Around the League - 2022 offseason thread

[markog]

@Guttersniped has already made my point better than I can re: Tage Thompson. I get that he shot 15% and 38 goals is probably not gonna happen again unless they build the PP around his shot or something but Buffalo isn't signing him just to score 38 goals or more every year. They need guys who can be effective top 6 centers and they can't find them in free agency. Also someone on the main board said Thompson's year was more of a breakout year than a fluke year which I think is an accurate characterization.

Fery few players will repeat last season if scoring goes back to normal. Everyone had a personal best year last year.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

Fery few players will repeat last season if scoring goes back to normal. Everyone had a personal best year last year.

And what rules were implemented to bring scoring " back to normal " ? This should be the new norm , coaches can't make players skate faster to cut down on the slashing calls that the NHL wanted to call .more.

 

[Bleedred]

I think Subban would have been a good signing for Edmonton, but they just signed another former Devil Ryan Murray for $750k for one year.

They don't play the same side, so maybe they weren't looking for Subban.

 

[NJDevs26]

Are we really at the point now where Subban has to take a PTO from someone or just say f*** it and go into his broadcasting career?

 

[NJDevs26]

And what rules were implemented to bring scoring " back to normal " ? This should be the new norm , coaches can't make players skate faster to cut down on the slashing calls that the NHL wanted to call .more.

We'll see...but there've been new rules and an emphasis on skating and speed for years, the goalscoring popping last year was a bit eye-opening, I do want to see it again before I'm convinced it's the new norm. Although I understand like half of the scoring jump happened because of our goaltending situation

 

[Billdo]

I think Subban would have been a good signing for Edmonton, but they just signed another former Devil Ryan Murray for $750k for one year.

They don't play the same side, so maybe they weren't looking for Subban.

If we didn't trade for Marino I would've liked Subban back on the cheap.

 

[Bleedred]

Are we really at the point now where Subban has to take a PTO from someone or just say f*** it and go into his broadcasting career?

I really thought someone would sign him just because of what he used to be. The name Subban is a pretty big name because of how good he used to be at one point, but that point was probably about a year before he came here.

I think it's safe to say that he's the best defenseman on the market right now and he has been for some time. But in that time we've seen Jack Johnson (inflated reputation due to both USA Hockey loving him and the fact that he just played in the playoffs for a cup winner. He's seriously one of the most overrated players in the league, but not by fans, just by management people and front offices) and now Ryan Murray get signed to deals while he still waits. Those guys did get minimum wage deals, which maybe he wants at least a million at this point.

If we didn't trade for Marino I would've liked Subban back on the cheap.

I wouldn't have hated one more year (for cheap), but I just don't trust Ruff (or maybe even Brunette) not to once again try the insanity of Subban on the power play if things go bad again.

The only players worse than Subban at the power play are players that never play on the power play because everyone knows and are in full agreement that they aren't good at it.

 

[Devs3cups]

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Finally, the end of all the "inside information" on where Miller will be traded. The "Insiders" really nailed that one.

 

[Bleedred]

Wait, what? That’s for real?

I thought things were so bad there and the Rangers were about to trade for him and he’s really gotta get out of there and he’ll definitely be gone in the off-season. Then it became “Well, he’ll be gone by the deadline”.

 

[I Hate Tie DOMI]

Thank God the Miller to NJ rumours are dead now.





So who is the new guy NJ is trading the entire team for now? Meier?

 

[Guttersniped]

 

[My3Sons]

Thank God the Miller to NJ rumours are dead now.





So who is the new guy NJ is trading the entire team for now? Meier?

SJ fans aren’t being obnoxious about that. They seem to understand that it will be Meier’s decision that his decision controls any trade and they seem to waffle on whether he stays in SJ. To be fair though they aren’t getting harassed about moving him for Ryder Halak and a second.

 

[Guttersniped]

Meier has a 10m qualifying offer next off-season.

We’ve seen several of the RFAs with the generous QOs hanging over them get deals so we’ve seen how it’s been resolved in some cases.

Amusingly Matthew Tkachuk’s 9m QO was seen as potentially worrisome by some until he had a massive season and made it not that.

Presumably could have gotten more than 9.5m from other teams, but wants to be a Panther, and Florida does the 1st sign & trade in NHL history to get 8 years too.
Evolving Hockey:
7 years/10.5-10.67m
8 years/ 11.27-11.3m

Boeser’s 7.5m QO was definitely seen as a problem with several injury hindered seasons. Vancouver negotiates him down to a 3 year/6.65m deal.
Evolving Hockey:
3 years/ 6.138-6.335m

Laine got his 7.5m QO as a 1 year deal in 2020-21 from Jarmo. They apparently started from there and ended up with a 4 year/8.7m.
Evolving Hockey: 4 years/ 6.489-6.551m

Think that’s it. Next off-season Barzal joins Meier with a 10m QO. DeBrincat has a 9m QO.

And then the madness stops because they changed the rules. Pettersson’s QO in 2023-24 is 8.8m despite his 10.25m salary in 2022-23.

 

[Eggtimer]

I would have liked to added Miller , BUT , only if it was for 4/5 years and that was never going to happen ever.
Time to hope for us landing one of Meier , Pastrnak , Kane , Tarasenko ( last two guys on shorter term so probably not possible)
Jarry (UFA next year) for a goalie could be interesting if Blackwood and or Vanacek don’t pan out ?

 

[Bleedred]

Perhaps I’m a bit pessimistic in Sharks land, but I feel like they could be in for a very extensive rebuild like the Devils over the last almost decade.

It might not start this year, well, it definitely won’t start this year because they won’t do a rebuild. But with how lousy their division is, some team could surprise and get in a playoff spot. Outside of Edmonton and Calgary, I don’t think anyone else is a safe bet for the playoffs in that division. Probably Vegas? They should be in, but it all depends on their goaltending.

Both Vancouver and LA are probably in the next tier, which is one tier above San Jose for me.

Then it’s Seattle and them in the lower tier. It may not work out that way and one of those two teams can surprise and get into the playoffs if neither of Vancouver or LA do and/or Vegas disappoints again. I wouldn’t bet on either of those two teams getting in, but they seem to have a better chance than they would in literally any other division in the entire league. The Central has Arizona and Chicago, but every other team in that division is at least slightly above average. Which means they might only send 3 teams from the Pacific to the playoffs and 5 from the Central.

My point is the Sharks have some rough years ahead. Too many old and bad contracts. Timo may or may not be good by the time the Sharks are a serious team again.

I figure the Sharks are definitely in Devils circa 2013 or 2014 territory, so I could easily see them still being a lottery contender up till 2030 or so when Timo Meier is 34 years old.

 

[glenwo2]

(J)ust (T)rash Miller is finally off this board's radar.

At least Meier is good so I don't mind the discussion for him.

 

[Guttersniped]

Meier has a 10m qualifying offer next off-season.

We’ve seen several of the RFAs with the generous QOs hanging over them get deals so we’ve seen how it’s been resolved in some cases.

Amusingly Matthew Tkachuk’s 9m QO was seen as potentially worrisome by some until he had a massive season and made it not that.

Presumably could have gotten more than 9.5m from other teams, but wants to be a Panther, and Florida does the 1st sign & trade in NHL history to get 8 years too.
Evolving Hockey:
7 years/10.5-10.67m
8 years/ 11.27-11.3m

Boeser’s 7.5m QO was definitely seen as a problem with several injury hindered seasons. Vancouver negotiates him down to a 3 year/6.65m deal.
Evolving Hockey:
3 years/ 6.138-6.335m

Laine got his 7.5m QO as a 1 year deal in 2020-21 from Jarmo. They apparently started from there and ended up with a 4 year/8.7m.
Evolving Hockey: 4 years/ 6.489-6.551m

Think that’s it. Next off-season Barzal joins Meier with a 10m QO. DeBrincat has a 9m QO.

And then the madness stops because they changed the rules. Pettersson’s QO in 2023-24 is 8.8m despite his 10.25m salary in 2022-23.

I remembered a few more “platform deals”:

Brayden Point’s 3 year deal ending in 2021-22 gave him a 9m QO. That also was not a problem and he got a 8 year/9.5m deal signed last off-season.

Zach Werenski’s 3 year deal ending in 2021-22 gave him a 7m QO. Columbus gave him a massive (iffy) 6 year/9.58m deal last off-season.

Charlie McAvoy had a 7.3m QO but not a problem lol

Here’s a list of the platform deals all the RFA stars got (that I can think of. It was a big thing because caps were getting tight and teams figured they could pay everyone after the cap jumped with Seattle joining & the new TV deal.

The real winners are Matthews & Marner, they’re in the 4th year of deals bigger than the new deals these players are getting. And they’ll be UFAs after 2-3 more years.

Mathew Barzal: 3 year/7m > 10m QO
(2023-24: ?)

Timo Meier: 4 year/6m > 10m QO
(2023-24: ?)

Alex DeBrincat: 3 year/6.4m > 9m QO
(2023-24: ?)

Matthew Tkachuk: 3 year/7m > 9m QO
(2022-23: 8 years/9.5m)

Brayden Point: 3 year/6.75m > 9m QO
(2022-23: 8 years/9.5m)

Patrik Laine: 2 year/6.75m > 7.5m QO (+ 1 year)
(2022-23: 4 years/8.7m)

Brock Boeser: 3 year/5.875m > 7.5m QO
(2022-23: 3 years/6.65m)

Charlie McAvoy: 3 years/4.9m > 7.3m QO
(2022-23: 8 years/9.5m)

Zach Werenski: 3 year/5m > 7m QO
(2022-23: 6 year/9.58m)

 

[Eggtimer]

Perhaps I’m a bit pessimistic in Sharks land, but I feel like they could be in for a very extensive rebuild like the Devils over the last almost decade.

It might not start this year, well, it definitely won’t start this year because they won’t do a rebuild. But with how lousy their division is, some team could surprise and get in a playoff spot. Outside of Edmonton and Calgary, I don’t think anyone else is a safe bet for the playoffs in that division. Probably Vegas? They should be in, but it all depends on their goaltending.

Both Vancouver and LA are probably in the next tier, which is one tier above San Jose for me.

Then it’s Seattle and them in the lower tier. It may not work out that way and one of those two teams can surprise and get into the playoffs if neither of Vancouver or LA do and/or Vegas disappoints again. I wouldn’t bet on either of those two teams getting in, but they seem to have a better chance than they would in literally any other division in the entire league. The Central has Arizona and Chicago, but every other team in that division is at least slightly above average. Which means they might only send 3 teams from the Pacific to the playoffs and 5 from the Central.

My point is the Sharks have some rough years ahead. Too many old and bad contracts. Timo may or may not be good by the time the Sharks are a serious team again.

I figure the Sharks are definitely in Devils circa 2013 or 2014 territory, so I could easily see them still being a lottery contender up till 2030 or so when Timo Meier is 34 years old.

I think that Seattle might actually be better than expected if they get average goaltending (sounds awfully familiar).
I thunk they could be at the very least a .500 team and actually play games that matter near the end of the year.
I originally thought there is no way in hell they come close to respectable , but after looking at their lineup recently … it’s actually pretty damn decent. No superstars but very solid throughout their forward roster. If Beniers and Wright play well ( not sure if Wright plaYs this year or not) . Their D and goaltending is sketchy.

 

[njdevils1982]

completely missed the miller signing....

ok canucks, way to go

 

[My3Sons]

I’m disappointed Miller extended wig VAN so early. It was fun reading fan takes about how he was going to return multiple first round picks and a prospect and player on top of that since VAN had allegedly rejected some Ranger offer that I doubt ever happened.

 

[Guadana]

I think that Seattle might actually be better than expected if they get average goaltending (sounds awfully familiar).
I thunk they could be at the very least a .500 team and actually play games that matter near the end of the year.
I originally thought there is no way in hell they come close to respectable , but after looking at their lineup recently … it’s actually pretty damn decent. No superstars but very solid throughout their forward roster. If Beniers and Wright play well ( not sure if Wright plaYs this year or not) . Their D and goaltending is sketchy.
View attachment 581522

Wright should go back to ohl, if he will not play in nhl. Or sign in Europe.
Team looks good on paper, but I believe lack of consistency and chemistry will play a bad song for them. May be bounce back goalie could really save the day.

 

[MadDevil]

Those are some sexy jerseys if they end up looking like that.

 

[Goptor]

I think that Seattle might actually be better than expected if they get average goaltending (sounds awfully familiar).
I thunk they could be at the very least a .500 team and actually play games that matter near the end of the year.
I originally thought there is no way in hell they come close to respectable , but after looking at their lineup recently … it’s actually pretty damn decent. No superstars but very solid throughout their forward roster. If Beniers and Wright play well ( not sure if Wright plaYs this year or not) . Their D and goaltending is sketchy.
View attachment 581522

They did nothing to address goaltending that could best be described as "Atleast its better than Gillies" from last year. They have weak offense coming from their back end. They are depending on a rookie to carry their top line.

They do have excellent winger depth although a lot of their salary cap is tied to it.

 

[Beastdog75]

Those are some sexy jerseys if they end up looking like that.

I like those, but I wish the Sharks would go back to their original logo. I know it isn't THAT much different than the current one, but the original just looks sharper to me.