Speculation: 2024-25 - Free Agency/Trade Thread

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I think we all agree we need another forward.


Finding the ideal target might be tough…. If guys like tage/Brady we’re available…. They’d be obvious targets but the cost also going to hurt.

For me I see cozens game in the Brady type(lesser version)… which is a skill set I’d love to add, assuming the value dictates the risk of taking a 7 mil player that is underperforming this year.
Honestly I'd probably be looking at Van and their situation with EP and Miller. Miller also sounds like a PV type player. Would really depend on what that issue is in that room between those 2 by all reports.
 

At least we had HM for Cutter, but I wish Verbeek took more shots like the Sharks and Blackhawks have. Walman + 2nd vs Dumoulin - 3rd, PLD for Gibson, etc.


I was thinking about that too. Same draft year and situation. Cozens has more of the playing style that Verbeek wants, but his contract is a bit risky.
One of my biggest complaints of PV is how little he has weaponized the cap space for assets.

Laine + 2nd for nothing would have been a no brainer for me.
 

At least we had HM for Cutter, but I wish Verbeek took more shots like the Sharks and Blackhawks have. Walman + 2nd vs Dumoulin - 3rd, PLD for Gibson, etc.


I was thinking about that too. Same draft year and situation. Cozens has more of the playing style that Verbeek wants, but his contract is a bit risky.
The Ranger fans would be happy with their predictions that Zegras is returning to New York .... though the opposite end of the state. :laugh:
 
One of my biggest complaints of PV is how little he has weaponized the cap space for assets.

Laine + 2nd for nothing would have been a no brainer for me.
I agree, and when he does 'weaponize' out cap the return is atrocious... Fowler with 5 million retained for essentially a 3rd round pick 2 years from now (2027!)... so value wise really a 4rth round pick for 5 million to dump Cam. Or eating Trouba's entire 8 million and also offering a pick to do so...

We literally could have gotten paid a 2nd to take on Walman's short term contract.
 
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One of my biggest complaints of PV is how little he has weaponized the cap space for assets.

Laine + 2nd for nothing would have been a no brainer for me.
I would have loved that too but Laine may have vetoed that. I get the sense that he NEEDs to have a big market. I wanted him too though. There's no word that we weren't in on him.
 
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One of my biggest complaints of PV is how little he has weaponized the cap space for assets.

Laine + 2nd for nothing would have been a no brainer for me.
Yeah the lack of cap utilization has been disappointing. I was hopeful after he tried to take on Dadonov's contract and get a second out of it, something I thought was a shrewd move.

I guess the only counterargument is that we have no idea what's going on behind closed doors in these trades... Maybe he's made offers and been rejected. Would love to be a fly on the wall in a GM's office.
 
Because you're trading premium assets for a guy who won't be in his prime when the team is actually good enough to win
As always it depends on the price. It could be a buy low situation. He would instantly become our best player can can really teach our kids about how to be that type of player. I think he has like 4 years left so it takes him to 36? I'm not suggesting to offer mctavish or Z for him. I'm not sure what the cost is. You check. If the cost is manageable I'd much rather spend assets on the known quantity than say someone like Cozens. At some point you have to weigh the now as just as important as the future.
 
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Honestly I'd probably be looking at Van and their situation with EP and Miller. Miller also sounds like a PV type player. Would really depend on what that issue is in that room between those 2 by all reports.

I read somewhere this morning that Miller has had issues with someone on every team he's played on. No thanks I think everyone on the Ducks is already unhappy enough.
 
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Been thinking that Boeser could be a good UFA target for the Ducks. Currently making 6 mill in Vancouver, do you think he resigns for the Canucks, and if not, how much would his contract be do you think?
 
As always it depends on the price. It could be a buy low situation. He would instantly become our best player can can really teach our kids about how to be that type of player. I think he has like 4 years left so it takes him to 36? I'm not suggesting to offer mctavish or Z for him. I'm not sure what the cost is. You check. If the cost is manageable I'd much rather spend assets on the known quantity than say someone like Cozens. At some point you have to weigh the now as just as important as the future.
I think the disconnect here is that MMC (and myself) pretty much assumes that a Miller deal would start with McT or Z (or maybe Minty). Maybe his value is lower than it was a year ago, but that’s what it would likely take to get him, and I don’t think that’s worth it. If it doesn’t require any of those guys, then sure, but I don’t see it.
 
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Been thinking that Boeser could be a good UFA target for the Ducks. Currently making 6 mill in Vancouver, do you think he resigns for the Canucks, and if not, how much would his contract be do you think?
Doubtful.... He would need a massive overpay and I'm not a fan for that expected contract. He would definitely help our terrible PP but he's pretty one dimensional overall. I'm not sure if he would be a line driver on our team, and he would also take away PP time from our younger players. Of course if he is willing to sign for what Vatrano is likely asking for...
 
Let's be real, to get any decent UFA to sign here there's always going to have to be an overpay. The cap increase will also give more teams flexibility, so it puts us in an even worse spot to be competitive with offers.

This is the risk of a teardown rebuild. Even though we have huge amounts of cap space, there's pretty much always going to be a more desirable option than Anaheim for quality talent. But we can't get any better without high end players, and none of our kids are taking any significant steps to get there. So now we're a perpetual bottom feeder with tons of cap space we aren't doing anything with.

Verbeek has a lot of work to do, and it will probably need to come from trades rather than UFA to get us to the point where we're at least a somewhat respectable destination again.
 
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Honestly I'd probably be looking at Van and their situation with EP and Miller. Miller also sounds like a PV type player. Would really depend on what that issue is in that room between those 2 by all reports.
I don’t like the EP fit unless zegras is going back the other way…. Miller would be a decent fit…. Hell I still like the boeser fit a lot
 
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Let's be real, to get any decent UFA to sign here there's always going to have to be an overpay. The cap increase will also give more teams flexibility, so it puts us in an even worse spot to be competitive with offers.

This is the risk of a teardown rebuild. Even though we have huge amounts of cap space, there's pretty much always going to be a more desirable option than Anaheim for quality talent. But we can't get any better without high end players, and none of our kids are taking any significant steps to get there. So now we're a perpetual bottom feeder with tons of cap space we aren't doing anything with.

Verbeek has a lot of work to do, and it will probably need to come from trades rather than UFA to get us to the point where we're at least a somewhat respectable destination again.

This. While it's fun to think about, players aren't signing big, UFA contracts to lose. The Ducks need to prove they can make the playoffs, and it should open the doors to many more players. As you said though, the challenge is that they need those type of players to help pull them out.

The only true solution is trade for those players if the prospects alone are not good enough to get it done by themselves. And, of course, those trade options tend to be the most expensive.

IMO, the Ducks need to trade picks and prospects for high-end NHL talent to take the next step. It is almost a guarantee that they will regret trading one or two of those picks/prospects because of who they become. But that is the price paid to make good teams. The hope is that Verbeek chooses the right players to trade for or it's all for nothing and the Ducks fall back into another rebuild/restart.
 
I read somewhere this morning that Miller has had issues with someone on every team he's played on. No thanks I think everyone on the Ducks is already unhappy enough.
I had heard that too and would have me concerned. We have players who have played with him. Should be easy enough for PV to find out. I'm not going to be upset if we don't trade for him.

I don’t like the EP fit unless zegras is going back the other way…. Miller would be a decent fit…. Hell I still like the boeser fit a lot
I actually really like Boeser too. I have to imagine one of the other 2 is traded to make room for him though.
 
I think the disconnect here is that MMC (and myself) pretty much assumes that a Miller deal would start with McT or Z (or maybe Minty). Maybe his value is lower than it was a year ago, but that’s what it would likely take to get him, and I don’t think that’s worth it. If it doesn’t require any of those guys, then sure, but I don’t see it.
That's fair. We'll see how that situation shakes out. Just suggesting that's more of the move I'd want to make rather than spending meh assets for a meh player.
 
Miller - only available because he apparently sucks to be around

Walman - if you read the Wings board, they have a thread on the topic, but it sounds like he was really not well liked in the room and had possible off ice issues, if the dots are being connected properly.

Laine - Still on the fence with this one. He's scoring so it's easy to say it's a no brainer, especially given that he came with incentive. I dunno though, is he helping to improve the culture in Montreal or actually make them a better team? Or is he a shit hockey player who can crank one of the best one timers but that's about it? I don't know.

I know we need better talent but we want dudes who will help instill a winning culture. I don't know if these guys are winners. It's difficult to put a guy like Miller in that category with his 30 points in his last 30 playoff games, great player for sure but there's some big character red flags there.
 
Miller - only available because he apparently sucks to be around

Walman - if you read the Wings board, they have a thread on the topic, but it sounds like he was really not well liked in the room and had possible off ice issues, if the dots are being connected properly.

Laine - Still on the fence with this one. He's scoring so it's easy to say it's a no brainer, especially given that he came with incentive. I dunno though, is he helping to improve the culture in Montreal or actually make them a better team? Or is he a shit hockey player who can crank one of the best one timers but that's about it? I don't know.

I know we need better talent but we want dudes who will help instill a winning culture. I don't know if these guys are winners. It's difficult to put a guy like Miller in that category with his 30 points in his last 30 playoff games, great player for sure but there's some big character red flags there.
Thats the tough part tho.
Killorn and Gudas were supposdly brought in to bring that... but hasnt exactly paid off.
 

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