Proposal: Free agency edition Trade Rumours/Proposals - 2025/26 Part II

[Hale The Villain]

I would do Spence for McTavish, although maybe Anaheim doesn't want another small defenceman since they already have Zellweger.

Yeah hard to see a fit there with LaCombe, Mintyukov, Zellweger and Luneau as puckmovers and potential PP options.

Which is what made the Carlson acquisition so dumb. Last thing they needed was an old declining offensive D.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

I think we just need another good depth option in case Yakemchuk does his best Jiricek impression and
doesn't improve his skating or defense this summer.

Zub, Spence and Matinpalo + Yakemchuk is a perfectly fine right-side.

You have a top pairing shutdown guy, a 2nd pairing two-way guy, a 3rd pairing defensive guy + a potential top 4 OFD that could surprise.

It's a complete non-issue.

In theory I dont strongly disagree, but we all know thats not how the team views things. Theres no point pretending otherwise.

 

[Hale The Villain]

In theory I dont strongly disagree, but we all know thats not how the team views things. Theres no point pretending otherwise.

Which is why I'm frustrated.

At the end of the day I think that we'll be dealing a young 2nd pairing RD in Spence for a 2nd/3rd and then either trading a 1st+ (or equivalent value) for a "harder to play against" (yet worse) RD, or we'll be giving a bad contract to someone like Murphy or Peeke in free agency.

Whitecloud might be the best option as far as trade targets, but I don't think Calgary is going to trade him. They refuse to rebuild and seem intent on having him munch minutes for them, even if it's entirely illogical.

 

[ottawagm]

Would you want Spence @6M on a 1 year deal if he gets that in arbitration?

 

[Hale The Villain]

Would you want Spence @6M on a 1 year deal if he gets that in arbitration?

Of course.

We have plenty of cap space and Spence is a difference maker.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Which is why I'm frustrated.

At the end of the day I think that we'll be dealing a young 2nd pairing RD in Spence for a 2nd/3rd and then either trading a 1st+ (or equivalent value) for a "harder to play against" (yet worse) RD, or we'll be giving a bad contract to someone like Murphy or Peeke in free agency.

Whitecloud might be the best option as far as trade targets, but I don't think Calgary is going to trade him. They refuse to rebuild and seem intent on having him munch minutes for them, even if it's entirely illogical.

You definitely could be right, although I doubt we sell that low on Spence. I don't see how we let that happen rather than just letting him file for arb and, worst case, riding a $3.5-4ish award into next season.

Unless we are making major acquisitions on D and wing, there's no reason we can't easily stomach that.

 

[BUCKLE UP]

Spence for Demelo if we want defensive help?

 

[Hale The Villain]

You definitely could be right, although I doubt we sell that low on Spence. I don't see how we let that happen rather than just letting him file for arb and, worst case, riding a $3.5-4ish award into next season.

Unless we are making major acquisitions on D and wing, there's no reason we can't easily stomach that.

He took a step forward this season, but he's also going to get paid a lot more than the 1.5M he made last year, so I'm skeptical his trade value is significantly higher than what it was a year ago.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

He took a step forward this season, but he's also going to get paid a lot more than the 1.5M he made last year, so I'm skeptical his trade value is significantly higher than what it was a year ago.

Maybe so, but he's still a cost-controlled asset who won't be paid a significant amount of money. He can easily be retained below the top-4 standard for at least one year - either by us, or by an acquiring team.

If an acquiring team doesn't value him highly enough to give up a genuine asset, we can reap the benefit of the fact that he's an RFA without any standout metrics (30ish points, under 19mins, didn't play every game, minimal special teams, not physical, doesn't block shots) and get him for an affordable deal off of arbitration.

We know he's top 4 calibre, even if he's not the perfect fit for our needs. If no one is willing to give us a commensurate asset, we should gladly pay him like a #5 and benefit from him for at least another year.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Maybe so, but he's still a cost-controlled asset who won't be paid a significant amount of money. He can easily be retained below the top-4 standard for at least one year - either by us, or by an acquiring team.

If an acquiring team doesn't value him highly enough to give up a genuine asset, we can reap the benefit of the fact that he's an RFA without any standout metrics (30ish points, under 19mins, didn't play every game, minimal special teams, not physical, doesn't block shots) and get him for an affordable deal off of arbitration.

We know he's top 4 calibre, even if he's not the perfect fit for our needs. If no one is willing to give us a commensurate asset, we should gladly pay him like a #5 and benefit from him for at least another year.

I think he could still stay a Senator for at least another year, whether via arbitration or a 1 year bridge deal.

But I think that only happens if Staios fails to acquire the defensive RD he's been looking for.

If he manages to find one via trade or UFA I don't think we keep Spence, as I think the plan would be for Matinpalo and Yakemchuk to split duties on the bottom pair with Kleven.

 

[Micklebot]

I wonder what Clb would want for Kent Johnson. He might be a good option for a buy low candidate,

 

[stempniaksen]

I wonder what Clb would want for Kent Johnson. He might be a good option for a buy low candidate,

Apparently he's near untouchable, so quite the opposite. This isn't hearsay either, Waddell came out and said as much at his end of year presser.

 

[Micklebot]

Apparently he's near untouchable, so quite the opposite. This isn't hearsay either, Waddell came out and said as much at his end of year presser.

Untouchable? Wasn't expecting that. Wasn't expecting free but wasn't expecting untouchable for a guy that had 22 pts.

Ok, well moving on...

 

[bicboi64]

Spence for Demelo if we want defensive help?

I'm down to toss Winnipeg a 3rd to get DeMelo back. Reunite DeMelo with Chabot, keep Spence with Kleven and we have 3 pairings with excellent chemistry

 

[bicboi64]

If Staios is in monkey brain mode and wants to replicate Florida's success, he could try signing Trouba and hope Trouba just elbows all of our opponents into oblivion. Would stop Tkachuk from having to fight as well (unless of course Tkachuk is dead set on fighting as his contribution towards Ws)

 

[Hale The Villain]

Cozens/Pinto for Tippett+Ristolainen could be a good basis for a trade if Staios insists on adding a top 4 shutdown RD.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Cozens/Pinto for Tippett+Ristolainen could be a good basis for a trade if Staios insists on adding a top 4 shutdown RD.

Risto would have to agree to a framework of an extension on any deal acquiring him.

 

[PlayOn]

Cozens/Pinto for Tippett+Ristolainen could be a good basis for a trade if Staios insists on adding a top 4 shutdown RD.

No thanks

 

[Big Muddy]

I'm down to toss Winnipeg a 3rd to get DeMelo back. Reunite DeMelo with Chabot, keep Spence with Kleven and we have 3 pairings with excellent chemistry

3rd rounders are like magic wands in here. LOL.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Great trade by SJ, moving down from 20 to 27 in the draft and scooping up Kesselring. Kinda an odd move by Buffalo imo, seems more like a draftday move if anything.

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

Great trade by SJ, moving down from 20 to 27 in the draft and scooping up Kesselring. Kinda an odd move by Buffalo imo, seems more like a draftday move if anything.

Their new GM is straight trash and have been riding on that miraculous cup run by Binnington for way too long.

 

[God Says No]

Great trade by SJ, moving down from 20 to 27 in the draft and scooping up Kesselring. Kinda an odd move by Buffalo imo, seems more like a draftday move if anything.

Damn, I was lowkey hoping we get Kesselring.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Their new GM is straight trash and have been riding on that miraculous cup run by Binnington for way too long.

Can you explain what you mean by this? I thought Kekalainen had left the Blues before Binnington was even drafted

 

[MiscBrah]

Just remembered Bergevin is the AGM in Buffalo. We need to be calling them about more trades.

 

[HSF]

Cozens/Pinto for Tippett+Ristolainen could be a good basis for a trade if Staios insists on adding a top 4 shutdown RD.

Lmao nah

that’s bad for Ottawa. Risto is gonna get paid aswell so he needs to come with a contract