Rumor: 2022-2023 Trade Rumors and Free Agency (Mod Warning in OP)

[MacKaRtin]

Never realized how much of a shit contract the Rags signed Shesterkin to. They have 3 seasons left then they won't be able to afford him as he will be UFA and probably asking for the Price/Bobrovsky contract adjusted for inflation.

They walked him straight to UFA with a 4 year deal out of his ELC! So dumb.

Even though we tend to believe that they are "up and coming", the Rags window is pretty damn short with Panarin, Zibanejad and Kreider all pushing 30 and the Shesterkin's contract expiring in 3 years. Yikes.

Players like to stay in New York, just like they like to stay in Tampa. They'll be paying Shesterkin a lot as long as he continues to excel, but I'm assuming that a cost they won't mind paying.

 

[Balthazar]

Canucks have enough room to re-sign Horvat. Cap wise, they are actually fine as long as they don’t repeat a Myers mistake.

Yea everyone covering the Canucks seem to agree that Horvat is staying and locker room issues are a thing of the past.

 

[Mooserton]

39 days to find a second line center.

 

[myperbixhurts]

39 days to find a second line center.

More like 180 days, because technically Avs have until trade deadline to get a 2C

 

[Freaky Styley]

I think we see an Avs move soon now that both Kadri and Miller situations have been resolved.

 

[ANewHope]

Canucks have enough room to re-sign Horvat. Cap wise, they are actually fine as long as they don’t repeat a Myers mistake.

Maybe I'm missing something but the Canucks while not in an impossible spot aren't exactly in a great spot cap wise. I'm not a cap expert so I could be way off but I don't understand how the Avs are in a dire situation but you think the Canucks are fine. They have OEL signed long term at 7ish mill and he's 31. EP has 2 more years and than he's set up to get a huge payday. Miller is 29 and signed longterm at 8 and IMO is far more of a wing than a C with Vancouve long term. Horvat will probably get 6+. They have Garland/Mikheyev as wingers both locked up long term near 5 mill.

Unless I'm missing something as it stands today they are over the cap by almost 3 mill. When they get some relief from Myers they'll have to re-sign EP/Pod and will only have 2 defensemen signed 1 of which is OEL who will be on a brutal contract. So they'll need to sign 4 defensemen the same year they need to re-sign EP/Pod. Certainly manageable. I'm sure Garland will get moved and they'll get another d-men.

I feel like in the cap world no matter what every team needs to make the "right moves" to survive because everyone feels the crunch eventually. Like wouldn't swap Colorado's cap situation for the Canucks.

 

[redacted]

Maybe I'm missing something but the Canucks while not in an impossible spot aren't exactly in a great spot cap wise. I'm not a cap expert so I could be way off but I don't understand how the Avs are in a dire situation but you think the Canucks are fine. They have OEL signed long term at 7ish mill and he's 31. EP has 2 more years and than he's set up to get a huge payday. Miller is 29 and signed longterm at 8 and IMO is far more of a wing than a C with Vancouve long term. Horvat will probably get 6+. They have Garland/Mikheyev as wingers both locked up long term near 5 mill.

Unless I'm missing something as it stands today they are over the cap by almost 3 mill. When they get some relief from Myers they'll have to re-sign EP/Pod and will only have 2 defensemen signed 1 of which is OEL who will be on a brutal contract. So they'll need to sign 4 defensemen the same year they need to re-sign EP/Pod. Certainly manageable. I'm sure Garland will get moved and they'll get another d-men.

I feel like in the cap world no matter what every team needs to make the "right moves" to survive because everyone feels the crunch eventually. Like wouldn't swap Colorado's cap situation for the Canucks.

This season, Ferland’s 3.5m covers their overage. Next season, they have 14.6m to resign Horvat, Hoglander, and Dermott along with ~5 depth players for next year. Then Myers’ 6m comes off the books along with Pearson and Dickinson the season after. They can easily afford their core and some depth. Now whether that is enough to contend is a different question. Cap isn’t the issue in Vancouver.

 

[MarkT]

Helm was great at 4C in the playoffs, but he played more wing in the regular season, just as he did in his last few seasons in Detroit. Presumably that was to save his back a bit as bending over for faceoffs a thousand times is a good way to flare up back issues.

With that in mind I wonder if the plan isn't to use Meyers as the 4C to start with and let him work his way up the lineup, which would allow Helm to play more on the wing in the regular season.

That would then put Newhook and Compher as the middle 6 centers.

Landeskog - MacKinnon - Nichushkin
Lehkonen ----- Newhook -- Rantanen
xxxxxxxxx ----- Compher --- O'Connor
Cogliano -------- Meyers ----- Helm

That 3rd line would be a bit of a blender and would essentially mean that there's two 4th lines, but that wouldn't be too dissimilar to last season when the bottom 6 was pretty weak to start the year until they added NAK in waivers and then Lehkonen, Sturm, and Cogliano at the TDL.

Personally I'd give Newhook the 2C spot in preseason first and let him sink or swim. He was drafted to fill that position right now after Kadri, and whilst he hasn't done much yet to deserve that job I'd still give him first dibs and see what happens when he centers high-end wingers.

I'd also anticipate that Maltsev will get a good look at 4C in preseason too. For starters the pro scouts specifically targeted him which indicates that there's enough there for the front office to like him. He didn't do enough offensively last year at the NHL level, but he at least showed an ability to be solid defensively and was good at faceoffs which will probably give him an advantage in camp given that the roster is thin on centers.

Well said.
I wouldn't be surprised too if they actually move Cogs up to the 3rd line from time to time to help whatever kids they put there as well.

 

[ANewHope]

This season, Ferland’s 3.5m covers their overage. Next season, they have 14.6m to resign Horvat, Hoglander, and Dermott along with ~5 depth players for next year. Then Myers’ 6m comes off the books along with Pearson and Dickinson the season after. They can easily afford their core and some depth. Now whether that is enough to contend is a different question. Cap isn’t the issue in Vancouver.

I forgot about Ferland. That's a good call they'll be fine this year. Still I don't think they have a championship core and Miller is already 29 and OEL is 31 and they are signed long term. When Myers is off the books they'll need to sign 4 d-men while having to ink EP/Pod to new deals as well. Even with Pearson expiring that'll be tough with OEL. Cap situation is certainly manageable but I don't think it's a great situation to be in.

 

[PAZ]

Wish we signed Svechnikov to that contract. Think he would've found a spot on the 3rd line over Blidh, O'Connor, etc.

 

[Bone Breaker]

yeah Svech seems like a pretty good "reclamation prospect" at that price.

 

[Sea Eagles]

That was widely speculated last season, that the dressing room was divided between Horvat and his boys and Miller and his gangland cronies.

Pure speculation on my part but the Canucks signing Miller to that deal could simply be viewed by the Horvat camp as they 'chose him over me'. The good part for Horvat is that if he's not completely thrilled with his situation, he only has to wait 10 months and then he can choose where he wants to sign.

I've been beating the Horvat drum as a perfect fit for #2C for quite a long time. Does he put up 70, 80, 90 points per year? No.... but he doesn't NEED to either on this team.

MacFarland HAS to be on the phone with Allvin to try and pry him out of Vancouver. The Canucks, with their cap situation could do a lot worse than a young player like Newhook in exchange and if the Avs can get Horvat out of Vancouver and signed long-term, then having Newhook on the 3rd line is a waste as he's talented enough to be a Top-6 forward.

It's kind of interesting that just about every single UFA or RFA has signed for less (and sometimes much less) than what was speculated by fans over the past few months :

Gaudreau -> speculated $11M per -> signs for $9.75M
M.Tkachuk -> speculated $10M per -> signs for $9.5M
J.T. Miller -> speculated $9.5M per -> signs for $8M
Kadri -> speculated $8M - $9M per -> signs for $7M
Trotchek -> speculated $7M per -> signs for $5.625M
Malkin -> speculated $7M - $8M -> signs for $6.1M
Letang -> speculated $7M -> signs for $6.1M

even Kuemper which many thought would require over $6M per year since he won the cup, ended up signing for $5.25M per (which was still rightfully too rich for the Avs - so they made the right call there)

So when you look at that list and all of the speculation that was often fueled by the media - which some fans took as gospel (lol) - are we being led to believe that we have the greediest of all the NHL players with MacKinnon and that he's going to sign for $14M+ per season? I mean, I don't even care if it happens and I won't blame Nate one bit if it does but that's not the current trend that's going on in the NHL right now.

I'm still in the $11M per year for 8 years camp. It's going to be an excellent deal for the Avs and Nate will have given the team a good discount.

Well thought out post. But I WOULD counter with don't count out Newhook as our 2nd line center going forward. Here are my reasons:

1. He's just turned 21. There is so much room to develop & grow, particularly with guys like Landeskog, Lehkonen, Nichushkin and Rantanen possibly playing with him.

2. This season was his first "real" season with us, and he's scored 33 points in 71 games (or on pace for 38 points), plus 11. In my view, for a first year, that's excellent. In perspective:
- Rantanen first year 38 points in 75 games, minus 25
- Landeskog first year 52 points in 82 games, plus 20
- Lehkonen first year 28 points in 73 games, minus 1
- Nichushkin first year 34 points in 79 games, plus 20

3. Progression. While Alex scoring was pretty inconsistent to begin with (which is natural in his first season), in his last 14 games, when we were amping up for the playoffs, he scored 10 points (or on pace for 59 points)

4. Linemates. Despite me disagreeing with most, people thought our bottom 6 left a lot to be desired. Well, Newhook got the results he did regardless. Quarter one, he played most with Jost, NAK, LOC, quarter two, the same. Quarter three, NAK, LOC, JT and started getting time with Kadri / Bura, then the last quarter, Sturm, NAK, LOC and got a LITTLE more time with Kadri / Bura. This shows better line-mates, better scoring as the trends suggests. THEN consider the step up AGAIN, playing with as I said, Landy, Lehk, Nuke and Rants. That 59 point pace he had to finish the season may be shattered - and my view he could pace 60-70 points, at the age of 21.

5. Experience. If say he doesn't suffer the proverbial sophomore slump (it happens), he's just come out of a campaign including some of the most intense, stressed situation games, which ALWAYS bodes well for learning and experience. He'll have so much more confidence then going into normal season proper games where every single play isn't life or death.

Mate, in my view, Newhook has all the tools. Wheels, potential, drive, compete. He plays well now both sides of the ice. Let's not give him away so easily. The way he was trending, with "good" players tells me he could excel with AMAZING players.

Sorry for the long winded response. The kid could be anything.
PS: Quarterly line-mate stats taken from: Alex Newhook - Fantasy Hockey Game Logs, Advanced Stats and more - Frozen Tools

 

[UncleRisto]

I kind of like the players the Sharks have added. Svechnikov, Kunin, Lindblom, Kähkönen, Nutivaara, and Sturm, who I don't necessarily like, but a Sturm just belongs on San Jose. Too bad they don't have the top of the lineup anymore.

 

[LOFIN]

39 days to find a second line center.

I don't think the trade deadline is in 39 days though. If you are implying we NEED to add for the regular season, lol.

 

[Linds]

Well thought out post. But I WOULD counter with don't count out Newhook as our 2nd line center going forward. Here are my reasons:

1. He's just turned 21. There is so much room to develop & grow, particularly with guys like Landeskog, Lehkonen, Nichushkin and Rantanen possibly playing with him.

2. This season was his first "real" season with us, and he's scored 33 points in 71 games (or on pace for 38 points), plus 11. In my view, for a first year, that's excellent. In perspective:
- Rantanen first year 38 points in 75 games, minus 25
- Landeskog first year 52 points in 82 games, plus 20
- Lehkonen first year 28 points in 73 games, minus 1
- Nichushkin first year 34 points in 79 games, plus 20

3. Progression. While Alex scoring was pretty inconsistent to begin with (which is natural in his first season), in his last 14 games, when we were amping up for the playoffs, he scored 10 points (or on pace for 59 points)

4. Linemates. Despite me disagreeing with most, people thought our bottom 6 left a lot to be desired. Well, Newhook got the results he did regardless. Quarter one, he played most with Jost, NAK, LOC, quarter two, the same. Quarter three, NAK, LOC, JT and started getting time with Kadri / Bura, then the last quarter, Sturm, NAK, LOC and got a LITTLE more time with Kadri / Bura. This shows better line-mates, better scoring as the trends suggests. THEN consider the step up AGAIN, playing with as I said, Landy, Lehk, Nuke and Rants. That 59 point pace he had to finish the season may be shattered - and my view he could pace 60-70 points, at the age of 21.

5. Experience. If say he doesn't suffer the proverbial sophomore slump (it happens), he's just come out of a campaign including some of the most intense, stressed situation games, which ALWAYS bodes well for learning and experience. He'll have so much more confidence then going into normal season proper games where every single play isn't life or death.

Mate, in my view, Newhook has all the tools. Wheels, potential, drive, compete. He plays well now both sides of the ice. Let's not give him away so easily. The way he was trending, with "good" players tells me he could excel with AMAZING players.

Sorry for the long winded response. The kid could be anything.
PS: Quarterly line-mate stats taken from: Alex Newhook - Fantasy Hockey Game Logs, Advanced Stats and more - Frozen Tools

Newhook's biggest issue is that he's scared to hold onto the puck especially 5v5. He panics and tries to force the pass/play instead of letting the play come to him. Hopefully we'll see a big improvement in that aspect and he will become a much better player

 

[Avs_19]

I think a bad team where he can get decent ice time is a good fit for Svechnikov. He has the name and draft pedigree but I really don't think he's that good of a player, especially for a contender like the Avs. However, I would've signed him even for a 0.1% chance that he could convince his brother to force his way to Denver at some point.

 

[Richard88]

Just grab Liam Foudy off waivers at the start of the season and see if he sinks or swims in a 3RW job on this team.

 

[willy702]

Newhook's biggest issue is that he's scared to hold onto the puck especially 5v5. He panics and tries to force the pass/play instead of letting the play come to him. Hopefully we'll see a big improvement in that aspect and he will become a much better player

Fair point, but at his age and size those are to be fully expected. That aspect of his game really is the "step" he needs to take. The AHL is a good training ground for exactly that since you get much more time and space but he got only a short taste of it. Not sure how the Avs see his ability to play C but if he can do it capably this year and even better as he gets to his mid 20s that would be huge not giving up a diminishing pool of assets to get a guy to play 2C.

 

[UncleRisto]

Just grab Liam Foudy off waivers at the start of the season and see if he sinks or swims in a 3RW job on this team.

He's probably not good, but I've read worse ideas here this week.

 

[The Pwnerer]

Peak offseason talk but can Galchenyuk be saved? He put up respectable numbers with Toronto before being banished to Arizona. Could see a contender giving him a professional tryout and if the stars align, you have a top six player.

 

[Richard88]

Florida's roster and cap situation is quite intriguing.

Their LHD right now is a hot mess, and even with Duclair on LTIR they're still $1.2m over the cap with a 22 man roster. Not to mention $3.55m in potential bonuses.

Looking at their roster got me thinking about how a single trade could help their D and also get them cap compliant...

Something along the lines of Girard for Bennett + Hornqvist (50% / $2.65m) + Sourdif + 2nd (or other futures) would work for both sides cap wise...

With a trade like that the Avs forward depth would suddenly be really strong, and with MacDonald or Hunt taking Girard's spot on the 3rd pair the Avs would have ~$1.7m in capspace with a 22 man roster which should be enough to cover bonuses (especially since Meyers and Newhook would get pushed down the lineup by the forward additions and thus less likely to hit many bonuses).

Landeskog - MacKinnon - Nichushkin
Lehkonen ------ Bennett ---- Rantanen
Newhook ------ Compher -- Hornqvist
Cogliano -------- Meyers ---- O'Connor
Helm

Toews -- Makar
Byram -- Manson
MacDonald - EJ
MacDermid

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Peak offseason talk but can Galchenyuk be saved? He put up respectable numbers with Toronto before being banished to Arizona. Could see a contender giving him a professional tryout and if the stars align, you have a top six player.

It's father time Galchenyuk is fighting, and that dude is pretty formidable.

Florida's roster and cap situation is quite intriguing.

Their LHD right now is a hot mess, and even with Duclair on LTIR they're still $1.2m over the cap with a 22 man roster. Not to mention $3.55m in potential bonuses.

Looking at their roster got me thinking about how a single trade could help their D and also get them cap compliant...

Something along the lines of Girard for Bennett + Hornqvist (50% / $2.65m) + Sourdif + 2nd (or other futures) would work for both sides cap wise...

With a trade like that the Avs forward depth would suddenly be really strong, and with MacDonald or Hunt taking Girard's spot on the 3rd pair the Avs would have ~$1.7m in capspace with a 22 man roster which should be enough to cover bonuses (especially since Meyers and Newhook would get pushed down the lineup by the forward additions and thus less likely to hit many bonuses).

Landeskog - MacKinnon - Nichushkin
Lehkonen ------ Bennett ---- Rantanen
Newhook ------ Compher -- Hornqvist
Cogliano -------- Meyers ---- O'Connor
Helm

Toews -- Makar
Byram -- Manson
MacDonald - EJ
MacDermid

If we are looking to squeeze someone, let's get the other Sam...Reinhart instead.

 

[Richard88]

If we are looking to squeeze someone, let's get the other Sam...Reinhart instead.

That could work too, though Reinhart has only two years left to UFA which isn't ideal. He's also more of a winger though he'd probably be ok at 2C.

Girard for Reinhart would leave the Avs with ~$1.5m in capspace with a 22 man roster.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

That could work too, though Reinhart has only two years left to UFA which isn't ideal. He's also more of a winger though he'd probably be ok at 2C.

Girard for Reinhart would leave the Avs with ~$1.5m in capspace with a 22 man roster.

That's odd. Dom's got him listed as a center. I was looking at the difference in their defensive metrics (put him between Lehk and Rants, that could be nasty) as well as GSVA when I suggested the change. But, if he don't play C that might not fly.

 

[Richard88]

That's odd. Dom's got him listed as a center. I was looking at the difference in their defensive metrics (put him between Lehk and Rants, that could be nasty) as well as GSVA when I suggested the change. But, if he don't play C that might not fly.

View attachment 581634View attachment 581633

Reinhart plays RW for Florida. He played some C for Buffalo but mostly RW there too.