Speculation: 2025 Trade/Free Agency Thread (TDL is March 7th)
- Thread starter Leonardo87
- Start date
robbieboy3686
Registered User
- Jan 17, 2016
- 4,345
- 2,952
He’s age appropriate to boot
Last edited:
McDonald19
Registered User
At least nine teams showed interest in Mikko Rantanen before trade to Stars | TSN
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun writes in The Athletic that the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Utah Hockey Club, Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks and Seattle Kraken all showed interest in trading for Rantanen, adding that "undoubtedly there were others."
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun writes in The Athletic that the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Utah Hockey Club, Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks and Seattle Kraken all showed interest in trading for Rantanen, adding that "undoubtedly there were others."
Also, he absolutely disappears in the playoffs. I'd call it a small sample size, but it's 37 games of less than .5 PPG production. 4 goals in 37 playoff games. Yeesh. It seems significant to me.
Dr Johnny Fever
RIP Grizzly 399
Yes.
In addition, IMO, all bigger name UFAs get overpaid and over termed. (I'm not talking about older guys trying to hang on to a bottom 6 role) If they help a team win a cup it's usually considered worth it even though he will be a cap dump before his contract expires. . If you're really not a legit cup contender when you sign a guy like that it doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
Just like some players are just better fits for playoff hockey, some are just better fits for regular season hockey. Ehlers is a guy who gets you into the playoffs. Those are still valuable, and needed.
Teemu, for how awesome he was, was just a 0.7 player in the playoffs as well.
Most players will produce less in the playoffs simply because it's a tighter checking, usually lower scoring game. There were certainly series where Selanne didn't have as much impact (mostly during his years with San Jose and Colorado). But I don't think you can say Selanne wasn't an impact player in the postseason. He produced less but wasn't invisible.
Ehlers has been straight bad in the playoffs since his age 21 season as the Jets have gone one-and-done most years. I agree that some players are better in the regular season, which is ok, but not ideal. It puts a lot of burden on the rest of the roster once you get in there. It's fine if you've got a guy like Getzlaf who raises his postseason game, but if you don't have those guys, you're in trouble.
Edit: Just a note on Selanne since I found it interesting - Selanne's worst playoff seasons were arguably those three+ years in between his Ducks stints when he put up 13 points in 28 playoff games. Notably his points per game during the regular season in that same stretch was 0.64. He was just not the same player during that part of his career, probably because he was fighting that knee injury.
Last edited:
But that is why they are drafting a bunch of big, strong, grinding bottom six players. Ideally, all of your best players play a game successful in both regular season and playoff style of play, but that isn't realistic, even for the best of teams.
Most successful teams have a bunch of bottom six guys who play better in the playoffs and the roster adjusts.
How much do you think Ehlers will get paid? I'm guessing he'll be in the $8 million range. The Ducks already have Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras, two skilled but physically unimposing guys who are at risk of being taken out in a physical playoff series. Terry is making $7 million and Zegras will eventually get a similar or greater contract. We don't know how either of them will fare in the playoffs (hopefully well), but I don't think the Ducks can risk having three top 6 players on the roster who are potential playoff underperformers.
To me, Ehlers is a nice player who would be redundant on the Ducks. I'll never be sad about acquiring good talent, but I don't think he gets the team where they want to be. I'd be a bigger fan of going after Boeser or trying to acquire a winger through trade who brings a more playoff-style game.
GunnarStahl
Let’s go shake their hands
- Oct 13, 2020
- 2,117
- 2,988
This lineup is based on my expectation that a star will not be secured in free agency. If they are, great but This would be my strategy of trying to build on this season and plug some holes through free agency.
Mantha- big body, previous relationship with verbeek, typically paces for 20+ goals. he signed in Calgery 1 yr for 3.5M played 13 decent games and then had a season ending injury. I dont expect this offer would be beaten in FA as his future has some question marks and his game does have flaws. he would be a decent net front presence for this team if he pans out. If he doesnt there are worse contracts to be stuck with.
Frederic- Kind of speaks for itself. Tough and agitating bottom 6er with offensive capabilities. Can pressure those above him in the lineup to work for their spot. May need more money to win his services, depending on market.
Fleury- 7th D.
Pros of this lineup
- Doesn't logjam Colangelo next year, or Sennecke in years following.
- Allows kids to keep prime line up spots.
-Creates a pretty frustrating 4th line to play against.
-Creates a robust top 9.
-Provides wing support for Zegras/Carlsson
Cons of this lineup
-Mantha is not a sure thing
-Relies on youth development
-Zegras on wing issue remains
-Faceoff issue likely remains
-1st Line very likely isn't in the top half of NHL top lines
Mantha- big body, previous relationship with verbeek, typically paces for 20+ goals. he signed in Calgery 1 yr for 3.5M played 13 decent games and then had a season ending injury. I dont expect this offer would be beaten in FA as his future has some question marks and his game does have flaws. he would be a decent net front presence for this team if he pans out. If he doesnt there are worse contracts to be stuck with.
Frederic- Kind of speaks for itself. Tough and agitating bottom 6er with offensive capabilities. Can pressure those above him in the lineup to work for their spot. May need more money to win his services, depending on market.
Fleury- 7th D.
Pros of this lineup
- Doesn't logjam Colangelo next year, or Sennecke in years following.
- Allows kids to keep prime line up spots.
-Creates a pretty frustrating 4th line to play against.
-Creates a robust top 9.
-Provides wing support for Zegras/Carlsson
Cons of this lineup
-Mantha is not a sure thing
-Relies on youth development
-Zegras on wing issue remains
-Faceoff issue likely remains
-1st Line very likely isn't in the top half of NHL top lines
robbieboy3686
Registered User
- Jan 17, 2016
- 4,345
- 2,952
Frederick would be a great bottom 6 add. He’s also decent at face offs if I remember correctly
GunnarStahl
Let’s go shake their hands
- Oct 13, 2020
- 2,117
- 2,988
44% this year, 45.5% last year. Improvement, I guess, but not really unfortunately...
robbieboy3686
Registered User
- Jan 17, 2016
- 4,345
- 2,952
TheDarkWingThatDucks
Registered User
- Oct 30, 2024
- 371
- 327
I may be wrong, but I think we wouldn’t be able to use the a retention spot until after free agency. Fowler has one more year, so that leaves 2 available. Dumo got us a 2nd and a prospect, so fair.
So you keep one open, for FA / the draft where cap strapped teams trying to improve will pay you to take on salary.
It’s really asset management 101, it was a sellers market for sure, but if you use it, you lose all leverage on a draft day deal to use another retention spot. Which is where you can make a Debrincat / Fiala type trade.
The Ducks used their second retention slot on Dumuolin. I'm not sure why they weren't out there offering their third one as a broker; however, Verbeek might have wanted to keep it open in case they needed to use it on a Gibson trade prior to July 1st.
caliamad
Registered User
- Mar 14, 2003
- 4,459
- 460
We need to fix our faceoffs and get a guy who can really play on the top line with zegras and Carlson.
Top line rw
4th line ace center / pk
Killorn needs to bought out. Would be toxic and ineffective on the 4th line.
Top line rw
4th line ace center / pk
Killorn needs to bought out. Would be toxic and ineffective on the 4th line.
TheDarkWingThatDucks
Registered User
- Oct 30, 2024
- 371
- 327
Yes I agree, saved it for Gibson trade or draft day trade…. Which is a smart thing in my opinion.
I’d rather leave a bullet in the chamber (keep Gibson, don’t use it for draft day / before FA begins trade to help alleviate cap space for assets). Than fire them all and not have something in the chamber. Good asset mgmt even if we could have netted a 3rd and now don’t get anything.
You leave the possibility open.
100% agree. High end forward and a FO specialist are the 2 biggest needs outside of signing the free agents.
As much as a I like Marner's numbers, we almost need a pure goal scorer. Its why I really wanted Sam Reinhart last offseason.
Probably a pipe dream but wonder if Boston furthers their reset by making Pasta available.
Well take PED user Ekblad off as a UFA target… we don’t want a Josh Hamilton / Rendon type of signing.
I’m curious who Beeker has at the top of his list. I don’t see Marner being that Top 6 forward he wants. Just too expensive and soft, and besides, he’s going to stay in Toronto on join a big market club. My guess is he targeting Tavares and Nelson… guys with some size, really good on faceoffs and power play, and interested in a short overpay retirement contract.
I’m curious who Beeker has at the top of his list. I don’t see Marner being that Top 6 forward he wants. Just too expensive and soft, and besides, he’s going to stay in Toronto on join a big market club. My guess is he targeting Tavares and Nelson… guys with some size, really good on faceoffs and power play, and interested in a short overpay retirement contract.
Latest posts
-
-
-
Pre-Game Talk: March 11, 2025. Florida at Bruins Game # 66 NESN NESN+ 7 pm- Latest: Bruinfanatic
-
