Around the NHL 2024-25 regular season

[Forge]

Cap space is tight enough this season, I don't think I want to spend what we have on Saad with an extra year next season.

 

[dgibb10]

Not sure if "credit" would be the word I would use, but Verbeek is trying to restructure their blue line which was imbalanced. Despite having the palm tree advantage, I don't know if Anaheim is really a free agent destination right now. Verbeek pursued Stamkos/Marchessault but might have dodged a bullet there.

I thought Seattle overpaid for Montour and Anaheim would have had to offer more because of the state tax. As others said, I don't think Pesce would have considered Anaheim. Chicago would probably like a refund on Brodie/Martinez to this point.

Anaheim had a plethora of young D, trading Fowler just allows somebody like Mintyukov or Zellweger to not have to play the right side. Maybe surprisingly Anaheim is middle of the pack in GA, it's their offense (31st in GF) that's been letting them down. Their special teams isn't great, PP is 29th and PK is 27th. At least in theory Trouba should help their PK2 unit while the dropoff from Fowler to one of their young kids on the PP shouldn't be that big.

Brodie and martinez have been good in chi. Certainly both better than Trouba

Chi's problem at this point is their forward core. They can't finish for shit and bedard hasn't taken the step they've needed him to

The Ducks are not competing any time soon, signing big UFA contracts today only hurts their roster flexibility tomorrow. Getting short-term stopgaps for basically free is exactly what they should be doing, especially when they're guys they could conceivably flip at the deadline in a year or two.

Fowler is not really a functional NHL defenseman anymore, he's just coasting off his name and reputation from 10 years ago. Trouba is mediocre and overpaid but he can at least do some things and provide some positive impact.

Fowler + Vakkanainen + 4th + 4th for Trouba + Biakabutuka + 2nd is good business, makes them better now while also improving their draft capital.

Forgetting about 8 million dollars in that calculation.

 

[dgibb10]

He didn't sign that contract, so I don't really think that argument holds water. Do you think the Devils trading for Subban at 9M per affected negotiations with future free agents? I guess Shero was out the door by the time that mattered, but I don't think trading for a player has much bearing on anything - the days of guys walking out of camp because the Devils acquired Scott Stevens are over.

You tell me, we had to pay 5 mill for a 30 point wayne simmonds.

I think a good agent will use any and all comps available if they can.

You valued trouba as a positive on this contract or you thought this player was worth this in UFA.

 

[Guttersniped]

Pesce.

Or Roy

Or Montour

Or if you want to go short term. Brodie and Martinez at 7.75 mill combined

They weren’t getting Pesce, Roy or Montour. Who knows what players they tried but failed to signed.

Not sure some of a 30 year old on a lengthy deal is the right player for them right now anyway.

And short term they should have gotten two older, now bad defensemen, because why?

The 34 year old cooked Brodie is on the Hawks 3rd pair and the 37 year old Martinez is injured. Boy did the Ducks miss out there.

Trouba costs 6m in actual salary. The cap hit is meaningless to the Ducks next year.

They need cap flexibility for when they need to start paying their players.

 

[dgibb10]

They weren’t getting Pesce, Roy or Montour. Who knows what players they tried to but failed to signed.

Not sure some of a 30 year old on a lengthy deal is the right player for them right now anyway.

And short term they should have gotten two older, now bad defensemen, because why?

The 34 year old cooked Brodie is on the Hawks 3rd pair and the 37 year old Martinez is injured. Boy did the Ducks miss out there.

Trouba costs 6m in actual salary. The cap hit is meaningless to the Ducks next year.

They need cap flexibility for when they need to start paying their players.

Why does it have to be a lengthy deal?

I was told about 100 times the cap and money doesn't matter, just getting a good player.

I value all of those guys at LEAST 2-3 mill more than trouba.

You go offer them a 2 year deal at a massive AAV a la Orlov in Carolina (except bigger if you need to) before you take trouba at 8.

I'd rather have Brett Pesce at 12x2 than Trouba at 8x2.

I know saying really big numbers mill is scary in UFA for some reason, but let me ask you a question.

Would you give up the next 2 years of Brett Pesce for a 75% retained Jacob Trouba?