Speculation: 2013 Offseason Thread Part III: Free Agents Suck

[Blue Blooded]

One has to assume, they HAVE to move them now, no?

Can Horcoff be moved with that contract? $5.5M for two more years.

Only $7M total in actual dollars though, maybe Phoenix is interested?

Otherwise it'll have to be an amnesty buyout.

E: Forgot about "keeping X% of the contract" addition to the CBA...

 

[Trxjw]

hmm..

MDZ for MPS+#7?

Would make some sense. There's potential in both assets coming back. NHL ready body in MPS and perhaps another if we go for Nichushkin or Ristolainen. I think Lindholm and Monahan could step in sooner rather than later, but I don't see clear #1C upside in either of them. Nichushkin could be a 35+ goal scorer in this league.

Not sure if that assessment is entirely accurate:

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/52206-NHL-draft-pick-juggling.html:

That THN article is citing a NHL.com article from a week ago. It's been heavily speculated that MacT wants to get better immediately.

 

[Inferno]

Initial-wise it seems fair.

the single worst decision ever was to elect you funniest poster....

 

[Green Blob*]

The Rangers should be all over that

Agreed, but who do we give up? They aren't looking for defense are they? Could MDZ get it done?

Obviously we need to give to get so a bunch of 3/4th liners isnt going to cut it.

edit - guess I should keep reading before posting since everyone also proposed that

 

[Thirty One]

the single worst decision ever was to elect you funniest poster....

You should have known from my campaign that I was going to be obnoxious.

Show some respect for democracy, though.

 

[Green Blob*]

Really think its time we move a dman this offseason. I don't care who(Except McD or Moore) but getting Moore it really opens the door.

Get a good return and sign a top 4 dman via the market.

 

[Chief]

Pitt would ask for Stepan + McDonagh +

Willing to give that up?

Cost controlled, very good players.

I'd pull the trigger. Forwards of that top, elite level don't seem to make it to free agency - and maybe Malkin won't either - so if there's a shot to get one of them, I say do it. Especially since you'd be getting one at age 27 when next season starts.

 

[Inferno]

You should have known from my campaign that I was going to be obnoxious.

Show some respect for democracy, though.

I didn't vote for you


to be fair, I didn't vote for anyone.

 

[Thirty One]

Really think its time we move a dman this offseason. I don't care who but with Moore it really opens the door.

Get a good return and sign a top 4 dman via the market.

Only defenseman I'd be interested in is Streit, and I'm worried he's going to be priced out of my range.

 

[Inferno]

I'd pull the trigger. Forwards of that top, elite level don't seem to make it to free agency - and maybe Malkin won't either - so if there's a shot to get one of them, I say do it. Especially since you'd be getting one at age 27 when next season starts.

we're just talking about winning through depth, and we're going to trade a #1 defenseman and a potential #1 center for a #1 (albeit elite) center?

Nah, it's time to be smarter.

work the process.

 

[Thirty One]

I didn't vote for you


to be fair, I didn't vote for anyone.

It's like you're spitting in Diddy's face.

 

[KreidertheGlider]

The more I think about it, the more I like a potential MacArthur signing. We could cement our identity as a speedy, tenacious, possession team, like the 2005-2007 Sabres with three scoring lines as Ola so eloquently described in the coach hiring thread.

Give him 2 years at 2.5-3M/year.

Hagelin-Stepan-Nash
Kreider-Brassard-Zuccarello
MacArthur-Lindberg/Miller-Callahan
Pyatt/Powe-Boyle-Dorsett

Three lines that can score, a lot of fast, feisty players. The 2nd line may lack a legit forechecker, but Kreider could (should) be able to become a good one with his size and skating. Zucc has a great intesity to his game, but he might be a tad too small to be the prime FC threat on a line. Otherwise switch Kreider and McA.

No more big, lumbering, "good along the boards" players that are too slow to actually enter any battles along the boards.

McD-G
Staal-Strålman
Moore-MDZ

At least one good PMD per pairing.

I'm definitely not advocating hiring Ruff, but I wouldn't mind trying to emulate those Sabres teams regardless of the chosen coach.

I would ditch Pyatt and replace him with Nystrom.

And I would prefer to have Stralman on the 3rd pairing and sign a good 2nd pairing dman (don't know who that would be)

 

[NYR Viper]

Can Horcoff be moved with that contract? $5.5M for two more years.

Only $7M total in actual dollars though, maybe Phoenix is interested?

Otherwise it'll have to be an amnesty buyout.

E: Forgot about "keeping X% of the contract" addition to the CBA...

My guess is he is gone one way or another after that comment.

Would make some sense. There's potential in both assets coming back. NHL ready body in MPS and perhaps another if we go for Nichushkin or Ristolainen. I think Lindholm and Monahan could step in sooner rather than later, but I don't see clear #1C upside in either of them. Nichushkin could be a 35+ goal scorer in this league.



That THN article is citing a NHL.com article from a week ago. It's been heavily speculated that MacT wants to get better immediately.

Makes a lot of sense to me. Similar to the Burmistrov + WPG 1st deal.

I'd pull the trigger. Forwards of that top, elite level don't seem to make it to free agency - and maybe Malkin won't either - so if there's a shot to get one of them, I say do it. Especially since you'd be getting one at age 27 when next season starts.

I would too.

Only defenseman I'd be interested in is Streit, and I'm worried he's going to be priced out of my range.

Scuderi. He would fit in well playing with Moore as a defensive d-man allowing him to roam a bit.

 

[Chief]

FWIW - The trade board has a thread about MacT looking to move Horcoff and Hemsky.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1442587

 

[NYR Viper]

I would ditch Pyatt and replace him with Nystrom.

And I would prefer to have Stralman on the 3rd pairing and sign a good 2nd pairing dman (don't know who that would be)

There aren't any "good" 2nd pairing guys available. I like Streit, but he will be overpaid apparently.

 

[Blue Blooded]

I would ditch Pyatt and replace him with Nystrom.

And I would prefer to have Stralman on the 3rd pairing and sign a good 2nd pairing dman (don't know who that would be)

I'd actually like to give Benn Ferriero another shot on our 4th line, but he is a RW, and he won't play over Dorsett.

I think we're stuck with Pyatt's $1.55M contract so we might as well play him. Definition of a plug though, does nothing well but I guess he doesn't hurt us in any way either when he's out there.

Not a fan of Nyström, overrated due to his size, draft position, and bloodlines.

Strålman is a very fine #4 IMO and has had better games than Girardi with an alarmingly increasing frequency.

 

[NYR Viper]

I'd actually like to give Benn Ferriero another shot on our 4th line, but he is a RW, and he won't play over Dorsett.

I think we're stuck with Pyatt's $1.55M contract so we might as well play him. Definition of a plug though, does nothing well but I guess he doesn't hurt us in any way either when he's out there.

Not a fan of Nyström, overrated due to his size, draft position, and bloodlines.

Strålman is a very fine #4 IMO and has had better games than Girardi with an alarmingly increasing frequency.

Size? He is 6'1.

He is a very good PKer and a good skater. He forechecks effectively and can play LW or Center. Good for 8~12 goals a year

 

[Green Blob*]

Only defenseman I'd be interested in is Streit, and I'm worried he's going to be priced out of my range.

Was definitely thinking of him too. We have such a need for a PP QB but like you said he will command a lot and likely a lot of years, dont really want to be tied down to that contract.

 

[Green Blob*]

FWIW - The trade board has a thread about MacT looking to move Horcoff and Hemsky.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1442587

Do not want either. Hemsky will go for more then he's worth.

 

[Chief]

Hagelin-Stepan-Nash
Kreider-Brassard-Zuccarello
MacArthur-Lindberg/Miller-Callahan
Pyatt/Powe-Boyle-Dorsett

This lineup could leave Nash wondering why he ever left Columbus. There is a lot of "hoping" that players progress or carry on the production level they had in a short sample size.

 

[Blue Blooded]

Size? He is 6'1.

He is a very good PKer and a good skater. He forechecks effectively and can play LW or Center. Good for 8~12 goals a year

Really? I thought he was bigger, why would he otherwise have gone 10th overall?

Anyway, he has had terrible possession numbers his entire career and his 10+ goal seasons have been blips in shooting percentage. He averages around 1 SOG/game, I'd say 8 goals is the max you can expect from him.

 

[*Bob Richards*]

I love the guy, but having Zuccarello in our top 6 shows more in how shallow our depth is rather than his actual talent IMO.

But if he can prove me wrong next year, I'm all for it.

 

[Trxjw]

Do not want either. Hemsky will go for more then he's worth.

Doubt it. I think most teams realize what he is at this point. Unless Edmonton eats a lot of his contract, I don't think he'll get much in return. Mid round pick and a decent prospect perhaps.

 

[NYR Viper]

Really? I thought he was bigger, why would he otherwise have gone 10th overall?

Anyway, he has had terrible possession numbers his entire career and his 10+ goal seasons have been blips in shooting percentage. He averages around 1 SOG/game, I'd say 8 goals is the max you can expect from him.

And that would be great if he can get in on the forecheck and be a great PKer from the 4th line, no?

 

[Blue Blooded]

I love the guy, but having Zuccarello in our top 6 shows more in how shallow our depth is rather than his actual talent IMO.

But if he can prove me wrong next year, I'm all for it.

Really?

He is probably the best player on our team at creating high-% scoring chances at ES, and he is a fantastic possession player. I have no doubt that he could be a 60-70pt player in the NHL, not a bad option for the 2nd line.

Honestly I'd rather give Zuccarello more ES minutes than Callahan at this point.

It is a much bigger issue that we are once again relying on Kreider being able to handle a top-6 role.