Rumor: 2024-2025 Trade Rumors and Free Agency Talk | Part Deux

[willy702]

I feel like we could use our cap more effectively doing anything other than signing Saad, regardless of cap hit

I don't know if Saad is the answer but if he's signed then they just send down a guy making about the same. He's getting a veteran minimum contract in the 2nd half of the season so his cost is very minimal. He's playing for a bigger deal next year so he's going to choose his spot based on fit before money.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

We really need to convince Colton to waive in a package with his buddy Wood.

$6.5m combined... think of the possibilities.

Send them both back to New Jersey.

Tbh I could see Colton ending up in New Jersey. Devils fans are wanting a middle 6 versatility guy who can play C/W and plays the Colton style. He's also from New Jersey. If he's a trade chip that's legitimately in play I wouldn't be surprised to see him land in NJ.


Better question would be what kind of return could we get for him, from them. I would instantly look at the three 2nd round picks they have and imagine one of those probably is pretty close to reasonable value... But knowing CMac at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if he wouldn't be looking at a way to make it work for Dawson Mercer instead. Struggling lately after entering the league on a heater. Same money as Colton.

I wonder if something like Colton + CAR 2nd for Mercer as a basis would be close.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

This is what was reported:

Vancouver fans would have flipped. That's terrible. So basically Mitts should be enough for Miller.

 

[Foppa2118]

He's mainly plan A because of the fit, the personality/leadership, and because he could come with Andersson.

Not really any other team that has a top 4D and 2C available, or even a bottom pair RHD and C. But you're right, the age is a concern and ultimately a huge factor why he they didn't sign him.

They unfortunate part is that both plan A and B have big '?' associate with them - do the Flames not sell and just look at making the playoffs? Do the Hawks agree to retain on Jones?

Ultimately it's probably best to prepare for disappointment. CMac will do something but it's probably closer to what Richard outlined with Bjorkstrand & Kovacevic (although I still don't think NJ moves him, that's just a fan trying to get asset value).

If Jones happened, I could see them trying to get Kurashev and/or Dickinson coming with. Maybe from he Flames they get Coleman instead, and Gourde from the Kraken for a TB reunion, but then there's very little $$ for D. As you said, nothing is straight forward.

It's too bad Miller is such an ass cause he'd be the perfect option theoretically.

If I have to guess, we overpay for Nelson, I don't think we'd sign him so I wouldn't want to go that route but maybe we can get him to agree to a decent deal. Then the question would be who do we target on D? Nelson retained + Jones is maybe the best option.

Ritchie
2nd

for

Nelson @ 50%


Mitts
Wood
Pick/prospect

for

Jones ~ 7M
Kurashev


+ another LHD

not even sure what that cap looks like, but:

Dru - Mack - Nuke
Lehks - Nelson - Necas
Kurashev - Drury - LOC
Colton - Parssinen - Kivi
Kelly

Toews - Makar
G - Jones
LHD - Manson

Random thought. What about play Necas at C and trade for Kreider on wing? Then a Jones trade?

They've been linked to Kreider before, and he brings goal scoring, a semi reasonable contract at $6.5M for two more years, and is a good net front presence, especially on the PP as insurance for Val and Gabe.

 

[Freaky Styley]

Random thought. What about play Necas at C and trade for Kreider on wing? Then a Jones trade?

They've been linked to Kreider before, and he brings goal scoring, a semi reasonable contract at $6.5M for two more years, and is a good net front presence, especially on the PP as insurance for Val and Gabe.

I'm on board, but you have to convince Bednar first. I think trying Necas at C is a must, because it shows mgmt what options are out there. Mitts would have to go in one of the deals though to make the cap work i think.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Random thought. What about play Necas at C and trade for Kreider on wing? Then a Jones trade?

They've been linked to Kreider before, and he brings goal scoring, a semi reasonable contract at $6.5M for two more years, and is a good net front presence, especially on the PP as insurance for Val and Gabe.

I don't think there's any feasible way to bring in Kreider and Jones cap wise. Plus Kreider has been baddd this year. I worry about him falling off a cliff.

 

[Foppa2118]

I don't think there's any feasible way to bring in Kreider and Jones cap wise. Plus Kreider has been baddd this year. I worry about him falling off a cliff.

I think they could do it this year on pro rated contracts if they shed Mitts salary, get a little retention on Jones, and they exploit LTIR.

It's not much different cap wise than bringing in EP plus a defenseman, that some want to do.

Next year will be a much bigger cap and they can shed another $6.5M with Colton and Wood.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

If they're trading for someone out of Vancouver, Miller is the guy I prefer. I also still heavily maintain they need to get a Top 4D more then a forward quite frankly.


I think they can make the cap work on adding both Miller and Jones.... Look out West, though I think we'd need retention on Jones: Mittelstadt+ for Miller, Wood++ for Jones. Wood out for cap purposes.



Drouin - Mack - Lehky
Nuke - Miller - Necas
Landy - Drury - Colton
LOC - Kelly - Kivi


Toews - Makar
Girard - Jones
???? - Manson

Woods



I think they could make that cap work if they could get Jones retained down to like $7-7.5M.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

If they're trading for someone out of Vancouver, Miller is the guy I prefer. I also still heavily maintain they need to get a Top 4D more then a forward quite frankly.


I think they can make the cap work on adding both Miller and Jones.... Look out West, though I think we'd need retention on Jones: Mittelstadt+ for Miller, Wood++ for Jones. Wood out for cap purposes.



Drouin - Mack - Lehky
Nuke - Miller - Necas
Landy - Drury - Colton
LOC - Kelly - Kivi


Toews - Makar
Girard - Jones
???? - Manson

Woods



I think they could make that cap work if they could get Jones retained down to like $7-7.5M.

If Chicago is retaining 2-2.5m on Seth Jones, it will take a hell of a lot more than our own cap dump Miles Wood. That ++ will need to be significant.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Saw someone float the idea of NJ trading Kovacevic on the main boards, and another thread where NJ want a 3C. Their fans seem pretty positive about acquiring Colton, and a Kovacevic/Colton trade would apparently work for them (maybe with an add from NJ).

That's a hockey trade I could see making sense for both teams.

NJ are deep at RHD with Hamilton/Peace/Kovacevic and need to make room for Nemec soon. Kovacevic is making $766k AAV so would have decent value to contenders at the TDL, though they'd likely only do it as a hockey trade rather than pure futures since they're contenders themselves.

The Avs would get a late blooming RHD who can PK as an upgrade on Malinski. He'll be an RFA in the summer when he'll be signing his first big contract, which fits how the Avs like to operate. He'd stylistically be a natural successor to Manson next to Girard.

Moreover, swapping Colton for Kovacevic would create $3m+ in capspace, allowing for a big fish forward to be added in a separate trade, and/or for Landeskog to be activated to effectively replace Colton in the lineup. Colton himself would likely waive his NTC for NJ since he's from there and they are contenders.

Drouin - MacKinnon - Nichushkin
Lehkonen - Mittelstadt - Necas
Parssinen - Drury - Landeskog/TDL fwd
Wood - Kelly - O'Connor
Kiviranta

I could really get behind a trade around Colton for Kovacevic.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

If Chicago is retaining 2-2.5m on Seth Jones, it will take a hell of a lot more than our own cap dump Miles Wood. That ++ will need to be significant.

Yeah it would take a couple decent assets. I'm still not sure it would take huge value though. I feel like Jones at $7.5M is still only really "neutral" trade value.


But maybe something like Wood + Ivan + 2026 1st for Jones at $7M. Mittelstadt + Ritchie for Miller. As the two trades.

 

[Alienblood]

Man, if the Blues weren't still trying to make the playoffs I bet Brayden Schenn would fit in this locker room like a glove.

Macks buddy.

Love to get both Schenns as RIAL said

 

[Richard88]

Does anyone remember saad taking shots at colorado when he left or am I just tripping? I vaguely remember him saying something, just want confirmation

He said something to the effect that the team was too immature to go far in the playoffs

 

[Richard88]

Send them both back to New Jersey.

Tbh I could see Colton ending up in New Jersey. Devils fans are wanting a middle 6 versatility guy who can play C/W and plays the Colton style. He's also from New Jersey. If he's a trade chip that's legitimately in play I wouldn't be surprised to see him land in NJ.


Better question would be what kind of return could we get for him, from them. I would instantly look at the three 2nd round picks they have and imagine one of those probably is pretty close to reasonable value... But knowing CMac at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if he wouldn't be looking at a way to make it work for Dawson Mercer instead. Struggling lately after entering the league on a heater. Same money as Colton.

I wonder if something like Colton + CAR 2nd for Mercer as a basis would be close.

Yeah Mercer would be interesting. I also wonder, if Kotkaniemi + 1st was enough for Miller, at least as a base, then Colton + 1st should be in the ballpark too, but the issue would be Colton waiving his NTC for Vancouver. If he doesn't then perhaps a 3 tram trade would work sending Colton+2nd to NJ for Mercer as you suggested.

To Col: Miller
To Van: Mercer + COL 2026 1st
To NJ: Colton + 2nd(from COL)

Guessing there might be more appetite to keep Mercer if you're the Avs though rather than to flip him to Vancouver for Miller.

 

[Alienblood]

Yeah Mercer would be interesting. I also wonder, if Kotkaniemi + 1st was enough for Miller, at least as a base, then Colton + 1st should be in the ballpark too, but the issue would be Colton waiving his NTC for Vancouver. If he doesn't then perhaps a 3 tram trade would work sending Colton+2nd to NJ for Mercer as you suggested.

To Col: Miller
To Van: Mercer + COL 2026 1st
To NJ: Colton + 2nd(from COL)

Guessing there might be more appetite to keep Mercer if you're the Avs though rather than to flip him to Vancouver for Miller.

I personally don't want Miller 7nder any circumstances. Pettersson e should go all in for.

 

[Richard88]

I could really get behind a trade around Colton for Kovacevic.

Yeah, it makes sense. The main issue would be years of team control. Kovacevic is a pending UFA (I thought he was an RFA when making my post above), and Colton has three year term. With so few assets I'd imagine that CMac would be hesitant to trade a guy with more team control for an UFA. Only way I'd see him do that is if he needs the capspace from a Colton/Kovacevic swap ($3.2m) to facilitate another bigger deal.

Same might apply with Pierce's suggested Colton+2nd for Mercer trade. Identical caphits and a somewhat lateral move, yet the Avs would give up an extra 2nd which is quite precious to the Avs given how few assets they have.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Mercer would be the perfect Avs fit, he sucks on faceoffs, plays mostly as a W, and he's a really good skater

I wonder how much it would take to pry both Mercer and Nemec loose. Probably Ritchie, Colton, 1st, 2nd but I'd do it

 

[Miri]

Make your roster for the next 3 years with Mikko making 14M.

Do the same with Pettersson at 11,6 and Necas.
You cant, without losing Mittlestadt, and likely Colton and Wood, or some other roster players, who would have to go to Van as part of the exchange. Do we improve the depth now by losing players?

 

[Miri]

No, that's not what I said at all.

So what is your reasoning then? Why would you want Pettersson, at similar money to Mikko?

Wanted to trade Mikko for cheaper player (ike Necas) to have cap to get one additional decent player at 6-7 mio(or 2 cheaper ones at 3+) i understood. I disliked it, but i understood why it might be actually beneficial. It made sense.

but bringing Pettersson now as replacement just doesnt. Not if the excuse for getting rid of Mikko was a need for more depth. And this irks me to see people now being seemingly content with such move - it reeks of massive hypocrisy, it seems the depth was not really as much of an issue as some irraional dislike for Mikko, or possibly equally irrational desire for mikko being traded strictly for the thrill of seeing the potential reward and subsequent shake-up of the line-up. This is what it looks now to me from where i stand.

Its not that i do t want Pettersson myself, i find the proposition exciting too, i just wish people here were more genuine during these discussions, and would not hide their intentions behind “depth” excuses, when as it turns out now, they wished for other teams superstar all-along. Cause i guess our own superstar became boring to them.
Credit to Freaky Styley and Tommy Shelby to stick to their guns here. But pretty sure there were way more people who wanted Mikko gone.

 

[Miri]

Macks buddy.

Love to get both Schenns as RIAL said

That brought many Cups to Toronto

 

[Gumballhead]

I really can't see us taking on any contract over 10 mil, especially one that just started year one of 8. If the FO thinks that EP's absolutely the guy and the key to this team's continued success, ok maybe, but then you have a lot of roster to deal with and any big jumps in the cap number will mostly be used just to keep Makar and good depth. If Lehky isn't too beat to shit, he'll probably be an Av for another contract too - some of this is down the road stuff but EP would have to be their biggest wish to take a chance on that working out. It'd be Rants all over again and we were lucky we made lemonade on that one. It's entirely possible that EP would be fantastic here and help us win a Cup or two, but what a gamble financially.

 

[niwotsblessing]

So what is your reasoning then? Why would you want Pettersson, at similar money to Mikko?

Wanted to trade Mikko for cheaper player (ike Necas) to have cap to get one additional decent player at 6-7 mio(or 2 cheaper ones at 3+) i understood. I disliked it, but i understood why it might be actually beneficial. It made sense.

but bringing Pettersson now as replacement just doesnt. Not if the excuse for getting rid of Mikko was a need for more depth. And this irks me to see people now being seemingly content with such move - it reeks of massive hypocrisy, it seems the depth was not really as much of an issue as some irraional dislike for Mikko, or possibly equally irrational desire for mikko being traded strictly for the thrill of seeing the potential reward and subsequent shake-up of the line-up. This is what it looks now to me from where i stand.

Its not that i do t want Pettersson myself, i find the proposition exciting too, i just wish people here were more genuine during these discussions, and would not hide their intentions behind “depth” excuses, when as it turns out now, they wished for other teams superstar all-along. Cause i guess our own superstar became boring to them.
Credit to Freaky Styley and Tommy Shelby to stick to their guns here. But pretty sure there were way more people who wanted Mikko gone.

Petterson is a center, 2C behind MacKinnon, which is a more valuable/important position for constructing a team. He would also replace Mitts, so that would help to balance out the books some. Wingers are easier to find, and a good winger becomes better with a good+ center, especially if we find a stylistic match.

Spending a ton of money on a winger who does not "drive" his line, and who's numbers benefit from other players is not optimal.

I advocated to trade Mikko to afford more depth. However, I recognize the potential of Petterson as part of a larger remake of the team, which in this case makes the core younger. In my view this is a separate opportunity from the Mikko trade, in that it is a result of Mitts not properly filling the 2C role. If we could trade Mitts, Colton, and Wood for Petterson we'd be clearing some less effective players off the roster for key component for a Cup winning team.

 

[Vaslof]

Do the same with Pettersson at 11,6 and Necas.
You cant, without losing Mittlestadt, and likely Colton and Wood, or some other roster players, who would have to go to Van as part of the exchange. Do we improve the depth now by losing players?

I was just asking you to do it so that you'd realize how much an extra 2.4M can make a difference when building the team.

 

[Iceberg]

That isn't what's been reported.

It was reported by Dhaliwal and Friedman that Vancouver and Carolina were closing on a deal around EP and Necas. Not that difficult to find those reports.

 

[Mighty Makar]

Send Mitts, Wood and a signed stick by Frail to Van for Miller.