task either… much the Bruins in moving Dennis Seidenberg’s contract (which, I think they’ll entertain doing). I do agree with you that if they add some speed it’ll keep them in the playoff mix but I think as far as a true contender is concerned… going to take quite a few years to build back up. I’d start by moving some assets for draft picks (1st and 2nd rounders preferred)… even if the player is considered to be a core piece, tough decision, I’d move a few and replenish the draft picks/prospect pool. Waiting another year to draft in the 1st round is going to set the franchise back. I’m a firm believer that you need to build your team primarily round drafting and go out from there.
1. Draft your future
2. Trade some assets to bring in complimentary pieces
Chad
As a Ranger fan I cannot fault the mgmt for doing what they could the past 5 years during the Henrik window.
I can fault them for overpaying on MSL and Yandle. Especially when we do not know the other offers teams received for those two players. Also the Stralman walk vs signing Dan Boyle is a tough pill.
The dice roll that Eric Staal might find his game playing with Marc… that package was better off on a younger checking center
ds,
When you have a window I understand the idea is to GO ALL IN… but it’s also not a guarantee you win either. I feel there needs to be a bit of a balance in doing business. I think the Rangers basically pushed all the chips in the middle multiple seasons and now it’s going to hurt them. Although, it has worked for Chicago in recent years until this seasons 1st round exit.
The Hawks core is strong and how many ppl did not think they could retool 3 times. And they lost players like Buff, Ladd right away and still won.
I would quickly compare Seabrook to McD. Hossa to Nash.
Rangers lack a Toews, Keith and Kane…oops that is a lot to be missing
First, If Barrie means Kreider + a Mcilrath or Skjei I say no thanks.
As far as youth on this team, remove Boyle, Yandle,Staal and Moore and insert Mcilrath, Skjei,Hrivic, possibly Buchnevich and they become significantly younger.
Brassard 28
Lindberg 24
Stepan 25
Miller 23
Fast 24
Hayes 24
Zuccs 28 etc.
Nash (31), Glass (32), Girardi (32), Klein (31) and Lundqvist (34) are the only players over 30. I think people over blow the age thing a little.
Past “Win now” mistakes are gone. If I could have any trade back it was the Hagelin deal. I find a way to make room for him. His loss, has much more significance today than Callahan or Duclair. Didn’t like his departure the minute it happened.
NYR4LIFE,
I think Tyson Barrie means Kreider and Skjei, or McIlrath…
ds,
I wasn’t comparing the Rangers to the Blackhawks in terms of roster… was referring to the idea of making deadline deals/in season trades to boost the team towards a Stanley Cup. The whole WIN NOW mentality. It has paid off for Chicago up until this seasons first round exit whereas it hasn’t for the Rangers. You’re right though they don’t have a Toews, Kane, or Keith but then again neither does a lot of teams.
Chad-I was not really saying you were comparing the Hawks to Rags. I did on my own there ;-0
Comparing the Rangers to the Pat Burns/Sundin teams is more like and see where that left Toronto for a decade plus.
Gotcha, well the Rangers have some work to do… I don’t see them becoming a true Cup contender again for quite some time but with a few moves, who knows I guess. Honestly I didn’t see Tampa making it this far, or the Penguins for that matter… I didn’t think either team wow’d me during the season but goes to show you I guess… add San Jose for that matter
What market is out there for Nash? Can he regain his scoring to be a 30 goal scorer for remainder of his contract? A big cap number for a team to take on.
DS,
Comparing Hossa to Nash should be a crime. Nash might be the reason why the Rangers didn’t win a Cup in 13/14 putting up a solid 10 points in 25 games and a -1.
NYR, old?
Brassard 28, Stepan 26, Zuccarello 28, Kreider 25, Hayes 24, Miller 23, Fast 24, Lindberg 24, Staal 29 & McDonaugh 27.
McIlrath, Skjei, Hrivik, Buchnevich, & a few other lesser light prospects are coming, Graves, Kovacs, Saarela, Gropp, etc. All 4 may well play full time roles in NYR next season. Buchnevich may need 1/2 a season in the AHL to acclimatize.
Did I miss a memo. That’s a ton of youth. 1/2 those kids listed above just started their NHL careers & are going to get significantly better over the next 2 to 3 seasons.
NYR made the Stanley Cup final 2 years ago, then the conference final last season & lost to Pittsburgh in round 1st round this season due to the NHL’s stupid divisional alignment. Didn’t the best team in the NHL just lose to Pittsburgh in the 2nd round?
Those assets NYR moved to get StLouis helped get them to the Stanley Cup. Those assets they moved to get Yandle helped them get to the conference final & if not for the loss of Zuccarello would have beat TB last season & if the NHL didn’t go to this stupi playoff format NYR would have played NYI as opposed to Pittsburgh & thumped that team.
NYR with Boyle, Yandle, Moore, Stalberg all UFA’s are getting younger still. McIlrath & Skjei replace Boyle & Yandle. Moore & Stalberg may possibly be resigned if they take nominal contracts. This is still a solid playoff cup contending team with a ton of youth on their roster.
Not to belabour the point, but the Avs should keep Barrie and fire Roy.
BCLeafFan,
I’d keep Tyson Barrie also. I think he’s the type of prototypical defenseman that’s trending in the NHL now… they should be using him as a building block for the franchise not looking to swing a home run deal to move him, but I’m not an NHL GM or GM of anything for that matter so what do I know lol
Agreed.
I’m sure the asking price for Shattenkirk has risen a bit due to playoff performance but there were multiple reports now surfacing this past week referring to a deal that was in place between Boston and St. Louis. Eriksson, SJS 1st round pick to the Blues for Shattenkirk, a roster player with term, and a 2nd – 3rd round pick depending on the Blues advancement in the playoffs/and or resigning of Eriksson. The hangup supposedly was around the Blues roster player with term coming back to the Bruins. They didn’t want to take on the contract. This is according to multiple sources in the Blues organization and a well placed NHL source…
Chad, could you post the links, please. I have not seen or heard any of that. I did hear Boston and St. Louis did talk a swap between Ericksson and Shattenkirk. IMO unless Boston knows they can sign Shattenkirk to a longer deal, stay away from giving up assets for season ad done.
Jimmy Murphy was the writer who originally posted it via Twitter. This is the link he referenced, with his article written about the ordeal.
http://dirtywatermedia.com/murph-did-bruins-have-eriksson-for-shattenkirk-trade-in-place/
Since then (that was 5 days ago), other writers/hockey sites have begun reposting and following up on the speculation… including none other than Joe Haggerty. This is another website that just followed up on that 2 days ago… monkey see monkey do
http://www.hockeyfeed.com/nhl-news/rumor-a-major-trade-was-on-the-table-at-the-trade-deadline
Thinking back to what Cam Neely said on May 3rd on 98.5 The Sports Hub (if you read the report online)… that the Bruins were never offered a 1st round pick or even a package of two 2nd round picks for Loui Eriksson. How many people find that hard to believe? I know I’ve never believed any of that… how is it a guy like Eric Staal was worth two 2nd round picks and a higher end prospect like Aleksi Saarela but Loui Eriksson wasn’t worth two 2nd round picks, or not even a mid-late 1st round from a team that was already in the playoff picture. There were plenty of playoff teams in the picture with 1st and 2nd round picks this year and next… the salary cap wasn’t even that bad.
What would make more sense is that the Bruins were going for a knockout trade package involving a top 4 defenseman for Eriksson and that the organization was set on that type of return. When the trade for Shattenkirk fell through the Bruins were already far behind the trade deadline because a number of teams that likely had interest in Eriksson to begin the weekend had moved onto other players and made moves. The Bruins at that point just decided to keep the player. I bet the team was offered a 1st round pick at the very least… but I don’t think they were interested. They wanted more. Then Neely comes out and blows smoke up every fans A$$ trying to make it sound like… well no 1st or two 2nds offered so obviously we kept Loui cause thats not fair to him and his value… and obviously most fans buy into that notion.
Thanks Chad; I believe you are correct the player had to be Lehtera, his salary is the only one that fits the numbers. In that case it was the right decision by Sweeney to walk away. Not sure what happened to the 1st and prospect. Still i’m not trading for Shattenkirk unless you know you can sign him; don’t be giving up assets for one and done.
Casper, Shattenkirk has said that if he does get traded he wants it to be to an Eastern Conference team and he has clear and well documented ties to Boston. I really feel if he is traded to Boston, he would sign long term here. It’s also possible he doesn’t get traded at all and signs with Boston as an UFA next offseason at which point you are only giving up cash! If he is traded, I would assume that part of the package going back to STL would include a conditional pick(s) contingent on Shattenkirk signing an extension and that goes for any team that trades for him not just BOS. So yes, you would still lose assets but maybe it’s only a 2nd instead of a 1st for instance
Who the hell is Jimmy Murphy?
I’ve heard this rumor earlier as well, and if true is a huge let down that Sweeney couldn’t pull the trigger. To let one of the most sought after trade chips at the deadline walk for nothing when you could have landed your franchise defenseman that you’ve been looking for ever since Chara started playing like an old man over a couple extra bucks is crazy. Looking at the Blues roster, who could that roster player have been that would have broken the Bruins bank so bad that Sweeney said no? Steen making $5.8 through 16/17 (highly unlikely), Berglund $3.7 through 16/17 (maybe?). Maybe I’m missing someone
I think it was Lehtera… he’s signed through until ’18-19 and his cap hit goes up to $4.7 mil per starting this season (’16-17). I don’t think the Bruins wanted to take on that commitment… especially after they worked hard last offseason to cleanup the cap mess that Chiarelli left the organization in. The team finally has a substantial amount of breathing room and to turn around and throw it all away would be a shame. They would have been in a position where they needed to resign Marchand (next season free agent), Pastrnak (next season RFA), resign Shattenkirk to $7 mil per + and to add the Lehtera $4.7 mil cap hit to the mix… doesn’t look good. Also I’m forgetting that they are likely resigning Krug this offseason to somewhere in the $5-6 mil per range unless he’s traded (unlikely). Bruins might’ve made a good decision there.
Ahhh yes, I overlooked the cap jump for Lehtera. I’d have to agree there then good call. Big money to pay a 3/4 line center
Exactly! That type of money for a 3rd center is considered high, let alone if he slots into the 4th line. Right now if the Bruins address some of the needs on the wing… you’re looking at Bergeron, Krejci, and Spooner being your top 3 centers. I know Spooner played some wing last season but I like him as center more even if he can’t play great in his own end.
Jori Lehtera (28, C)
2014-2015: 14g 30a 44p
2015-2016: 9g 25a 34p
Yeah, you can’t bring that player in on a $4.7M contract unless you’re certain on his numbers jumping and moving out another contract in a secondary deal elsewhere. Blues clearly looking to dump his contract to be able to resign Backes. Can’t knock them for preying on the needy!
Chad.
Posted where?
The only player on the team that would meet that description in StL would be Lehtera. What is Boston going to do with another C? Well other than Tarasenko.
Sportsnet has to stop spreading their ignorance regarding the Fleury situation. His partial no-trade does not mean that he doesn’t have to be protected in the expansion draft. The expansion draft uses the waiver mechanism in the CBA. Any contract right that protects a player from being waived, means they cannot be moved in the expansion draft and hence their team must protect them. In other words if Fleury is on the Penguins at the time of the expansion draft, the Penguins cannot use a protection slot on Murray.
If no trade clauses had anything to do with the expansion draft then players with NTC could use said clauses to protect them from being taken in the expansion draft. Moreover since teams are not being compensated, being taken in the draft is not a trade. And finally if any other mechanism other than trades or waivers were being used, the CBA would have to be renegotiated and put to a new vote.
Sportsnet has both their logic and law wrong!
It’s simple… the only players exempted from having to be protected in the expansion draft are players in their first or second years of their careers. That’s it. NTC and NMC clauses have absolutely no application in this situation.
Well the NHL & NHLPA made a deal almost 2 weeks ago stating that players with NTC’s can be exposed but players with NMC’s have to be protected. The did so publicly.
You’re wrong Fleury has to be one of the players protected by the team to be protected. This has been established weeks ago.
I’ll wait until everything is official before worrying about Fleury. He is an interesting case and I’m sure it will be decided when the official rules of the expansion draft are released.
Agreed. We’ll have all the facts soon enough.
Regardless of Fleury’s NMC Pittsburgh is in cap hell. They have less than 100K in space next season if the cap hits 74 mil. They will have to qualify Bennett so something has to give.
Logic would imply that getting Fleury’s contract off the books makes sense unless they can find someone to take Kunitz which seems unlikely but not impossible. Fleury only has a partial NTC he has to provide 18 teams he’s willing to be traded to on July 1st. I assume Fleury will be moved.
I don’t see the cap at 74 mil but closer to 73 but Pittsburgh has to free up cap space some how & has limited options to do so.
Speaking of the Bruins and Shattenkirk… if a trade fell through at the deadline involving Eriksson, how come the Blues didn’t just offer a 1st round pick (straight up) for Eriksson? Unless it was and the Bruins declined. At this point the Blues pick this season is guaranteed to be bottom 4… now that they’re in the conference finals. Eriksson would’ve added a lot to that team in terms of scoring depth on the wing.
Speaking of bottom 4… that San Jose pick the Bruins got for Martin Jones is looking quite dismal right about now. Oh well, hindsight is 20/20… at the time the Martin Jones trade for a 1st round pick and prospect looked good. Even if San Jose had finished in the middle of the pack the pick would’ve been a decent return, not so good now.
Jones only had one good season so far. Lets see if he keeps on doing it. And unless Boston traded Rask, he wasn’t going to start over him anyways
Touché
Do you not think if the Bruins were close on a deal for Shattenkirk we wouldn’t have had some insight from an credible source?
It’s still a solid pick.
Leafs lost? This year, yes..next year? Not so sure-Bernier is not a lost cause, they can pick up a quality goalie in FA, they will have JVR, Parenteau, Kadri, Komarov, Greening…Mathews, I guess: Lupul could contribute if not hurt! Marlies? Hayman, Brown, Shoshnikov, Nylander? Possible two or three d-men? I don’t like to predict good things with such rookie-laden line-up but when I look at Boston, NYI, and other teams, I think Leafs might be better than you expect next year…..and I urge them to forget about Stamkos and look for a number one d-man! What they currently lack in any line-up is sandpaper!! Maybe Carrick and Komarov supply a bit of that but they need a presence that puts a little intimidation in others..Weber???
What line-up among the final 4 puts “intimidation in others?” Not one you can point to. At least not from a physical standpoint. Each has its own “intimidation” through skill on D and among certain F. The old “beat ’em in the alley” mentality is as dead as skinny goalie pads.
Pretty much agree with that. Intimidation is indeed way down. St Louis still comes out hitting, Hitchcock demands it. It will put some teams on their heals or have them moving pucks before they are ready; just not SJ or any of the other top teams remaining. Size and physical still matter, but more in terms of gaining and keeping possession. As long as you can skate at the NHL level.
I hear the skinny pads are on the way back!
LOL. But not as skinny as those Dryden used to wear.
Parenteau is currently unsigned & a UFA.
MAF to Van. for the 5th overall pick plus D-man Nikita Tryamkin!!!
LET’S DO IT!!
LET’S GO PEN’S!!!
Dreaming
To an earlier post…
Difference between Calgary & Toronto?
Talent
Reason a goalie would go to Calgary?
Legitimate playoff contender.
Bernier can hold the net this year but the Leafs need to identify their goalie of the future now because it will take at least a year to develop if he is already a pro, or two or three if he is just coming out of junior. I believe the Leafs defense are already in the system but not necessarily in the NHL? Reilly, Carrick, Zhaitsev, and Gardner will be joined by two or three of; Dermott, Valiev, Marincin, Desrochers, Neilsen, and/or Harrington.
Centre will be adequate with or without Stamkos but now the need up front is some skill with size. A couple guys like Lindberg or Lievo might be able to provide that while Gauthier will be the shut down guy? Holland could be in the mix if he competed harder.
How about moving Krug and something else for Shattenkirk then signing Yandle.
Krug is restricted and will be a tough signing,he was last time must have a good agent.
Krug and a first and a prospect
That would never happen unless STL knew that they could sign him. Even then, I don’t see the cap hit between Shattenkirk & Krug being TOO far off from one another. Shattenkirk maybe $1M more than what Krug will get
And you do realize that in their next deals that Yandle and Shattenkirk could be getting any where from $6.5 million to $7 million long term on their next deals how in the world can Boston afford both Yandle and Shattenkirk and besides why would St Louis want Krug who could command similar money to Shattenkirk in a few years. Parayko is replacing Shattenkirk St Louis would have no need for Krug.