Player Discussion Buffalo Pickers - The Search For Serviceable Defensemen, Summer of '23 Edition

[MarkusKetterer]

Sounds like the story being spun up out of Vancouver is a concern about skating that has teams scared of Livingston. Still interested in Cornell’s Sam Malinski too.

Thoughts on Colton Huard? He has the bonus of having played for the Chicago Steel

Colton Huard - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Colton Huard, 2000-11-27 Foothill Ranch, CA, USA USA. Most recently in the NCAA with Univ. of New Hampshire. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

 

[Old Navy Goat]

He pretty much only has size and handedness going for him. Not particularly Fleet footed but isn't measured in Brad Brown's. I see him as an AHL journeyman bouncing around as a 3rd pairing

 

[Ace]

He pretty much only has size and handedness going for him. Not particularly Fleet footed but isn't measured in Brad Brown's. I see him as an AHL journeyman bouncing around as a 3rd pairing

So top pair for us after one defensive injury?

 

[Chainshot]

He pretty much only has size and handedness going for him. Not particularly Fleet footed but isn't measured in Brad Brown's. I see him as an AHL journeyman bouncing around as a 3rd pairing

He's got a good shot too so there could be some Miller development maybe if he can improve his feet.

I like Malinski more.

 

[TehDoak]

I don't think anybody is seriously suggesting that UFAs are the best route. This year's class - more than most years - seems weak.

But that doesn't mean they need to go bargain hunting either. Adams has everything he could ever need to swing a trade for an established player. He needs to take advantage of it.

Given that we don't need a top pair guy, I actually think UFA route could be reasonable for what we need. I think you can sell the idea of playing with one of Dahlin/Power, though if they want to go that route, they should identify their guy ASAP, pay for his rights, and try to get him signed before they hit the market.

Your ideal is a vet who is responsible in their own zone, can help in a mentor role, and can help the PK. In an ideal world, you are adding 2 d-men, one to play with Power and another to carry the bottom pairing who can play up the lineup in a pinch. The 2nd d-man MAY not be a need if Johnson signs, or you could at least wait until the trade deadline and fill that role then if our bottom pair still struggles.

The issue is going to be avoiding max term. I'll use Dumba or Severson as an example here.

I think you'd rather pay a 4 year, 28M deal out to one of them rather than a 6 year, 30M deal. And I think that is how you get them to sign here. Both will be 29 this summer, so you would get them 29-33. They would be able to get another bite at the UFA apple after and make more money if they are healthy. The idea with using the 4 year deal structure is if you sign Power to a McAvoy-esque extension, then he would be up for a raise when their deals expire. 4 years should also be enough to develop a replacement internally, even if they are drafted this summer.

 

[RefsIdeas]

My eyes are on one or both of Soucy/Mayfield this summer.

Samuelsson - Dahlin
Power - Mayfield
Soucy - Lybushkin

Stillman as your 7th. Bryson and Jokiharju can be sent to Uranus.

Both would help a ton on the PK, add physicality and not be totally useless offensively (although not their specialty, can chip in some).

I’d give Soucy 4x4.5 and Mayfield 4x5 in a heartbeat and it would impact our ability to sign our guys down the road 0 - go on CapFriendly and project out contracts yourself if you don’t believe me.

 

[Zman5778]

My eyes are on one or both of Soucy/Mayfield this summer.

Samuelsson - Dahlin
Power - Mayfield
Soucy - Lybushkin

Stillman as your 7th. Bryson and Jokiharju can be sent to Uranus.

Both would help a ton on the PK, add physicality and not be totally useless offensively (although not their specialty, can chip in some).

I’d give Soucy 4x4.5 and Mayfield 4x5 in a heartbeat and it would impact our ability to sign our guys down the road 0 - go on CapFriendly and project out contracts yourself if you don’t believe me.

Feels like a lot of Isles fans want to do to Mayfield what you're suggesting we do with Bryson and Jokiharju.

 

[Chainshot]

My eyes are on one or both of Soucy/Mayfield this summer.

Samuelsson - Dahlin
Power - Mayfield
Soucy - Lybushkin

Stillman as your 7th. Bryson and Jokiharju can be sent to Uranus.

Both would help a ton on the PK, add physicality and not be totally useless offensively (although not their specialty, can chip in some).

I’d give Soucy 4x4.5 and Mayfield 4x5 in a heartbeat and it would impact our ability to sign our guys down the road 0 - go on CapFriendly and project out contracts yourself if you don’t believe me.

Soucy in that spot is a nice insultation for their top 2 LHD and is a marked improvement in terms of PK defender. They can't afford to keep players who they don't trust to PK on their third pair.

I'm torn on Mayfield. It seems like he's fallen off a bit this year, but there might be some bounce back.

 

[RefsIdeas]

Soucy in that spot is a nice insultation for their top 2 LHD and is a marked improvement in terms of PK defender. They can't afford to keep players who they don't trust to PK on their third pair.

I'm torn on Mayfield. It seems like he's fallen off a bit this year, but there might be some bounce back.

Mayfield also seems like a quite good PKer. I think I’d probably prefer Dumba/Severson in that spot, but Mayfield will come cheaper. Hard to imagine him not being an upgrade over Jokiharju

 

[Rowley Birkin]

Given that we don't need a top pair guy, I actually think UFA route could be reasonable for what we need. I think you can sell the idea of playing with one of Dahlin/Power, though if they want to go that route, they should identify their guy ASAP, pay for his rights, and try to get him signed before they hit the market.

Your ideal is a vet who is responsible in their own zone, can help in a mentor role, and can help the PK. In an ideal world, you are adding 2 d-men, one to play with Power and another to carry the bottom pairing who can play up the lineup in a pinch. The 2nd d-man MAY not be a need if Johnson signs, or you could at least wait until the trade deadline and fill that role then if our bottom pair still struggles.

The issue is going to be avoiding max term. I'll use Dumba or Severson as an example here.

I think you'd rather pay a 4 year, 28M deal out to one of them rather than a 6 year, 30M deal. And I think that is how you get them to sign here. Both will be 29 this summer, so you would get them 29-33. They would be able to get another bite at the UFA apple after and make more money if they are healthy. The idea with using the 4 year deal structure is if you sign Power to a McAvoy-esque extension, then he would be up for a raise when their deals expire. 4 years should also be enough to develop a replacement internally, even if they are drafted this summer.

I hear what you are saying - but on the basis of what @Chainshot has most notably spoken about (others too) that pairing Samuelsson with Power makes a lot of sense... We ARE technically looking for a top pair guy. It doesn't need to be a do-it-all perennial Norris contender - but it's got to be a guy you're confident in giving big minutes to & having out there in pressure situations.

And frankly - IMO very few (if any) pending UFAs tick all the right boxes.

I'm not against adding an older guy. And i get annoyed at the obsession with youth around these parts as much as anyone ... But does a guy who might tick those boxes like Orlov - who will be 32 at the start of next season - really fit the window of contention better than a guy ~5 years younger who might be available via trade?

 

[Chainshot]

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[SECRET SQUIRREL]

I've been trying to concoct a fair return in a Rasmus Anderssen + Jacob Markstrom trade these last few days.

24 1st
23 2nd (Philly)
Jokiharju
Rosen
Comrie**

Any chance it's enough?

** It's doubtful they'd even want him with Vladar and Wolf, but if not, he can just be Levi's partner down in Rochester next year.

 

[Jim Bob]

I've been trying to concoct a fair return in a Rasmus Anderssen + Jacob Markstrom trade these last few days.

24 1st
23 2nd (Philly)
Jokiharju
Rosen
Comrie**

Any chance it's enough?

** It's doubtful they'd even want him with Vladar and Wolf, but if not, he can just be Levi's partner down in Rochester next year.

It's hard to tell because you are putting together two assets with very different values by themselves.

If you take Comrie out of it, I think this is fair:

23 2nd (Philly) for Markstrom - fair given his contract and maybe an overpay

24 1st, Jokiharju, and Rosen for RA - That seems fair even if Calgary may want that 1st in 23.

 

[Irie]

Soucy in that spot is a nice insultation for their top 2 LHD and is a marked improvement in terms of PK defender. They can't afford to keep players who they don't trust to PK on their third pair.

A funfact that has zero bearing on the real world.... Soucy and Borgen are best buds out here in Seattle. (they are quite hilarious in player interviews taking quips at one another). Borgen is RFA with a year till UFA, and he has Arb rights.

If Francis can't get a multi-year deal with Borgen done, going after him next offseason as Lyubushkin's deal is expiring could be a really nice pickup, and having Soucy around would absolutely increase the odds of landing him, imo.

 

[Chainshot]

Nashville.

 

[Chainshot]

This one hurts a bit -

 

[BFLO]

I hear what you are saying - but on the basis of what @Chainshot has most notably spoken about (others too) that pairing Samuelsson with Power makes a lot of sense... We ARE technically looking for a top pair guy. It doesn't need to be a do-it-all perennial Norris contender - but it's got to be a guy you're confident in giving big minutes to & having out there in pressure situations.

And frankly - IMO very few (if any) pending UFAs tick all the right boxes.

I'm not against adding an older guy. And i get annoyed at the obsession with youth around these parts as much as anyone ... But does a guy who might tick those boxes like Orlov - who will be 32 at the start of next season - really fit the window of contention better than a guy ~5 years younger who might be available via trade?

Orlov fits the window for 2-3 years better than a mythical unicorn that we'll never actually trade for.

Which is my main point from earlier. We can't just sit on our hands year after year waiting for the perfect unicorn trade for the perfect <24 year old d-man to pair with power or dahlin for the next 8 years. We've already wasted the first year of Dahlin's prime, I don't want to waste any more.

With that said, would I prefer Ryan Graves and Connor Clifton to Orlov based on their age? Absolutely. I think Graves and Clifton are both great UFA targets and I think we should actually try to get both of them.

Graves is average at 5v5 defense, but is a 1st unit PKer, which we need desperately.

Sammy+Dahlin
Power+Clifton
Graves+Boosh

Graves+Clifton on the PK

Graves would a top 4 guy playing on the bottom pair. He could easily move up the lineup to cover for injuries.

 

[Chainshot]

Orlov fits the window for 2-3 years better than a mythical unicorn that we'll never actually trade for.

Which is my main point from earlier. We can't just sit on our hands year after year waiting for the perfect unicorn trade for the perfect <24 year old d-man to pair with power or dahlin for the next 8 years. We've already wasted the first year of Dahlin's prime, I don't want to waste any more.

With that said, would I prefer Ryan Graves and Connor Clifton to Orlov based on their age? Absolutely. I think Graves and Clifton are both great UFA targets and I think we should actually try to get both of them.

Graves is average at 5v5 defense, but is a 1st unit PKer, which we need desperately.
View attachment 678517
View attachment 678520

Sammy+Dahlin
Power+Clifton
Graves+Boosh

Graves+Clifton on the PK

Graves would a top 4 guy playing on the bottom pair. He could easily move up the lineup to cover for injuries.

Great post.

And I very much agree that done is better than waiting for perfect.

 

[Chainshot]

CJ's a good read about the Devils, thought this was interesting since Severson has come up as a RHD UFA option.

 

[Jacob582]

Dreger stating that Ryan Johnson expected to sign with Buffalo when his season is over.

 

[Zman5778]

Sammy+Dahlin
Power+Clifton
Graves+Boosh

Graves+Clifton on the PK

Graves would a top 4 guy playing on the bottom pair. He could easily move up the lineup to cover for injuries.

Graves/Clifton/Sammy/Boosh as our top 4 PKers on the backend? Yes, please. It wouldn't solve the shitshow that is our forwards trying to play defense......but it sure as hell would help.

 

[Jim Bob]

I am curious about the underrated D conversation.

 

[Chainshot]

The interest in other players trying to dig into what Toews does in Colorado is fascinating. Other NHLers trying to figure out what Devon does to be better at what they do.

Sammy gets a shout out in this around 33 1/2 minutes in. They start on the list 39 minutes in.

Names: Valimaki, Walman, Brodin, Spurgeon, K'Andre Miller, Pettersson, Zub, Weegar

 

[Rowley Birkin]

The interest in other players trying to dig into what Toews does in Colorado is fascinating. Other NHLers trying to figure out what Devon does to be better at what they do.

Sammy gets a shout out in this around 33 1/2 minutes in. They start on the list 39 minutes in.

Names: Valimaki, Walman, Brodin, Spurgeon, K'Andre Miller, Pettersson, Zub, Weegar

It feels as if Brodin is a guy who has been talked about forever here - which is strange considering he plays for a different team in a different conference.