GDT: Free Agent Frenzy Part III - Looking for Mr. Centerman

[GregSirico]

Wonder if they move him if they can't come to a term?

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

What are the Rangers trading for Duchene? Zibanejad is two years away from group 3. Nash will be off the books after this season. How small can the Zibanejad deal be?

I would guess they would have to find another team, IE trading a forward like Miller or Hayes to someone that has that LHD they want.. then adding some smaller pieces. it all depends on what he's willing to take, but I think its worth exploring.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Wonder if they move him if they can't come to a term?

They almost have to pay him... its almost a lock they do.

 

[GOAT AINEC]

That first round loss to the Rangers destroyed the Habs. They are losing everybody and that Price contract is awful. Lost their best forward in the playoffs and their best defensive prospect haha.

 

[RangerBoy]

Yeah, do you think that will be that big of a deal to keep everyone? I'm not seeing the huge issue but I may have missed something

They have $44M committed to 9 players. Zibanejad and Fast will increase the number. Keeping everyone becomes difficult plopping $6M for Kovalchuk into the mix.

 

[Rick Nash 61]

Very happy Radulov signed out west. My guy ****ing killed us in that series vs the Habs, kept them in the series.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

That first round loss to the Rangers destroyed the Habs. They are losing everybody and that Price contract is awful. Lost their best forward in the playoffs and their best defensive prospect haha.

Yeah, why wouldn't you just sign Radulov (he got a bit more than Drouin but so what) and keep their best D prospect? They had the cap to do it and still do.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

They have $44M committed to 9 players. Zibanejad and Fast will increase the number. Keeping everyone becomes difficult plopping $6M for Kovalchuk into the mix.

I don't think Kovalchuk is an option. A center would be a different story.

 

[Raspewtin]

Girardi was a problem for the 82 game regular season, and just because he wasn't awful in the playoffs doesn't mean he was good either.

Clendening should have been in the lineup over Girardi, he should have been a 2nd/3rd pairing guy with others slotting up the lineup.

I think AV is a bad coach and that he's to blame for most of these awful decisions, he's had several assistant coaches, at some point the blames falls on the HC.

He was awful in the playoffs too

 

[GOAT AINEC]

Yeah, why wouldn't you just sign Radulov (he got a bit more than Drouin but so what) and keep their best D prospect? They had the cap to do it and still do.

For real, Radulov single handedly kept them in that series. Habs look so bad right now. Price having a Hart trophy season is their only chance at the playoffs.

 

[Rick Nash 61]

I don't think Kovalchuk is an option. A center would be a different story.

I think he is if they move Staal somehow. Right now we have enough cap space for a big time center alone, so moving Staal would give us even more to play with.

That's me dreaming though.

 

[NickyFotiu]

You've been a catastophist over the cap for years now and we've made the playoffs every year except for one. Additionally, I think Gorton has a better handle on it than Sather ever did.

LOL the sky is falling. The sky is falling. Must trade everyone over 25 and tank for draft picks before it is too late. Save yourself!

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

He was awful in the playoffs too

I think so too, he was less awful but still awful, but still, that wasn't the point ;P

 

[GregSirico]

I think he is if they move Staal somehow. Right now we have enough cap space for a big time center alone, so moving Staal would give us even more to play with.

That's me dreaming though.

Would anyone would take Staal? Honestly?

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

Would anyone would take Staal? Honestly?

To reach the cap floor would be the only reasonable answer

 

[Rick Nash 61]

Would anyone would take Staal? Honestly?

Honestly the Girardi signing gives me hope that some team is stupid enough. I think if we retained some of his contract, we could even get some sort of value back for him.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Would anyone would take Staal? Honestly?

At 50% retained? Maybe but the 4 years makes it tricky.

 

[NYR Viper]

They have $44M committed to 9 players. Zibanejad and Fast will increase the number. Keeping everyone becomes difficult plopping $6M for Kovalchuk into the mix.

But aren't most of the guys going to be signed by that time? at least the guys of consequence? Assume Zib gets $5m and Fast gets $1.5. That's $52m with this lineup:

Kreider-Zib-Buch
_____-_____-MZA
Fast-______-______
_____-______-______

McDonagh-Shattenkirk
______-Smith
Bereglazov-DeAngelo
Staal

Hank
_____

I would assume some of those lower-line guys will be low-dollar shorter term or kids coming up.

Vesey
Hayes
Miller
Skjei

Cap is at $75m (do you see this going up next year? I would assume it will due to expansion team new income?)

So add Kovlachuk for 3 years @ $6m and the line-up is:

Kreider-Zib-Buch
Kovalchuk-_____-MZA
Fast-______-______
_____-______-______

McDonagh-Shattenkirk
______-Smith
Bereglazov-DeAngelo
Staal

Hank
______

That's $58m

Miller - ~$4-4.5m
Hayes - $3.5-4.5m
Skjei - $4.m-5.0m
Vesey - $2.5-$3.0m

That's another $18m if we take the high end ranges which would put the team at $76m
- Assuming they don't buy out or dump Staal

if they move Staal and bridge either Hayes or Miller it's possible. I see your point though as it will be tight

 

[Gardner McKay]

Would anyone would take Staal? Honestly?

Who knows. Look at some of the GM's out there. Sakic. Chiarelli. Bergevin. There are some absolute morons running NHL teams.

I think our best shot would be to dupe Chia or Berge.

 

[GregSirico]

To reach the cap floor would be the only reasonable answer

 

[GregSirico]

Honestly the Girardi signing gives me hope that some team is stupid enough. I think if we retained some of his contract, we could even get some sort of value back for him.

Too bad Bob Gainey isn't around.

 

[KOVALEV022473]

Lol!!! Make it happen Gorts.

 

[Fugazy]

Would anyone would take Staal? Honestly?

Potentially to take Staal with money retained and give away another bad contract in return.

 

[Whitehawk1186]

Would anyone would take Staal? Honestly?

Girardi got a $3 Million AAV with a good team almost immediately. Staal for the right price is certainty moveable.

 

[NYR Viper]

We've mentioned it here before but I wonder if Buffalo would consider Staal. The Rangers take Moulson and buy him out