Speculation: 2024-25 - Free Agency/Trade Thread

[Duck Off]

I'm concerned about our amount of cap space honestly. The last thing we need is another Kilorn/Strome contract. I'd rather see him use some of our draft capital to trade for guys with shorter term than add another 5 million 3rd liner.

 

[Static]

I'm concerned about our amount of cap space honestly. The last thing we need is another Kilorn/Strome contract. I'd rather see him use some of our draft capital to trade for guys with shorter term than add another 5 million 3rd liner.

His FA report card actually isn't that bad. I would not do the strome contract again, but I would do the gudas, vatrano, and even the killorn deals again. Killorn played very well after he cleaned up his knee.

 

[Unholy]

Vatrano has been great, already with just 1 year left on his deal so no issues there. Strome not so much. Might be good trade bait in a year or two though as the team starts to get better

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Apparently the Walman trade was confusing even to the Sharks themselves? Some former Stars insider (Sean Shapiro) had contacts that said the Sharks would probably have claimed him anyway if Detroit had just waived him.

All speculation at this point, but if this isn't some kind of pre-determined sequence of events where the Sharks are obligated to claim a different cap dump as the future considerations to the Walman trade, gotta think there's some personal beef associated with Walman himself.

...or Yzerman's an idiot. All possible.

I believe Walman was relegated to their 7th D spot once Edvinsson started to emerge towards the end of the season. If he's only a bottom pairing guy at best (or placeholder top 4 on a bad team I guess), at 3.4M AAV (this year and next) he's just not going to have positive value to anyone, and I can see why he would have negative value to Detroit. Add in the 10 team NTC and you may only have had a couple teams who you were trying to convince to take him off your hands. However, I don't see why you don't waive him first and at least try to dump the contract outright?

Detroit still has four veteran D under contract (Chiarot, Maata, Holl, Petry), RFA Seider and Edvinsson ready to go. Plus I would assume they want to try and bring back Gostisbehere. Walman has no real use among that group and they are still possibly looking at a surplus.

 

[Leonardo87]

After landing Killorn, Gudas, and Vatrano. I feel there is hope he can get someone fairly big. I don't expect like a Reinhart type who may be fine to move, and chase the money, since he won a cup, but I do think it's possible to get at least one of the Top 6 RW or Top 4D Verbeek was looking for. Both may be a challenge. But we shall see.

 

[Static]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806357785933980049

 

[Anaheim4ever]

Suter was the one real blemish on their roster the last two seasons. They will be better now that he’s gone.

He's been bought out twice now. The Wild still paying him to not play for a long time.

 

[Rooch]

If Verbeek is able to offload Gibson and his $6.4M salary (with three years remaining) and install Dostal ($815K) as the starting goalie, that's a massive savings that could mean the difference between Reinhart/Stamkos and, say, a reunion with Adam Henrique.

 

[91Fedorov]

If Verbeek is able to offload Gibson and his $6.4M salary (with three years remaining) and install Dostal ($815K) as the starting goalie, that's a massive savings that could mean the difference between Reinhart/Stamkos and, say, a reunion with Adam Henrique.

That's what got Toronto into their troubles. If you throw a huge contract at a UFA (Tavares), every good young player after that will want comparable contracts. That's a recipe for cap problems.

Also, we have a massive amount of free cap space right now. Moving Gibson would have little to do with any signing we might pursue.

 

[NWWisconsinDuck]

That's what got Toronto into their troubles. If you throw a huge contract at a UFA (Tavares), every good young player after that will want comparable contracts. That's a recipe for cap problems.

Also, we have a massive amount of free cap space right now. Moving Gibson would have little to do with any signing we might pursue.

This is correct. 100%. However I think it’s “easier” now than ever to unload a bad contract if you’re willing to pay in picks. Also I think the cap going up changes that too. But I hear what you’re saying

 

[Dostwall]

The Ducks are roughly $11M below the floor, with no major RFAs to sign.

They’re gonna do something. I don’t know who they’ll get, but they’re gonna add players.

 

[The Duck Knight]

The Ducks are roughly $11M below the floor, with no major RFAs to sign.

They’re gonna do something. I don’t know who they’ll get, but they’re gonna add players.

Obviously but it doesn't need to be long term. That's where the mistakes get made.

I'm not sure there's a single UFA I'd give more than 3 years to at their projected AAV's.

 

[robbieboy3686]

I have a feeling most of you are vastly underestimating what Verbeek will get done in the next few days. He was very clear, he wants us pushing for the playoffs next season. Add in this rebrand we just did, the salary cap room we have, I’m very optimistic.

 

[Duck Off]

His FA report card actually isn't that bad. I would not do the strome contract again, but I would do the gudas, vatrano, and even the killorn deals again. Killorn played very well after he cleaned up his knee.

I think the Strome contract was horrendous. The Vatrano contract was a home run. I like the Gudas one. I don’t agree about Kilorn. Based on history, he should worsen over the rest of the contract due to his age. I like the player but that’s too much for me. It’s not killing us or anything. I’m saying we shouldn’t be adding another 3rd line talent to a long term, 5 million ish salary. Killer played like a 2nd liner part of last season but I’m not expecting that contract to age well at all. Don’t need 3 “3rd line” talented players locked up for years.

 

[DaGeneral]

I think the Strome contract was horrendous. The Vatrano contract was a home run. I like the Gudas one. I don’t agree about Kilorn. Based on history, he should worsen over the rest of the contract due to his age. I like the player but that’s too much for me. It’s not killing us or anything. I’m saying we shouldn’t be adding another 3rd line talent to a long term, 5 million ish salary. Killer played like a 2nd liner part of last season but I’m not expecting that contract to age well at all. Don’t need 3 “3rd line” talented players locked up for years.

5 million will probably be the going rate for a decent 3rd liner. Might be an overpayment of like a million dollars a year, which in the grand scheme of things, isn’t all that impacting.

Am I crazy for wanting Ducks to go after Trouba? 2 years at 8 million. Will eat 20 minutes. Probably a very buy low candidate.

 

[NWWisconsinDuck]

5 million will probably be the going rate for a decent 3rd liner. Might be an overpayment of like a million dollars a year, which in the grand scheme of things, isn’t all that impacting.

Am I crazy for wanting Ducks to go after Trouba? 2 years at 8 million. Will eat 20 minutes. Probably a very buy low candidate.

I don’t hate the idea of Trouba either but I would want some retention. Big, mean, physical, hard to play against. Even if he crosses the line from time to time

 

[ohcomeonref]

5 million will probably be the going rate for a decent 3rd liner. Might be an overpayment of like a million dollars a year, which in the grand scheme of things, isn’t all that impacting.

Am I crazy for wanting Ducks to go after Trouba? 2 years at 8 million. Will eat 20 minutes. Probably a very buy low candidate.

I know the guy makes boneheaded plays and whatnot but I feel we could benefit from having another "tough guy" on D to balance out the pairings. Maybe we get that from the draft though, there are reports we go for Silayev too.

 

[Boo Boo]

I agree with the trouba sentiment - even if he might get caved on our top pair I think he would work in a bottom four role with any of our up and comers. Maybe he comes with a pick too which could be nice

 

[McDonald19]

After landing Killorn, Gudas, and Vatrano. I feel there is hope he can get someone fairly big. I don't expect like a Reinhart type who may be fine to move, and chase the money, since he won a cup, but I do think it's possible to get at least one of the Top 6 RW or Top 4D Verbeek was looking for. Both may be a challenge. But we shall see.

Yup, Reinhart and his 57 goals are going to get an insane contract. I’d definitely try to steal J. March away from the Knights though.

Am I crazy for wanting Ducks to go after Trouba? 2 years at 8 million. Will eat 20 minutes. Probably a very buy low candidate.

Sure, If Fowler is going the other way.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Mintyukov - Trouba
Zellweger - Gudas
Lacombe - Hakanpaa

In the absence of a true top pairing, I want to see something like this. Everyone playing their strong side, strengths and weaknesses or playing styles seemingly balance out. Three pairs who can all give you 15+ mins at even strength on any given night. At no point would you not have a very physically engaged veteran RHD on the ice.

 

[McDonald19]

Strome is a bit overpaid for his 0.5 pts per game, but I do like that he plays with an edge and will go out and drop the gloves to try to avenge a teammate.

 

[DaGeneral]

Mintyukov - Trouba
Zellweger - Gudas
Lacombe - Hakanpaa

In the absence of a true top pairing, I want to see something like this. Everyone playing their strong side, strengths and weaknesses or playing styles seemingly balance out. Three pairs who can all give you 15+ mins at even strength on any given night. At no point would you not have a very physically engaged veteran RHD on the ice.

Fowler isn’t going anywhere.

 

[robbieboy3686]

Strome is a bit overpaid for his 0.5 pts per game, but I do like that he plays with an edge and will go out and drop the gloves to try to avenge a teammate.

+1000

 

[LeBrun is a Clown]

Any of Hamilton, Marino, or Trouba would be fantastic adds.

There are also plenty of top 6/9 goal scoring wingers this year.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Fowler isn’t going anywhere.

We can dream