Ed Ned and Leddy
Brokering the Bally Sports + Corncob TV Merger
This is a tough one for me, I really went back and forth. I have Cossa/Berggren/Veleno really neck and neck here, could wake up and rank them in any order. Johansson is chasing the podium just behind them.
Comparing goalies to skaters is tricky enough, especially when one is entering his D+1 while the others are entering their D+4s. I try to break the gridlock by asking myself, "Who are you most reluctant to see go in a trade?"
Losing Veleno would sting, I really like the player. But I think we have a bit of what he brings to the table on the roster with guys like Larkin, Suter, and we'll see where Rasmussen is this year. We need another center as good or hopefully better than Larkin of course, but in terms of middle-six center depth I don't think we're desparate.
Losing Berggren would be tough, it essentially puts all of the our hopes in terms of creativity/vision/playmaking from the wing on Lucas Raymond. Bertuzzi can also bring a bit of that, but is he here for the long haul? I'm not sure. I really do hope he can be the top six playmaker we hope, that would be a sight for sore eyes.
Losing Cossa essentially depletes our goaltender depth after Ned. Coin flip between Cossa and Berggren really, but I'm going to give it to the goaltender because he impressed in my Oil Kings viewings and it doesn't look like my vote is going to be the deciding one.
Fun note - it looks like Veleno and Johansson are set to be our 6th and 7th ranked prospects respectively. I think they're top five prospects for any team in the league bar maybe the Kings or Ducks. I think they're top three for like half the league. That's before looking at several promising second round picks like McIsaac, Tuomisto, Mastrosimone, Wallinder, Niederbach, Buium, etc.
It's good to keep expectations measured, but we really have built up a strong prospect pool here. Couple that with our cap space and a good GM at the wheel and I think things are going to turn around here.
Comparing goalies to skaters is tricky enough, especially when one is entering his D+1 while the others are entering their D+4s. I try to break the gridlock by asking myself, "Who are you most reluctant to see go in a trade?"
Losing Veleno would sting, I really like the player. But I think we have a bit of what he brings to the table on the roster with guys like Larkin, Suter, and we'll see where Rasmussen is this year. We need another center as good or hopefully better than Larkin of course, but in terms of middle-six center depth I don't think we're desparate.
Losing Berggren would be tough, it essentially puts all of the our hopes in terms of creativity/vision/playmaking from the wing on Lucas Raymond. Bertuzzi can also bring a bit of that, but is he here for the long haul? I'm not sure. I really do hope he can be the top six playmaker we hope, that would be a sight for sore eyes.
Losing Cossa essentially depletes our goaltender depth after Ned. Coin flip between Cossa and Berggren really, but I'm going to give it to the goaltender because he impressed in my Oil Kings viewings and it doesn't look like my vote is going to be the deciding one.
Fun note - it looks like Veleno and Johansson are set to be our 6th and 7th ranked prospects respectively. I think they're top five prospects for any team in the league bar maybe the Kings or Ducks. I think they're top three for like half the league. That's before looking at several promising second round picks like McIsaac, Tuomisto, Mastrosimone, Wallinder, Niederbach, Buium, etc.
It's good to keep expectations measured, but we really have built up a strong prospect pool here. Couple that with our cap space and a good GM at the wheel and I think things are going to turn around here.
