GDT: Draft aftermath and free agent frenzy

[Big Daddy Cane]

Looking ahead for a moment:

This Summer
Fleury - $2.5 mil x 3
Foegele - $1.5 mil x 2
Hamilton - $8.25 mil x 8
Svechnikov - $6.75 mil x 2

Next Summer
Geekie - $1 mil x 2

Svechnikov (6.75) - Aho (8.454) - Teravainen (5.4)
Niederreiter (5.25) - Trocheck (4.75) - Necas (.863)
Foegele (1.5) - Staal (6) - X
X - Geekie (1) - X

Slavin (5.3) - Hamilton (8.25)
Skjei (5.25) - Pesce (4.025)
Gardiner (4.05) - Fleury (2.5)

X
X

Total: $69.342 mil
Cap Space: $12.158 mil

Those projections probably overestimate the collective cap hit, but a hardline negotiation is not going to result in big savings. Add $1 mil to the cap space, if you want.

Even if they could somehow acquire Fleury this year and then go with him in full with Nedeljkovic or whatever young goalie backing him up for a $1 mil, that will leave $4 mil and change for 3 forwards, a spare and cap space for any bonus overages/injury callups/deadline space. That's with bridging Svechnikov. They need goaltending closer to $6 mil, unless they can reduce the cap spent on defense.

$9.3 mil on Skjei and Gardiner really hurts. That needs to be addressed in some way by next offseason. It's unsustainable.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

I don’t think Skjei or Gardner are all that hard to move when the time comes. Skjei can bring back assets for sure, and maybe to shed Gardner’s contract we’d have to add a small sweetener like a 2nd or 3rd (depending largely on how he plays this year), but that’s not too big of a deal for us I don’t think.

I know Boston fans don’t like it at all (only the 1 who came here and actually initially suggested it to us, but got lit up on the main boards by their own fans) but I think a deal around Skjei and DeBrusk could be pretty damn good for us. DeBrusk is a risk (inconsistency, salary demands) but I think one that could be worth taking to solidly our top 6. Bruins just signed Smith and now need a LD to replace Krug... There could be a fit there for both teams.

 

[Lucky Lindy]

Mike Smith stays with Oilers, so no Mrazek to them.

 

[A Star is Burns]

Oilers shooting a good offseason in the foot with that tandem again.

 

[emptyNedder]

If (and I believe at this point it is a BIG if) the Canes are still seriously shopping for a G, my choice remains Merzlikins.

I agree Kuemper has been one of the league's best the past two seasons, but while everyone mentions the risk of elevating a back-up or goalie with less than 60 or so starts, one thing hasn't been mentioned—there are a string of good to very good goalies who have dramatically fallen off in the year they turn 30 or 31: Holtby, Schneider, Bobrovsky, Elliott, Bernier. A couple have seen this fall off at 28/29 (Jones, Mason). Their circumstances are varied—some have changed teams, some have seen their teams struggle, but there isn't any one commonality other than age.

Given that the cost will likely be less, I think there is a good case that Merzlikins at 26 (also signed for 2 years and for $500k less) is just as likely to succeed. That case includes playing as the starter for more than two months, which included 5 shutouts in 8 starts; being one of the top goalies at the World Championships in both 17 and 18; and three seasons with 40+ starts and stellar statistics in a foreign league.

I think Kuemper would be a good pickup. But if I were in the front office, I would be open to acquiring Merzlikins.

 

[AD Skinner]

I agree with you on the merits, but the Borg might not on the value:

Dougie for $8M AAV vs Peitro for $8M AAV plus the assets Dougie brings back?

A dougie in the hand is worth two in the bush

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Hamilton for 3 years? Doubtful

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

Hamilton for 3 years? Doubtful

Typo. I meant 8. Carlson adjusted for inflation is the comp.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I agree with you on the merits, but the Borg might not on the value:

Dougie for $8M AAV vs Peitro for $8M AAV plus the assets Dougie brings back?

IIRC, Pietrangelo was one of, more sheltered D on St Louis this year, so that come into play on value. Bouwmeester, Parayko and Gunnarsson took the tough assignments.

maybe STL didn’t want to pay $8M for a 30 year old defenseman they feel they may need to shelter more and more. They instead went with Krug, who is 1 year, 3 mos younger and is $1.5M less who also needs sheltering. I don’t like the Krug contract, but would hate an $8M, 7 year contract for Pietrangelo.

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

Toronto trades Johnsson to the Devils for Joey Anderson. That gives them a bit of cap relief, but now who will Leafs fans offer for Pesce on the trade board? Bracco, Kapanen, and Johnsson are all gone

 

[spockBokk]

Toronto trades Johnsson to the Devils for Joey Anderson. That gives them a bit of cap relief, but now who will Leafs fans offer for Pesce on the trade board? Bracco, Kapanen, and Johnsson are all gone

Andersen of course

 

[DaveG]

Andersen of course

Clearly you undervalue Andersen, Dougie's the only appropriate return there according to Dubas

 

[A Star is Burns]

Saad to Colorado for Zadorov with other inconsequential pieces on each side. Like that for my Avs.

 

[Bub]

 

[Unsustainable]

I think Skjei should be the one traded. Keep Gardiner.

Im still holding out hope we make a move for a 1a goalie, using Bean + to get it. Then Skjei to get back assets used for the goalie.

 

[Sens1Canes2]

TVR to Caps. 1 year, 800k

 

[A Star is Burns]

TVR to Caps. 1 year, 800k

Good spot for him. Looks like he felt the cap crunch.

 

[A Star is Burns]

And thanks to TVR for that one YUGE goal against Montreal.

 

[HisIceness]

Sad to see TvR leave



This is arguably one of the biggest goals in franchise history. The Canes lose this game and there's a good chance that Montreal takes their spot in the 2019 playoffs, the standings were of no room for error this night. This goal guaranteed at least a point and Svech finished it off in OT.

IIRC this was also Pride night, and TvR was a big advocate for that.

 

[HisIceness]

Forgot, the night before TvR showed off his skills as the best dunker on the team. Not sure who will take his place. And CDH was the best screen-setter too, damn we really let our two best hoops guys go.

 

[hblueridgegal]

 

[Justshootmore]

TVR to Caps. 1 year, 800k

Am I the only one who finds this a little odd? First of all, I am pretty sure the Canes could have easily matched that offer financially, and I wouldn't hate it. I understand that he might not want to be the Nr. 7 guy. But then it doesn't makes sense to sign in Washington. Their right side is: Carlson, Orlov, Schultz, Jensen, TvR. So basically he is the 5th guy on their right side.

Or were the Canes not interested regardless of the price? Who is currently our 4th guy on the right side? Keane?

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

With Hall unsurprisingly telling Columbus no, its going to funny when Hoffman goes there

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

Sad to see TvR leave



This is arguably one of the biggest goals in franchise history. The Canes lose this game and there's a good chance that Montreal takes their spot in the 2019 playoffs, the standings were of no room for error this night. This goal guaranteed at least a point and Svech finished it off in OT.

IIRC this was also Pride night, and TvR was a big advocate for that.

That overtime goal is probably my favorite one of Svech's career so far. He's had flashier and more skilled goals, obviously, but for that kid to have the balls and shot to blow a puck past Carey Price like that at 18 years old, that's special.