Speculation: 2024-2025 General Discussion III: 4 nations, 4th line scoring

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

Paying a first for Evans would be awful. I'm talking Jeannot levels of awful.

I think that's what would happen though. I feel like a trade for Evans would go down like a scene in a movie where someone like a police officer walks into a bar and asks for the price of beer. The bartender says "Beer is $5. Beer for you is $25" and then the bartender raises it to $35 just to be an asshole when the police officer asks if it's a joke

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Seattle has:

McCann
Bjorkstand
Burkavosky
Gourde

All rumoured to be available. If that's the case, and depending on what Francis wants to do (who knows because he's a terrible GM), if his goal is to only move 1 of the 4, or move 2 of the 4, JBB might be able to swoop in and get someone cheaper than expected.

McCann will get the most for Seattle. JBB should see if he can sneak in and take Bjorkstrand while everyone is focused on McCann. Maybe he can sneak in and grab Tolvanen or something too or just him. One can hope and dream.

EDIT:

I honestly don't have any clue what Francis wants to do. Is he going for a retool? Is he going for a rebuild 4/5 years in? I wonder if Seattle has any interest in Gauthier and Perbix?

 

[Rschmitz]

Yeah Bjorkstrand is probably the best of what we know is currently available, but we still have almost a month until the TDL for teams to fall out and be open for business.

Guys like Dylan Holloway, Matty Beniers, Simon Holmstrom, Dylan Guenther, Matt Coronato; these are the guys I want us to look at if we are giving up blue chip assets like Geekie, Howard, 1st's and 2nd's. Really expensive but are going to provide immediate help now and for the next 5-10 years. Some of these guys will just be way too much or not for sale, but we just need one.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Yeah Bjorkstrand is probably the best of what we know is currently available, but we still have almost a month until the TDL for teams to fall out and be open for business.

Guys like Dylan Holloway, Matty Beniers, Simon Holmstrom, Dylan Guenther, Matt Coronato; these are the guys I want us to look at if we are giving up blue chip assets like Geekie, Howard, 1st's and 2nd's. Really expensive but are going to provide immediate help now and for the next 5-10 years. Some of these guys will just be way too much or not for sale, but we just need one.

The highlighted people are not being moved from their teams. No chance any of them go anywhere. Holloway would be great from St. Louis. But I don't think they would move him either, he's doing great over there. He's worked really well with Schenn and Kyrou.

 

[Sky04]

McCann has been my pick for a while. Better and cheaper than Bjorkstrand. Very good play driver with 3 years left at 5M. He's the same mold as Hagel with that puck hound mentality.

 

[bov]

Much more in need of Knies/Tuch/Crouse/Cuylle types. These middle 6 skill guys I keep seeing here are good players, but they ain't helping you get by the powerhouses of the league. TB needs more diversity in its game. If the skill isn't doing its thing, we are in big trouble. Unlike the cup years, when the character guys could change things up and make it happen in other ways. Cycle down low, punish the D a bit, plant yourself in front of the net for a garbage goal... Almost nonexistent now with this team. No size anywhere near the top of the lineup. Paul is the closest thing and rarely plays a heavy physical game. Even Killorn could muck it up like that and do some effective, ugly work.

Brayden Schenn's contract is a bit overboard, but if you move out a few mil between Sheary and Perbix, it could be a fit. If it was 1 year shorter I'd be 100% down, but I think it's just too prohibitive at his age. Still, it's more along the lines of what I'd like to see. The Evans and Bjorkstrands will put up some points to make people justify the cost but they're not advancing you in the playoffs imo.

 

[DFC]

McCann is an interesting one. Between him and Hagel, I wonder which one would move to the right?

 

[JTBF81]

McCann will be far, far more expensive to acquire than Bjorkstrand. Not only is he seen by many as the better player and will have a bidding war without a doubt if made available (as will Bjorkstrand), but with 2 additional years after this, there is little chance of getting the likely needed retention. He's also a left handed shot, which Tampa doesn't need. I hope JBB makes a good offer for either Bjorkstrand or Tolvanen if he's going after a player from the Kraken. They can likely get retention on either if needed as well. Any of the three will be expensive to obtain, but Bjorkstrand is likely the most realistic target for Tampa given their needs.

 

[Rschmitz]

McCann is a good player but not a good fit for the reasons already mentioned. Someone will want him more than us.

Again, the best avenue to take is to go after young guys on cheap contracts that expire soon. Cap space will not hamstring us after this year, and I think that is the direction JBB goes if there is anyone willing to trade with him.

 

[creg]

Probably my most unhinged take in here - but I wonder if Isaac Howard is able to produce at a pretty decent level in his end of year stint if JBB takes a run at some of the top end free agents available like he did last year with Guentzel. Feels like this year's class is pretty unreal at the top (with players at pretty good ages at UFA) and falls off so hard.

More broadly, I feel like the teams that have as many good pieces locked up now as possible are at such a huge advantage given the cap projections.

Again, the best avenue to take is to go after young guys on cheap contracts that expire soon. Cap space will not hamstring us after this year, and I think that is the direction JBB goes if there is anyone willing to trade with him.

I agree, but I do think that the players listed don't really seem even remotely available. I think the Hagel equivalent this year might be Dobson, but I would expect that he'd be more likely to be involved in a hockey trade.

One player I do wonder about is Rossi, with how he's been in rumors for seemingly ages now. With how much the Wild loves big boys I wouldn't mind a swap for Geekie given how solid Rossi already is.

 

[Rschmitz]

Probably my most unhinged take in here - but I wonder if Isaac Howard is able to produce at a pretty decent level in his end of year stint if JBB takes a run at some of the top end free agents available like he did last year with Guentzel. Feels like this year's class is pretty unreal at the top (with players at pretty good ages at UFA) and falls off so hard.

More broadly, I feel like the teams that have as many good pieces locked up now as possible are at such a huge advantage given the cap projections.


I agree, but I do think that the players listed don't really seem even remotely available. I think the Hagel equivalent this year might be Dobson, but I would expect that he'd be more likely to be involved in a hockey trade.

One player I do wonder about is Rossi, with how he's been in rumors for seemingly ages now. With how much the Wild loves big boys I wouldn't mind a swap for Geekie given how solid Rossi already is.

Dobson has already had a solid breakthrough. There are many, many players just breaking in, beyond the high tier list I mentioned, which would make them more available.

Wild are a top team, I don’t see how Rossi would be available for prospects when he’s a big contributor for them right now.