I've been mentioning this, I wouldn't even play him 10 minutes a night at even strength but if he can just chill in that circle opposite Kucherov and take some of the heat off that would be well worth it. If we got Carlson, maybe that would help the pitch.
Speculation: 2025-2026 Offseason Thread 3 -subtitle traded for a 5th round pick
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Every year we just cut more and more corners and that would honestly be the worst
There's zero point in signing Carlson for the rumored $9-10m if it puts us in a position where we can't upgrade the top line.
Hedman can man the PP1. His 5v5 defense is the problem.
It's not happening anyway and I would rather have OV on the right circle than try to make it work with 3 or 4 lefties and/or a broken righty like Bjorkstrand on the power play again
Another possible route is:
1) Trade Paul ++ for Trocheck w/ slight retention
2) Sign Tuch for $9-10m
3) Leaves us with roughly around $2M left. Go cheap on a fill in defenseman?
Guentzel - Trocheck - Kucherov
Hagel - Point - Tuch
James - Cirelli - Goncalves
Girgs - Gourde - Holmes
Moser - Hedman(?)
McD - Cernak
XXXX - XXXX
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I haven't seen $9-10 mil anywhere but if that's the price then I'm 1000% with you. Assuming you mean the top pair, though, I think Carlson is really as good as we can hope to do for next year unless JBB somehow can trade for someone like Adam Fox. I seriously doubt we are putting forth a better top pairing next year. Not trying to doom, but 80 point RDs just don't grow on trees.
Interesting, but think the cost of acquiring Troch might be a little steep for what we would be getting. But I will say the guy sure can win faceoffs.
In a fantasy world, Point for Trocheck + Cuylle/Noah Laba or something would be interesting.
The Gongshow
Fire JBB
I think if Larkin doesnt work out then Trocheck is the C to target. 5.63 cap is pretty good. We could hopefully send somr cap back the other way to open up room for Tuch
Ive seen hes looking for a high AAV, short term deal. Im out on that.
Also, I was referring to upgrading the top forward line.
I'll push back and just say that the cap should probably be used on something. And Carlson does fit the window well. I wouldn't want him long term, really. Maybe JBB could pull a Gourde with him and give him a 6x$4 knowing he's only gonna play a few more years? Idk.
As for the top forward line, I would really not be thrilled about giving Tuch a seven figure deal. Damning playoff showing. Basically feels like a trade is really needed
I wouldn't bank on Larkin working out imo. Detroit probably doesn't trade him for anything we have to offer. Trocheck would be a good add. Huge improvement in the faceoff department. Real question is what would it take to get him.
Tuch had questionable production in the playoffs, but he DID generate a shit load of opportunities. And hes a wrecking ball, which is exactly what we need.
Tuch had questionable production in the playoffs, but he DID generate a shit load of opportunities. And hes a wrecking ball, which is exactly what we need.
Per 60, yeah, but I wonder how much that Boston series is doing heavy lifting for him there. You're right, he is huge and has a righty shot, so he is definitely worth a look, but I'm still a little iffy. Don't get me wrong, I'd be excited to sign him, but I question whether he should be a priority for the kind of money he will command
I wouldn't be happy with a Trocheck trade, good two way play but doesn't bring enough of a physical element and doesn't have enough scoring talent. We're getting a slightly more offense than Cirelli, a lot less grit and defense. Attractive contract but not the move I'd make.
Tuch checks a lot of boxes, but obviously he's not a center. I mean we have one high offense finesse center in Point and then everyone else is more defensive oriented, we don't really have a center who brings their physicality to the offensive third of the rink and has a high skill set to boot, those are the guys who can win you championships.
DistantThunderRep
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He's not. People are reaching out of desperation. Tuch at his contract will never live up to the cap hit. Well, that's a lie, he could but it won't be until year 6 when a $10M cap hit becomes normal for a 3rd liner. It's asinine to commit around 10% of the cap, willingly, to a 30 year old player.
That's the same arguement with Raddysh right now, how much of the cap do you committ long term to an older player. This is the new NHL. GMs are seeing rising young superstars, those young superstars are going to demand top dollar. You're seeing trade requests and players having more control where they want to be like the NBA. The league is changing.
If Raddysh is a no go for JBB, use the cap space and send an offer to LA for Brandt Clarke. Right age, right shot, right side. He's they type you can use the remaining draft capital for. I'd be more than happy to send Geekie + picks + Paul for Clarke.
Any short term signing using remaining cap if Raddysh doesn't sign is fine too. As long as their 2 year max contracts. The team for the better part will be the same for the majority of next season, it's the season after with Kuch's new deal that we have to prepare for. Next season. Just be competitive, make a push but don't rock the boat. Season after either we become a yacht or the titanic.
Clarke would be a dream addition. I also wonder about McTavish in a lot of ways. But I think you are correct about Tuch. If you don't have the risk tolerance on Raddysh, I don't think you should for Tuch, even if he is more established/projectable in the long run.
Buckley
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Of the two, I think Raddysh's contract will age a lot better than Tuch's contract. I think Tuch will have a very tough time living up to his contract.
A physical ~PPG power forward who's a righty shot, has top line speed, and can generate offense on his own with excellent neutral zone play.
I wouldn't think twice at 9.5 million for him.
I wouldn't think twice at 9.5 million for him.
DistantThunderRep
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Sure, like I said it's the cap percentage and years. Short term it's fine, but long term at his age is just another handcuff and the team is finally reaching a point where they aren't constantly handcuffed by NMC/NTC's and cap space. Immediately committing both again to older players is detrimental.
It would be like us signing Guentzel. If he's overpaid the last two years so be it. My bet is that is exactly what is going to happen.
DistantThunderRep
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Guentzel plays a more sustainable game. Tuch does not. Especially for what we would need him or want him to do.
Depends heavily on how good the power play is wherever he ends up and whether or not his D partner is even close to as good defensively as Moser is. Chances are, that's unlikely. Even in the same exact environment, I doubt he lives up to an AAV north of $7.5 million. Tuch will probably be slightly overpaid, but you will still likely be getting 25ish goals and 60ish points for a few years, give or take. Much much higher floor and probably a higher ceiling, too. You just saw Raddysh's ceiling. I really don't think there's a better season out there for him.
There's no shot in hell this happens but after seeing what I did in the playoffs, Tuch needs to figure out how to play center if we're gonna do this. Sticking him with Cirelli ain't gonna do any extra for us
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