2023 Free Agency/UFA Targets

[MBH]

He had one outlier season. He didn't really decline, he just never was an offensive guy. The story around Dumba has always been "Oh boy, if he ever puts it together...". Year after year. He's been consistent as a 20-30 point, mobile, middle pairing defender. In the right situation, maybe those numbers move up a little. Or down like they did this year.

You know, like Trevor Daley, who was always "on the verge" of breaking out offensively. That never happened, but Daley was still a valuable contributor to winning back-to-back Cups with the Penguins.

Dumba could find a similar niche.

He did have 4 straight 10 goal seasons.
Including these 2 years.
Age 23: 82 games 14-36-50
Age 24: 32 games 12-10-22
Those are 1st pairing numbers.
Rates out to 26-33-59
For whatever reason, he's not been the same since then. Not even close.
If you can get Dumba for 4 years at $3M- $3.5M? Sure.
But given we're paying Chiarot 3 more years at $4.75M, I'm not that into overpaying.

I've heard really sour reviews about Dumba's Dzone play.

Since one of our LD is going to have to move over to RD, I think I'll take a defensive dman who can play with a bit more jam.
This team must get tougher.
But Dumba at a decent price could work too.

 

[Bench]

Since one of our LD is going to have to move over to RD, I think I'll take a defensive dman who can play with a bit more jam.
This team must get tougher.

I find toughness a bit nebulous as a metric to quantify.

If hits/60 are an indication of "toughness", the highest ranked team still in the playoffs is Vegas at 14th in the league. Red Wings were 19th.

20. Kraken
22. Leafs
24. Panthers
26. Stars
29. Devils
30. Hurricanes

Gudas was 2nd in the league in hits. He accounted for nearly 18% of his teams hitting.

While winning 1v1 battles is always incredibly important, as is clearing areas for a defender, I think the idea of "toughness" continues to wane in importance as we're seeing speed and mobility continue to dominate the NHL.

That is to say, I'm all for toughness, but the guys need to be able to skate well, too. Think Jamie Oleksiak, who I know you were a fan of before the expansion draft. That type of player is someone we can both agree on. Gudas, eh, at this point I'd be far less enthused, especially with Chiarot already on the roster.

 

[MBH]

I find toughness a bit nebulous as a metric to quantify.

If hits/60 are an indication of "toughness", the highest ranked team still in the playoffs is Vegas at 14th in the league. Red Wings were 19th.

20. Kraken
22. Leafs
24. Panthers
26. Stars
29. Devils
30. Hurricanes

Gudas was 2nd in the league in hits. He accounted for nearly 18% of his teams hitting.

While winning 1v1 battles is always incredibly important, as is clearing areas for a defender, I think the idea of "toughness" continues to wane in importance as we're seeing speed and mobility continue to dominate the NHL.

That is to say, I'm all for toughness, but the guys need to be able to skate well, too. Think Jamie Oleksiak, who I know you were a fan of before the expansion draft. That type of player is someone we can both agree on. Gudas, eh, at this point I'd be far less enthused, especially with Chiarot already on the roster.

Gudas skates OK.
He's just a beast of a competitor. He drew rave reviews throughout that Boston series.
I haven't watched much of round 2.
Given his age, I think he comes cheaper and shorter term.

 

[Bench]

He drew rave reviews throughout that Boston series.

Dude can't even tell the difference between a person and a chair.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Why not just trade for him? If they aren't going to use him they might take a pick/body deal rather than pissing off a team when we hopefully have good young kids to sign in the not too distant future.

Also, how shitty are you going to be to a $4.28M/yr Zadina? Given how shitty you are to a $1.8M/yr Zadina...

Laf is superior to Bustina in every facet. Laf gets 3rd line minutes with Chytil and kakko. You don’t think he could score more next to Larkin and Raymond?

 

[Oddbob]

Yes

Unless you want threads for FAs from playoff teams, non playoff teams, Canadian teams, Sunbelt teams, etc... All in different threads. They're free agents. This is a free agent thread. Discuss away.

I don't see why we can't just have a thread for every player!

Any opinions on Matt Dumba? RHD seems like a guy they could use if it doesn’t take a huge term to sign him

My problem with him is I don't think he is worth the term or money he will get and will be a good not great addition. I like the way he plays, but he isn't good enough at any one thing for me to want to give him 6+ or whatever he is sure to want.

 

[Oddbob]

Crazy thought but it might be worth it…

Sign Lafreniere to an offersheet of 4.28 mil x3 years or whatever is beneath the threshold for paying more than a 2nd for him.

The rangers only have 11.7 million in cap space and a lot of holes to fill as well as K’Andre Miller needs a raise that’ll eat up 4+ of that. We may be able to steal Laf away.

Why not just trade Zadina for him? Similar production if you forget their draft slots. I get a lot of the same vibes when watching both. They both seem to do a lot of the right things, in the right spots, etc., but don't product any offence.

 

[Oddbob]

Laf is superior to Bustina in every facet. Laf gets 3rd line minutes with Chytil and kakko. You don’t think he could score more next to Larkin and Raymond?

Not really sure. Zadina doesn't produce more when playing with better players, and Laf has played with the top lines before and better linemates but there was never really any ignition on improved offence. If Laf was doing well, he would have pushed someone else down the lineup and he hasn't forced that change yet at all. He certainly is more physical than Zadina, but not sure where else he is really any better than what Zadina has been doing. Like I said, when I watch both I get the same vibe, they aren't doing anything necessarily too wrong, yet for whatever reason they don't score regularly.

 

[SoupNazi]

Trevor Daley was awful at the end.
Daley's a lot young than Dumba was, but Dumba is also pretty washed on a good team.
I think I'd avoid Dumba unless you can get him for $3M or so.

Honestly, I'd rather a Gudas or Mayberry type.

Here's your man:

 

[norrisnick]

Laf is superior to Bustina in every facet. Laf gets 3rd line minutes with Chytil and kakko. You don’t think he could score more next to Larkin and Raymond?

Pretty sure Fil could score too getting 3rd line minutes with those two. Beats Erne and Veleno at not quite 4th line minutes.

Hell, toss Zadina with Larkin and Raymond.

You will lose your shit when $4M+ 1stOA scores at a bottom 6 rate. Unless of course consistency is not your thing. Though given your love affair with other teams' Zadina's seems likely.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Not really sure. Zadina doesn't produce more when playing with better players, and Laf has played with the top lines before and better linemates but there was never really any ignition on improved offence. If Laf was doing well, he would have pushed someone else down the lineup and he hasn't forced that change yet at all. He certainly is more physical than Zadina, but not sure where else he is really any better than what Zadina has been doing. Like I said, when I watch both I get the same vibe, they aren't doing anything necessarily too wrong, yet for whatever reason they don't score regularly.

He’s better than Zadina at everything. Just because he’s not a PPG scorer doesn’t mean he’s a bad player.

Alexis Lafrenière Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey-Reference.com

Pretty sure Fil could score too getting 3rd line minutes with those two. Beats Erne and Veleno at not quite 4th line minutes.

Hell, toss Zadina with Larkin and Raymond.

You will lose your shit when $4M+ 1stOA scores at a bottom 6 rate. Unless of course consistency is not your thing. Though given your love affair with other teams' Zadina's seems likely.

Kravtsov was NYR’s Zadina. Now he’s Vancouver’s. I don’t think you’ve watched Laf a day if you think he’s just a bottom 6 guy. He played bottom 6 minutes and scored 39 points.

Also they tried playing Zadina with Larkin and Raymond and he was shit with them.

 

[norrisnick]

He’s better than Zadina at everything. Just because he’s not a PPG scorer doesn’t mean he’s a bad player.

Alexis Lafrenière Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey-Reference.com




Kravtsov was NYR’s Zadina. Now he’s Vancouver’s. I don’t think you’ve watched Laf a day if you think he’s just a bottom 6 guy. He played bottom 6 minutes and scored 39 points.

Also they tried playing Zadina with Larkin and Raymond and he was shit with them.

For like 2 shifts.

Just make sure you are consistent with Laf evals relative to draft position, roster support and salary. At #1OA and a hypothetical $4.25M and playing with the Rangers top 6 ahead of him, and with a fellow lottery pick and another first rounder on his line, if his name were Zadina you'd have been banned for the things you would have said about him.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

For like 2 shifts.

For 2 games this year and about 8 or so last year. And Zadina was the anchor on that line.

 

[norrisnick]

For 2 games this year and about 8 or so last year. And Zadina was the anchor on that line.

Was Zadina supposed to be better than either?

 

[Kibe]

In the gdt some Devils fans saying they want to move Bratt and keep Meier. What would you give up for Bratt? Or do you rather move similar assets for DeBrincat? Or would the cost even be similar?

 

[Inspiration]

In the gdt some Devils fans saying they want to move Bratt and keep Meier. What would you give up for Bratt? Or do you rather move similar assets for DeBrincat? Or would the cost even be similar?

Bratt has a substantially lower qualifying offer, which probably brings more bidders into play (and also gives him a little less leverage than DeBrincat in long-term contract negotiations). So I'd guess that his trade compensation is greater than DeBrincat's.

 

[Snuggs]

For like 2 shifts.

Just make sure you are consistent with Laf evals relative to draft position, roster support and salary. At #1OA and a hypothetical $4.25M and playing with the Rangers top 6 ahead of him, and with a fellow lottery pick and another first rounder on his line, if his name were Zadina you'd have been banned for the things you would have said about him.

I agree stay far away from Laf. He's the same middle six winger we've got enough of.

He needs to really go to a full rebuilding team and hopefully capitalize on the opportunity they'll give him with minutes/PP etc. Chicago/Arizona/San Jose seem like, "likely" places imo.

Teams in the "hunt" or in cup mode will stay away from that salary.

 

[Reddwit]

Laf is superior to Bustina in every facet. Laf gets 3rd line minutes with Chytil and kakko. You don’t think he could score more next to Larkin and Raymond?

Laf holds Chytil back, not the other way around.

 

[MBH]

Here's your man:

View attachment 703924

I agree stay far away from Laf. He's the same middle six winger we've got enough of.

He needs to really go to a full rebuilding team and hopefully capitalize on the opportunity they'll give him with minutes/PP etc. Chicago/Arizona/San Jose seem like, "likely" places imo.

Teams in the "hunt" or in cup mode will stay away from that salary.

I don't think Lafreniere is some god, but I think he's got 80 point potential.

These are the Red Wings with more 5 on 5 points than Lafreniere.
Dylan Larkin 9-23-32.
And that's it.

Looking back, I've got posts on these boards where I questioned Lafreniere in his draft year and pointed to Veleno's development as reason to question Laf's gaudy numbers.
But I also wanted Byfield and he's still pretty weak...

 

[MBH]

Dude can't even tell the difference between a person and a chair.

 

[SirloinUB]

I’d definitely trade a 2nd for Lafrienere, via offer sheet or straight up trade.

 

[Pavels Dog]

These are the Red Wings with more 5 on 5 points than Lafreniere.
Dylan Larkin 9-23-32.
And that's it.

Lafreniere also had more 5-on-5 icetime than any Red Wing player except Copp (who ended up with 3 5-on-5 points less).
Given how Lafreniere played on a better team it's also hard to know how much to trust raw scoring numbers. 9 secondary assists is more than any Red Wing had (5-on-5).

I think there's value there and I'd go after him if the Rangers are ready to make a change. If they still want him to be valued like a #1 budding superstar then stay away. If we're talking Zadina+2nd? Go for it.

 

[WingsToPick4th]

UFAs we should target

Forwards:
Ivan Barbashev C/W 27 years old 0.55 ppg current cap 2.25 million (great value)
Max Domi C/W 28 years old 0.70 ppg current cap 3.0 million (great value)
JT compher C/W 28 years old 0.63 ppg current cap 3.5 million (andrew copp v2?)
Jason Zucker LW/RW 31 years old 0.62 ppg current cap hit 5.2 million (bert/vrana replacement?)
Alex Killorn LW/RW 33 years old 0.78 ppg current cap hit 4.45 million (old but good like perron)
Tyler Bertuzzi LW/RW 28 years old 0.60 ppg current cap hit 4.75 million (will want too much $$)

Defensemen:
Damon Severson RHD 28 years old 0.41 ppg current cap hit 4.16 million (great fit)
Scott Mayfield RHD 30 years old 0.29 ppg current cap hit 1.45 million (yzerman type player)
Radko Gudas RHD 32 years old 0.21 ppg current cap hit 2.5 million (the butcher)
Matt dumba RHD 28 years old 0.18 ppg current cap hit 6.00 million (yikes) (stay away?)
Connor Clifton RHD 28 years old 0.29 ppg current cap hit 1.00 million (could be great value)

everyone else kinda blows tbh

 

[GarlicbreadTB]

Just a random management thought. If Leafs lose in the coming days and they blow it up and Shanny have to go. Would he be someone we would look to bring in to the Red Wing organization?

 

[norrisnick]

Just a random management thought. If Leafs lose in the coming days and they blow it up and Shanny have to go. Would he be someone we would look to bring in to the Red Wing organization?

Because of the bang up job he's done in Toronto? Or like as a favor?