Speculation: Free Agent Frenzy Part III - Will EK stay or will EK go?

[Lion Hound]

So what is the cost of Cally?

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

BTW I don't think Callahan would be moved. It would be Ryan going to the Rangers.

but even then, what assets could make that tempting?

I don't think I take Ryan at all. 4 years left on that deal, it's going to be a hindrance on our cap when the team is trying to swing back into contending mode.

I think the most we should take on in term is 2 year deals.

 

[duhmetreE]

It's not that I don't want Callahan for 2 years, it's I don't want to make TB a super team. Do we truly realize how disgusting TB would be?

 

[Tawnos]

Yes he would. He is around in Summer 2019, when the Rangers want to spend (at least on Panarin). Who knows what else comes available. Not the best example, but Mike Hoffman became available for nothing but a cap dump. Obviously there were (unproven) circumstances around that, but players become available out of no where. No reason to waste cap.

Callahan won’t prevent the Rangers from bringing in Panarin.

 

[Matt4776]

It's not that I don't want Callahan for 2 years, it's I don't want to make TB a super team. Do we truly realize how disgusting TB would be?

I mean we'd likely get a first round pick out of it... If it's not the Rangers winning the Cup- I could care less who it is.

 

[DanielBrassard]

No chance I take back Ryan's contract. 4 years is way too long to take a cap dump. He's better than Callahan but it's not worth it unless Ottawa takes back Staal.

 

[Tawnos]

It's not that I don't want Callahan for 2 years, it's I don't want to make TB a super team. Do we truly realize how disgusting TB would be?

I don’t see why this matters. By the time we’re in our window, they’ll be declining.

 

[duhmetreE]

I mean we'd likely get a first round pick out of it... If it's not the Rangers winning the Cup- I could care less who it is.

We would be creating a massive barrier for the foreseeable future.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

We would be creating a massive barrier for the foreseeable future.

It would be less of one by the time they're ready to contend.

 

[duhmetreE]

I don’t see why this matters. By the time we’re in our window, they’ll be declining.

They just entered their prime and have superstars locked up at extremely reasonable contracts. They'll be a dominant force for 5+ years.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Trade down - Armchair-GM - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Rangers with Callahan, Staal and Smith still on the team. It's actually a bit tighter than I thought it would be, especially since the cap is 85M.

 

[Edge]

Cost of Cally is a prospect IMO.

The whole ensuring we have Tampa's first is a side item, because the EK deal helps get them closer to that goal anyway.

If Tampa wants that first back, or wishes to ensure we have the second rounder instead, the level of prospect just went up --- considerably.

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

I love the "super team" fears emerging everywhere. This isn't the NBA. Tampa was a super team last year after the TDL and they still lost.

 

[nyr2k2]

Sitting on cap space for the sake of having it is silly. Obviously you don't spend up to the limit with bad contracts, but if you can easily afford to absorb a big contract for two years, and in turn gain valuable player/pick assets, you absolutely have to do it.

It's like when I used to get into argument with guys that would piss and moan about every random college UDFA we signed. They'd say we need to reserve those contract slots until "better" guys became available, and that signing the guys we were signing was a waste. And that was bullshit--the only truly wasted contract slot is an unused one. Again, just like with the cap, you don't push it up to 50 just because, but you go to 47, 48 with guys you like. Maximize what you have while maintaining reasonable flexibility.

Same with the cap space. Left unused, it's wasted. This isn't the NFL where we carry it over. Use it on a bad contract for 2 years which we can absolutely afford without precluding us from being "in" on other guys. No-brainer, IMO.

 

[Hire Sather]

Cost of Cally is a prospect IMO.

The whole ensuring we have Tampa's first is a side item, because the EK deal helps get them closer to that goal anyway.

If Tampa wants that first back, or wishes to ensure we have the second rounder instead, the level of prospect just went up --- considerably.

Part of the deal needs to guarentree us the first.

 

[Trxjw]

Cost of Cally is a prospect IMO.

The whole ensuring we have Tampa's first is a side item, because the EK deal helps get them closer to that goal anyway.

If Tampa wants that first back, or wishes to ensure we have the second rounder instead, the level of prospect just went up --- considerably.

The thought that Tampa might want to drop the condition so they can send that pick to Ottawa is an interesting one. Didn't consider that. Gorts would have a hell of a lot of leverage there.

 

[Tawnos]

They just entered their prime and have superstars locked up at extremely reasonable contracts. They'll be a dominant force for 5+ years.

Their entire D, with the exception of Sergachev, are on the backside of their primes. Hedman, McDonagh, and Karlsson will all be 30 by the 20-21 season. Stamkos, Johnson, and Killorn too.

 

[duhmetreE]

It would be less of one by the time they're ready to contend.

I have a completely different outlook.

I think we could be competing a lot sooner than people expect. Even quicker if players like Karlsson, Seguin, Panarin etc hit the free market.

 

[Trxjw]

The Bolts were supposed to be a dominant force after getting McDonagh. It's hockey and nothing is for certain no matter how much you stack your roster. It's not like basketball where 2 or 3 guys dominate 80% of the game.

 

[duhmetreE]

Their entire D, with the exception of Sergachev, are on the backside of their primes. Hedman, McDonagh, and Karlsson will all be 30 by the 20-21 season. Stamkos, Johnson, and Killorn too.

Their still in their primes... 30 is still prime. Depending on the player, 33-34 is maybe when you start seeing signs of slowing.

 

[duhmetreE]

The Bolts were supposed to be a dominant force after getting McDonagh. It's hockey and nothing is for certain no matter how much you stack your roster. It's not like basketball where 2 or 3 guys dominate 80% of the game.

Karlsson >>>>>>>>>>>> McDonagh.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Their still in their primes... 30 is still prime. Depending on the player, 33-34 is maybe when you start seeing signs of slowing.

Most guys start slowing down earlier than that.
But yes, the elite guys usually stay productive into their mid 30's. The thing is a few of their guys have amassed their fair share of pretty serious injuries. I think they'll be fine for the next 3-4 years but after that we'll see a sharp decline (from the team as a whole.)

 

[Tawnos]

Their still in their primes... 30 is still prime. Depending on the player, 33-34 is maybe when you start seeing signs of slowing.

That’s simply not true anymore.

We see more and more players showing decline at 30 and 31. And while it’s worth the risk on one player, when you’re talking about 7 key guys all getting there at the same time.. I’d be more surprised if they were able to maintain that top level for more than a few years.

Also, the cap is going to squeeze them when Kucherov and Point need new contracts.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

No one knows whats going on.

 

[haveandare]

It's not that I don't want Callahan for 2 years, it's I don't want to make TB a super team. Do we truly realize how disgusting TB would be?

They'd be that disgusting for like a year before the cap beat them senseless and they realize they traded almost all of their noteworthy prospects away. And imo they were clearly the best team on paper last year, doesn't matter when your key players don't show up at pivotal moments.