2014 CBJ Offseason Thread

[EspenK]

Some of the anecdotes I'm hearing about Moulson's work in Buffalo and Minnesota w/r/t keeping up with the play sound really damning, and his numbers seem to reflect that a tad. Nothing definite, to be sure, but it's made me a little more cautious about the guy.

Vanek would be awesome, but he's in high demand with, like, damn near everybody. Would try but not count on.


Oh, and here's a twisted thought - let's say the Rangers actually do go so far as to buy out Nash (I'm not holding my breath, but it's starting to get brought up in mainstream media now). If such a crazy improbable thing happens, and If he's willing to take a $9-12m two-year "prove you don't suck that bad" contract, would folks consider taking him back?

Interesting question. I think the answer is no because I think he doesn't fit the kind of team JK is trying to build. Too soft; tries to do too much on his own. Now Marian Gaborik on the other hand...

 

[HattanJacket85]

We need help offensively. Can't go 15-16 minutes in a game without a shot. Yes, we have Horton back and healthy next year but he's not the type of player who can carry a club. Would love to add a 1st line RW to help Johansen out.

 

[pete goegan]

Oh, and here's a twisted thought - let's say the Rangers actually do go so far as to buy out Nash (I'm not holding my breath, but it's starting to get brought up in mainstream media now). If such a crazy improbable thing happens, and If he's willing to take a $9-12m two-year "prove you don't suck that bad" contract, would folks consider taking him back?

Yes.

 

[Kev22]

Some of the anecdotes I'm hearing about Moulson's work in Buffalo and Minnesota w/r/t keeping up with the play sound really damning, and his numbers seem to reflect that a tad. Nothing definite, to be sure, but it's made me a little more cautious about the guy.

Vanek would be awesome, but he's in high demand with, like, damn near everybody. Would try but not count on.


Oh, and here's a twisted thought - let's say the Rangers actually do go so far as to buy out Nash (I'm not holding my breath, but it's starting to get brought up in mainstream media now). If such a crazy improbable thing happens, and If he's willing to take a $9-12m two-year "prove you don't suck that bad" contract, would folks consider taking him back?

I think the divorce is final.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Yes.

Me too but I'd guess Kev's take is probably accurate.

I think the divorce is final.

 

[Kev22]

We need help offensively. Can't go 15-16 minutes in a game without a shot. Yes, we have Horton back and healthy next year but he's not the type of player who can carry a club. Would love to add a 1st line RW to help Johansen out.

Horton is a #1 right wing. The help is needed on the other side. Get a legit #1 scoring left winger that fits into the identity to play with Johansen and Horton.

 

[pete goegan]

Me too but I'd guess Kev's take is probably accurate.

Most likely, but remarriages are not unheard of. A player like Nash would certainly look good next to Johansen and, since I've always been a fan, I wouldn't mind if that was Rick, himself. The possibility is extremely slim and there are many who would be wildly opposed, but I find the idea attractive.

 

[Kev22]

Had Nash not turned heel on his first time back here, I would venture that most of the fanbase would forgive and forget and welcome him back with open arms. But with how vociferously the fans turned on him after those incidents, I don't think Nash will ever be in Union Blue again.

Pete: I might be open to having Nash back, but after watching him in the playoffs, I'm not sure he fits the identity of this team anymore. He was really brutal last night. The play that he turned over the puck for the short handed goal was really cringe worthy. The New York fans are on Nash like white on rice. He's being booed every time he touches the puck.

 

[Fro]

Had Nash not turned heel on his first time back here, I would venture that most of the fanbase would forgive and forget and welcome him back with open arms. But with how vociferously the fans turned on him after those incidents, I don't think Nash will ever be in Union Blue again.

Pete: I might be open to having Nash back, but after watching him in the playoffs, I'm not sure he fits the identity of this team anymore. He was really brutal last night. The play that he turned over the puck for the short handed goal was really cringe worthy. The New York fans are on Nash like white on rice. He's being booed every time he touches the puck.

all of this

 

[pete goegan]

Here's Porty on the return for Gaborik (from Puckrakers):

"The return for Gaborik was a conditional second-round pick and a conditional third-round pick.

The “condition†of the third-round pick is already settled. This one's easy. The Kings were to send the pick to Columbus if they resigned Gaborik this summer or if they advanced to the second round of the playoffs, which has already happened. They may also re-sign Gaborik, who leads the NHL this post-season with six goals.

The Kings lead Anaheim 2-0 in the Western Conference semifinals heading into tonight’s Game 3 in Staples Center.

Now for the second-round pick. It requires some tracking.

On June 24, 2013, the Kings traded goaltender Jonathan Bernier to Toronto in exchange for forward Matt Frattin, goaltender Ben Scrivens and a conditional second-round pick. The condition gave Toronto the option to decide if it would surrender its second-round pick to the Kings in 2014 or 2015.

On Nov. 13, the Maple Leafs traded that second-round pick – really, they traded the option to use it this summer or next – to Anaheim in a trade for forwards Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz.

So, when the Blue Jackets traded Gaborik to Los Angeles on March 5, the Jackets acquired a second-round pick from the Kings with a condition that neither the Blue Jackets nor the Kings controlled.

Still with us?

The Ducks will decide if they want this year’s second-round pick – No. 38 overall – or next year’s, and the Blue Jackets will get the one they don’t want.

Conventional wisdom across the NHL is that next year’s draft is deeper, so the Blue Jackets expect the Ducks to give them this year’s second round pick. One might guess the Blue Jackets will be fine with that, as next year's pick -- though in a deeper draft -- could be significantly later in the second round. The No. 38 overall pick is a really good pick in any draft.

Anaheim must notify the the Blue Jackets before the start of this year’s draft on June 27 in Wells Fargo Center."

http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com/content/blogs/puck-rakers/2014/05/ok-try-to-follow-along.html

 

[EspenK]

Horton is a #1 right wing. The help is needed on the other side. Get a legit #1 scoring left winger that fits into the identity to play with Johansen and Horton.

I think we have a gaping hole on the RW be it second or first line-take your pick. That's why Iginla is my top choice for a UFA signing.

I also agree about the LW so Vanek is a prime choice there. Either one would help.

I think Jenner/Foligno is more serviceable than Horton/Who? (couldn't resist)

 

[cslebn]

Despite cslebn's calling me out on a silly trade proposal for defense that hopped into my head I'm kind of inclined to agree. I do like the blueline we have and I think we can go far with it.

In case anybody's curious on what manner of madness infected me this morning and drove me to post this afternoon, here's the relevant thread. My apologies in advance to anyone following that link.

Not calling you out, just using you as an example (though Shea Weber would be ______ awesome to a degree that is slightly indescribable). I could link my discussions with Sens fans about the price of Cowen if you want an alternative.

--------

I'm just getting more depressed the more I look at the UFA list. If anything happens, it will be via trade. IF

 

[Samkow]

Biggest moves we make this summer are a new contract for Johansen and extensions for Dubinsky/Foligno.

 

[IHeartZherdev*]

Nash is a bum.

Now that we have real players on the team and see what real effort and commitment is like, the last thing I'd ever want is that toolbox back on the team.

Nash is irrelevant playing for the one of the biggest teams in the biggest markets in the NHL - he's not even worth a second thought.

 

[Samkow]

Oh, and here's a twisted thought - let's say the Rangers actually do go so far as to buy out Nash (I'm not holding my breath, but it's starting to get brought up in mainstream media now). If such a crazy improbable thing happens, and If he's willing to take a $9-12m two-year "prove you don't suck that bad" contract, would folks consider taking him back?

I think the team and the fans genuinely hate Rick Nash. He's not coming back.

 

[DarkandStormy]

Isn't it nice to be in the top 14 in the league (maybe it's even top 13, I forget) in GPG and be complaining about scoring & offensive woes?

 

[major major]

I think the team and the fans genuinely hate Rick Nash. He's not coming back.

I'd take him back for $5m two years. Its whether Jarmo thinks it makes us a better team, and the fans and players would come around if Nash wanted to be here.

 

[stevo61]

I'd take him back for $5m two years. Its whether Jarmo thinks it makes us a better team, and the fans and players would come around if Nash wanted to be here.

Not that I'm 100% in the yeah I'd love to bring him back but he'd be in more of a position to succeed this time. He and everyone else would know it's not his team anymore so no more free passes

 

[Crede777]

I would be open to taking Nash back if a few conditions are met:

1. The team temporarily forgets his history with the Jackets when considering acquiring him. The choice should be entirely objective - do JK, JD, and Richards think he would be a fit? Compare him to the other options and don't do him any favors.

2. We have the leadership core solidified and Nash is not part of it. Make it clear that the team is lead by Johnson, Dubinsky, etc. Have Nash be completely held accountable to them, not the other way around.

3. We can get him at some sort of discount, say $4.5 - $5.5 per year.

Nash is what he is, a 30 goal scorer who brings little else to the table. A choice about acquiring him should not be made based on emotion (we love him or hate him) but based on what the front office legitimately thinks would be for the good of the team.

 

[major major]

Not that I'm 100% in the yeah I'd love to bring him back but he'd be in more of a position to succeed this time. He and everyone else would know it's not his team anymore so no more free passes

He wouldn't be a part of the leadership group, and he wouldn't be supposed to be our best player.

 

[stevo61]

He wouldn't be a part of the leadership group, and he wouldn't be supposed to be our best player.

That would be the potential upside aswell. He wouldn't be expected to be the best player but he would have the potential to be. We and the Rangers have both been teased by it before but if it were to happen again the team would no longer be dependent on him

 

[Viqsi]

I would be open to taking Nash back if a few conditions are met:

1. The team temporarily forgets his history with the Jackets when considering acquiring him. The choice should be entirely objective - do JK, JD, and Richards think he would be a fit? Compare him to the other options and don't do him any favors.

2. We have the leadership core solidified and Nash is not part of it. Make it clear that the team is lead by Johnson, Dubinsky, etc. Have Nash be completely held accountable to them, not the other way around.

3. We can get him at some sort of discount, say $4.5 - $5.5 per year.

Nash is what he is, a 30 goal scorer who brings little else to the table. A choice about acquiring him should not be made based on emotion (we love him or hate him) but based on what the front office legitimately thinks would be for the good of the team.

That's more or less where I am on the question as well, and why I think it could potentially be a successful move, assuming all those conditions are met. Think of him as sorta like a Foligno with less leadership cachet and/or drive but a better scoring touch. Would that not be useful?

Bit of a silly fantasyland idea, but, hey. We've discussed crazier scenarios.

 

[CBJSlash]

Don't let old times sway you. Nash is a different player post-concussion.

He has a below average shot, no one-time ability, a continued inability to use his linemates to create space, a propensity to turn the puck over by trying too many moves.

These are things I assumed would be different with more skilled linemates, but they continue to be an issue.

He's a dangler, but his hands will be the first thing to go and he doesn't use his body, have a great shot or have wheels to make up to make up for it.

Nash needs to reinvent himself like many goal scorers of the past, but I'm afraid his toolbox is too limited and his hockey IQ won't allow him to make that smooth transition. I'd take Gaborik over Nash in a second because Gaborik's shot will continue to be useful well into his 30s even though his other skills are diminishing. If Nash realized his skills were fading and he began to be more physical then I'd bump Nash up, but I have no reason to believe that would happen.

Foligno is better than Nash at this point. Foligno also doesn't have to burden of think that he's expected to play like 23 year old Rick Nash.

I'm a Nash fan.

 

[IHeartZherdev*]

Seriously - move on people.

The team has only gotten better since he left, not just on the ice, but in the room and off the ice as well.

It's kind of sad seeing these comments about people wanting to bring him back, especially as he is now entering his 30's and coming off multiple concussions and his worst seasons ever...ugh. good riddance

 

[stevo61]

Don't let old times sway you. Nash is a different player post-concussion.

He has a below average shot, no one-time ability, a continued inability to use his linemates to create space, a propensity to turn the puck over by trying too many moves.

These are things I assumed would be different with more skilled linemates, but they continue to be an issue.

He's a dangler, but his hands will be the first thing to go and he doesn't use his body, have a great shot or have wheels to make up to make up for it.

Nash needs to reinvent himself like many goal scorers of the past, but I'm afraid his toolbox is too limited and his hockey IQ won't allow him to make that smooth transition. I'd take Gaborik over Nash in a second because Gaborik's shot will continue to be useful well into his 30s even though his other skills are diminishing. If Nash realized his skills were fading and he began to be more physical then I'd bump Nash up, but I have no reason to believe that would happen.

Foligno is better than Nash at this point. Foligno also doesn't have to burden of think that he's expected to play like 23 year old Rick Nash.

I'm a Nash fan.

And this line of thought is Gaborik is doing good for someone else therefor he would do it for us. Nash was still on pace for 33 goals regardless of how he played. This scenario is based around the Rangers buying him out so we would just sign him so we would have to lose someone like Comeau? Maybe Umberger for salary purposes? I think we would still come out ahead.