2014 CBJ Offseason Thread II (All proposals, "blog" rumors, speculation in here)

[EspenK]

My hope is we add one more forward, preferably a guy that can score.

I was playing around with the cap going forward and we have the room to add a 6 or 7 mill a year guy now. In a few years it will get a bit tight but if the team is winning and going deep into the playoffs I think the bottom line will actually improve. But it will have to take some tough negotiating of RFA contracts, a couple of trades for lesser salaries and maybe the dreaded buyout or two for the last year or two of some of these long term contracts.

 

[CapnCornelius]

Which forward would you trade?

Whichever is the best deal. You know this much--it won't be Johansen, Jenner, Dubinsky, Horton or Hartnell. I wouldn't be shocked to see Atkinson or Anisimov moved at some point. If they still want to move Jenner to center, then Anisimov might be the odd man out. To be honest, he struggled at times and it isn't clear if his style of play meshes with what Jarmo wants this team to be.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Evander Kane does nothing for me - more sizzle than steak. I don't see him as that much of an upgrade over Atkinson or 'future' Rychel to make it worth doing from either a hockey or business perspective.

I admit I overvalue some of these young guys (Atkinson), but frankly, I don't understand moves like this - it seems lateral at best, a rip-off at worst. I tend to think we ought to see how some of these guys on RFA or entry-level deals work out before I'd trade for someone who *might* be marginally better.

Conversely, my guess is you'd be loathe to move E Kane for Atkinson + if you were on the other side. Kane is a couple years younger then Cam, albeit not on the same type of contract, and one of those "let's see you these guys pan out" sort of guy.

 

[CapnCornelius]

My hope is we add one more forward, preferably a guy that can score.

I was playing around with the cap going forward and we have the room to add a 6 or 7 mill a year guy now. In a few years it will get a bit tight but if the team is winning and going deep into the playoffs I think the bottom line will actually improve. But it will have to take some tough negotiating of RFA contracts, a couple of trades for lesser salaries and maybe the dreaded buyout or two for the last year or two of some of these long term contracts.

I'm not that concerned about the cap going forward. The Canadian TV deal kicks in next year. Which means another $5 million or more bump in the cap next off-season. With that being the case, you don't want to be at the cap floor, which the team could be close to even after re-signing Johansen. If you are at or near the floor, you could be forced to sign a guy just to get above it next year in free agency, and I'd much rather get a guy this year before further inflation of player contracts as a result of the bump in the cap next year.

 

[NotWendell]

Whichever is the best deal. You know this much--it won't be Johansen, Jenner, Dubinsky, Horton or Hartnell. I wouldn't be shocked to see Atkinson or Anisimov moved at some point. If they still want to move Jenner to center, then Anisimov might be the odd man out. To be honest, he struggled at times and it isn't clear if his style of play meshes with what Jarmo wants this team to be.

I think you might be right about Anisimov.

 

[Kev22]

I'm going to throw this idea out there. How about moving Anisimov to the wing and go after Stastny. Adrian Dater from the Denver Post tweeted that he believes that Stastny will go to the market on 7/1. You still keep your center depth and add speed and skill to the lineup. I've long thought that Callahan would be the best fit here, still do, but I've warmed to the idea of Stastny here. I'm not sure how the lines would look, but this would be my educated guess.

Jenner-Johansen-Horton
Hartnell-Stastny-Anisimov
Foligno-Dubinsky-Atkinson
Calvert-MacKenzie-Letestu
Skille
Boll

 

[Fro]

I think Vrbata is that guy...RW can play up and down the lineup...could be a cheap pickup...and maybe look at a Clayton Stoner for defensive depth and call it a FA period

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Wouldn't be so sure on Callahan hitting the market

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2014/06/23/callahan-lightning-contract-talks-in-critical-stage/

“It’s at a critical stage where we have to find a way to close the gap,” Bartlett said.

Bartlett added that the door between the two sides won’t be closed and that even if talks go past July 1 the Lightning will have a shot at re-signing the 29-year-old forward.

 

[major major]

I think you might be right about Anisimov.

Anisimov doesn't "struggle" though. His scoring is streaky, but his overall game never gets bad.

 

[FreeBoomer61]

I think something we should be looking out for is a trade with the Sharks. They are going to be starting a rebuild/retool/whatever you want to call it and will be shipping some players who are older out. I think Pavelski would be a great target to go after for the right price.

 

[Kev22]

I think Vrbata is that guy...RW can play up and down the lineup...could be a cheap pickup...and maybe look at a Clayton Stoner for defensive depth and call it a FA period

I like Vrbata, but didn't he pull some BS during free agency before. Signed with Tampa Bay and then left after like 20 games and ended up back in Phoenix. That would give me reason for pause if I were a GM. After today, again I don't have any idea what Jarmo and JD are up to, but I like it and I'm all in.

 

[Cowumbus]

I'm going to throw this idea out there. How about moving Anisimov to the wing and go after Stastny. Adrian Dater from the Denver Post tweeted that he believes that Stastny will go to the market on 7/1. You still keep your center depth and add speed and skill to the lineup. I've long thought that Callahan would be the best fit here, still do, but I've warmed to the idea of Stastny here. I'm not sure how the lines would look, but this would be my educated guess.

Jenner-Johansen-Horton
Hartnell-Stastny-Anisimov
Foligno-Dubinsky-Atkinson
Calvert-MacKenzie-Letestu
Skille
Boll

I like this a lot just don't know if we can get paul

 

[blahblah]

I'm not that concerned about the cap going forward. The Canadian TV deal kicks in next year. Which means another $5 million or more bump in the cap next off-season. With that being the case, you don't want to be at the cap floor, which the team could be close to even after re-signing Johansen. If you are at or near the floor, you could be forced to sign a guy just to get above it next year in free agency, and I'd much rather get a guy this year before further inflation of player contracts as a result of the bump in the cap next year.

We aren't going to be close to the cap floor. Don't know where you are coming up with that. There's like a 20 million difference between the cap and the floor, the cap would have to be north of 80 million for us to be "close" to the floor.

 

[punk_o_holic]

I'm going to throw this idea out there. How about moving Anisimov to the wing and go after Stastny. Adrian Dater from the Denver Post tweeted that he believes that Stastny will go to the market on 7/1. You still keep your center depth and add speed and skill to the lineup. I've long thought that Callahan would be the best fit here, still do, but I've warmed to the idea of Stastny here. I'm not sure how the lines would look, but this would be my educated guess.

Jenner-Johansen-Horton
Hartnell-Stastny-Anisimov
Foligno-Dubinsky-Atkinson
Calvert-MacKenzie-Letestu
Skille
Boll

1)Prior to the Olympics, was Columbus scouting Colorado often? I know they were scouting the Rangers but I want to say they were scouting the Av's as well. I think even Jarmo and/or Davidson(or maybe the assistant GM) was at a Av's game. I wonder if they were scouting O'Reilly or Statsny. Then again, it could have been nothing. If it's Statsny, could get interesting. People will be quick to say that the Blues(one team that people mentioned to having interest in Statsny) are closer to winning a Cup over the Blue Jackets but if your Statsny, which team looks better? Blues defense is better but the Blue Jackets defense isn't to bad either. Forwards group is close, might give a slight edge to us. Then which goaltending gives you a better chance to win? Bob/Mcelhinney vs Elliot/Allen. Also, it might be an easier path to the Cup finals from the East versus the West.

As for the Av's, both in a similar situation as the Blue Jackets. Young and up and coming team but if we offer him a better contract then I'm sure he is willing to jump ship and join us.

2)Even if Skille isn't brought back, with Boll being the 13th man and with Wennberg/Hjarmarsson in the mix, do we expect Columbus not to qualify Tropp and Frattin and allowing them to become UFA's?

 

[EspenK]

2)Even if Skille isn't brought back, with Boll being the 13th man and with Wennberg/Hjarmarsson in the mix, do we expect Columbus not to qualify Tropp and Frattin and allowing them to become UFA's?

Frattin is as good as gone imo and Tropp could very well be too. Especially if we decide to keep 8 D-men then we can only keep 13 forwards. Maybe Tropp if signs a 2-way.

 

[alphafox]

Honestly I think offer sheeting ROR is a more likely scenario than going after Stastny. RO'R fits the roster, and I could easily see an offer sheet at the top of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd bracket (i.e. 6.5 million). I would be plenty happy to pay those draft picks in this years draft in exchange for RO'R.

Regardless I think the major move this off-season (if there even is one) will be a trade not in FA. The current roster is up and down higher quality than most of the FA market, and with a new crop of draft picks (particularly Wennberg, Rychel, and Dano) pushing for spots I don't see much need to add Depth to the forward corp. Likewise with Savard, Prout, and Erixon replacing Nikitin and schultz our blue-line depth is still very solid.

So with without the need for depth moves I expect if anything happens it will be a play for a top line winger, top pairing D-man, or to move up in the draft.

 

[FreeBoomer61]

Honestly I think offer sheeting ROR is a more likely scenario than going after Stastny. RO'R fits the roster, and I could easily see an offer sheet at the top of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd bracket (i.e. 6.5 million). I would be plenty happy to pay those draft picks in this years draft in exchange for RO'R.

Regardless I think the major move this off-season (if there even is one) will be a trade not in FA. The current roster is up and down higher quality than most of the FA market, and with a new crop of draft picks (particularly Wennberg, Rychel, and Dano) pushing for spots I don't see much need to add Depth to the forward corp. Likewise with Savard, Prout, and Erixon replacing Nikitin and schultz our blue-line depth is still very solid.

So with without the need for depth moves I expect if anything happens it will be a play for a top line winger, top pairing D-man, or to move up in the draft.

Exactly how I feel

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Quick-hit stuff based on ideas from this page:

Stastny or Pavelski would be good gets. I don't know that Pavs can be had for "the right price".

Vrbata meh.

Hope Callahan stays in TB.

I'm in favor of a depth d-man.

Offer both Frattin and Tropp two-way deals and figure that one will probably try his hand elsewhere. But live with both or neither.

 

[blahblah]

I'm thinking we're basically done on the FA side. I doubt we'll make a play for Stastny.

 

[fox2usp]

Quick-hit stuff based on ideas from this page:

Stastny or Pavelski would be good gets. I don't know that Pavs can be had for "the right price".

Vrbata meh.

Hope Callahan stays in TB.

I'm in favor of a depth d-man.

Offer both Frattin and Tropp two-way deals and figure that one will probably try his hand elsewhere. But live with both or neither.

We have a winner.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

Not interested in Callahan if the rumored cost is true.

I'm also in the "expecting a trade, not a UFA" camp.

 

[DarkandStormy]

Quick-hit stuff based on ideas from this page:

Stastny or Pavelski would be good gets. I don't know that Pavs can be had for "the right price".

Vrbata meh.

Hope Callahan stays in TB.

I'm in favor of a depth d-man.

Offer both Frattin and Tropp two-way deals and figure that one will probably try his hand elsewhere. But live with both or neither.

Jenner-Johansen-Horton
Hartnell-Dubisnky-Foligno
Calvert-Anisimov-Atkinson
Mackenzie-Letestu-Skille/Blol

How much depth do you need, considering Wennberg/Rychel/Hjalmarsson may compete for spots? Or at the very least, be ready for call-ups? You think Frattin/Tropp are interested in 2 way deals to be F #14/15?

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Jenner-Johansen-Horton
Hartnell-Dubisnky-Foligno
Calvert-Anisimov-Atkinson
Mackenzie-Letestu-Skille/Blol

How much depth do you need, considering Wennberg/Rychel/Hjalmarsson may compete for spots? Or at the very least, be ready for call-ups? You think Frattin/Tropp are interested in 2 way deals to be F #14/15?

Well, considering Wennberg/Rychel/Hjalmarsson may compete for spots and prove themselves not ready, I'd answer your question with "however-much depth I can get".

I answer this presuming you read all the way to the end of my post where I said I'm good if neither accepts a two-way, and that I don't need to reiterate this point. I answer this presuming you also read the post I was replying to, which specifically cached the Frattin/Tropp question by saying "even if Skille isn't brought back", an therefore purposefully ignores the inclusion of Skille in your lineup.

 

[Samkow]

I'd bring back Tropp. Pretty good 13th forward and fit well on the 4th line last year.

 

[CBJRzeznik]

My hope is we add one more forward, preferably a guy that can score.

I was playing around with the cap going forward and we have the room to add a 6 or 7 mill a year guy now. In a few years it will get a bit tight but if the team is winning and going deep into the playoffs I think the bottom line will actually improve. But it will have to take some tough negotiating of RFA contracts, a couple of trades for lesser salaries and maybe the dreaded buyout or two for the last year or two of some of these long term contracts.

Along these lines of EspenK's thought...does anyone think we will add another impact forward: Interested in hearing other CBJ fans thoughts on the following:

Callahan
ROR
Statsny
Kesler (I know this is the: now Umby's gone so maybe he waives BS - highly unlikely but there is some buzz)
L. Erikson
Eberle

I'm sure there are others just names off the top of my head