Tomorrow is a very critical day. To make a real impact, I believe Grier will have to overpay in FA to attract quality players. I’m fine as long as it helps to keep the term short. There’s also the trade route and waiver route, too.
Personally, I’d like to see Grier add at least three to four real players tomorrow:
- A solid top 6 vet wing to play with Macklin
- A real top 4 RD
- A PP RD specialist
- And potentially an upgrade at 3C/fail safe if there’s concern internally about Couture’s status
FAs:
(In no particular order)
-Stamkos (Highly doubtfu, still $10-12m per/2-3 years)
-Marchessault (I’m disgusted with myself for even writing this, yet here we are. $7m per/3 years)
-S. Walker ($5m per/3 years)
-Teravainen ($6m per/3 years)
-Tarasenko ($6m per/2 years)
-Henrique ($5m per/2 years)
-Barrie ($2m per/1 year)
I’d list Carrier who is a great fit but it sounds like he’s re-signing in NSH.
Waivers:
Boqvist ($2.6m/1 year)
Via trade:
(In no particular order)
-Ehlers (Could be a great trial fit on Celebrini’s wing. $6m/1 year)
-Ekblad ($7.5m/1 year)
-Kakko ($2.4m/1 year)
-Trouba ($8m per/2 years)
-JGP ($5m per/2 years)
Realistically, one of Ehlers/Marchessault/Teravainen/Tarasenko to play top 6 wing AND Henrique as a solid vet 3C that is a good fall back for Couture and/or injuries.
Then both of Walker and Boqvist to round out the D corps.
Eklund-Granlund-Zetterlund
Couture/?-Celebrini-FA/trade
Kostin-Couture/Henrique-W. Smith
Goodrow-Sturm-Kunin
Grundström-Afanasyev-Dellandrea
Walman-Walker
Ferraro-Emberson
Thrun-Boqvist
Vlasic-Benning/Rutta
Grier would hopefully move out Ferraro, one of Benning/Rutta, and maybe Kostin to clear up some of the log jam.