Free Agent Frenzy - Top 4 RHD Options

[Good in Osgoode]

With July 1st almost upon us and all kinds of speculation that Ottawa is pursuing Tanev and Matt Roy, I had wanted to get a sense of what other Top-4 RHD options might be available in Free Agency.

I am hearing that Dallas is working on signing Tanev and that Roy will be highly sought after.
With Demelo and Chatfield already being re-signed by the Jets and Canes respectively, it seems the list of options is tightening up on a position that seems to be increasingly tough to find every season.

In pulling up the top 20 RHD UFA's, based on TOI, the list gets pretty thin pretty quick:

I get the sense that FLA will be doing everything that they can to hold on to Montour and if not, he will be pursued by a large number of teams and we would probably not be on his list and/or will be priced out for us.

In my opinion, that leaves Pesce, Walker, Myers & Carrier as possible options for us.
Is there anyone else on this list or otherwise, that could be considered a viable option?

Click to read more...

 

[Sens Vader]

I think Hakanpaa, Myers, and Desharnais would be guys to look at for the bottom pair

the market for Roy and Tanev is going to be hot hot hot, feels like were going to have to go the trade route for a top 4 RHD

 

[Micklebot]

Here's some projected cap hits from AFP Analytics,

Bold are the guys I'd consider for various roles,

Montour, Brandon​	FLA​	$7,726,400.00​
Pesce, Brett​	CAR​	$6,283,200.00​
Roy, Matt​	LAK​	$5,843,200.00​
DeMelo, Dylan​	WPG​	$5,340,133.33​
Walker, Sean​	COL​	$4,646,400.00​
Tanev, Christopher​	DAL​	$4,481,400.00​
Carrier, Alexandre​	NSH​	$3,995,200.00​
Chatfield, Jalen​	CAR​	$3,673,511.11​
Myers, Tyler​	VAN​	$3,171,520.00​
Dumba, Matt​	TBL​	$3,041,094.74​
Schultz, Justin​	SEA​	$2,402,400.00​
Miller, Colin​	WPG​	$1,839,200.00​
DeAngelo, Anthony​	CAR​	$1,753,714.28​
Barrie, Tyson​	NSH​	$1,745,333.33​
Klingberg, John​	TOR​	$1,646,040.00​
Hakanpää, Jani​	DAL​	$1,515,800.00​
Lyubushkin, Ilya​	TOR​	$1,474,573.92​
Shattenkirk, Kevin​	BOS​	$1,465,200.00​
Johnson, Erik​	PHI​	$1,322,200.00​
Desharnais, Vincent​	EDM​	$1,119,637.90​
Stecher, Troy​	EDM​	$1,058,444.44​
Zaitsev, Nikita​	CHI​	$1,019,577.77​
Brown, Joshua​	ARI​	$958,711.11​
Bortuzzo, Robert​	NYI​	$926,933.33​

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Carrier would be a good add and likely a very good partner for Chabot
I like Hakanpaa for the bottom pair

 

[Gil Gunderson]

I think we will need to offer Tanev like a 6th year or something to get him here and hope he finishes his career on LTIR/retires.

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

I like Carrier as a Top 4 option if we do miss out on Tanev, Roy, Pesce etc.

Also like Shatternkirk, Colin Miller for the bottom pair as I think Hakanpaa might demand too much.

 

[aragorn]

It seems Staois is set on signing Chris Tanev RD & I hope he does & probably will try & trade with Seattle to get his brother Brandon at some point, if that is what it will take to get Chris signed. If not, he might take a flyer on a cheap rental like Shattenkirk for a yr until Brandon becomes a free agent the following season.

 

[h2]

Carrier would be a good add and likely a very good partner for Chabot
I like Hakanpaa for the bottom pair

Yeah, if we can't get any of the big dogs on RHD (Tanev, Roy, Pesce), this is what I'd like to see done.

Carrier for the 2nd pair and Hakanpaa for the 3rd pair would be sufficient IMO. Keep JBD as the #7 and send Hamonic to the pressbox or Belleville.

The other shopping item would be a nice vet on the bottom six. Maybe a cheap option on the 2nd line like Perron.

 

[Xspyrit]

My list in that order, not really interested in anyone else

Pesce, Brett
Roy, Matt
Tanev, Christopher
Carrier, Alexandre
Hakanpää, Jani
Walker, Sean
Desharnais, Vincent

Yeah, if we can't get any of the big dogs on RHD (Tanev, Roy, Pesce), this is what I'd like to see done.

Carrier for the 2nd pair and Hakanpaa for the 3rd pair would be sufficient IMO. Keep JBD as the #7 and send Hamonic to the pressbox or Belleville.

The other shopping item would be a nice vet on the bottom six. Maybe a cheap option on the 2nd line like Perron.

Sanderson - Zub
Chabot - Carrier
Brannstrom - Hakanpää
Kleven - JBD

This could be a really good defense if coaching and goaltending provides

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

I don't think it's realistic to expect that we get one of the top free agents.

Tanev only makes sense because of his age. It creates a scenario where we might be able to get him by overpaying in terms. Similar to Marleau choosing the Leafs because they have him the third year.

Myers might be a realistic second tier option if him and Green have any affinity for each other. Green coached him before in Vancouver. He could be a good option for our #5 spot, where he is slotted in as a veteran on the bottom pair, but can play up the lineup if needed.

Sanderson-Tanev
Chabot-Zub
Kleven-Myers

Maybe Kleven doesn't earn the #6 spot right away, but he would be in the mix. That group could be a big upgrade compared to last season.

 

[bicboi64]

If Roy wants $5.8 million, see if you can offer him some term and get him locked up.

A 7 year deal at $5 million would get us a solid 3-3.5 years of top 4RD, and by the time he started declining at 33-34, the cap will have gone up enough that he isn't too bad on our bottom pairing (especially since we'll have had a cup).

If we can't get Roy or Pesce, sign two of Carrier, Hakanpaa and Lybushkhin and our D has enough depth to not be ass.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

If Roy wants $5.8 million, see if you can offer him some term and get him locked up.

A 7 year deal at $5 million would get us a solid 3-3.5 years of top 4RD, and by the time he started declining at 33-34, the cap will have gone up enough that he isn't too bad on our bottom pairing (especially since we'll have had a cup).

If we can't get Roy or Pesce, sign two of Carrier, Hakanpaa and Lybushkhin and our D has enough depth to not be ass.

I'd offer him 6.5-7 mil if that's what it takes, but I think Detroit (his hometown) has the cap room to do it too.

 

[Ouroboros]

I think among the 'names' Tanev is the only one the Senators have a shot at, and with Dallas buying out Suter's contract I'm not even sure he gets to the market anymore.

Desharnais does a lot of what they need [defends at a high level, kills penalties, blocks shots, hits, clears the crease, can fight] it just comes down to whether you think he can handle an expanded role. Guys like Hakanpaa and Mikkola were nobodies until Dallas and Florida signed them and gave them more opportunity.

Alex Carrier is a better player, but he doesn't really change the composition of the defense. Still would be good here I think.

Sean Walker doesn't defend well enough. I have concerns about Hakanpaa's health. I don't see a ton of options here for the Sens.

For Belleville players that can give NHL games if necessary I like Kyle Capobianco and Alex Petrovic.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I think among the 'names' Tanev is the only one the Senators have a shot at, and with Dallas buying out Suter's contract I'm not even sure he gets to the market anymore.

Desharnais does a lot of what they need [defends at a high level, kills penalties, blocks shots, hits, clears the crease, can fight] it just comes down to whether you think he can handle an expanded role. Guys like Hakanpaa and Mikkola were nobodies until Dallas and Florida signed them and gave them more opportunity.

Alex Carrier is a better player, but he doesn't really change the composition of the defense. Still would be good here I think.

Sean Walker doesn't defend well enough. I have concerns about Hakanpaa's health. I don't see a ton of options here for the Sens.

For Belleville players that can give NHL games if necessary I like Kyle Capobianco and Alex Petrovic.

I have nothing to base this on, but I'm betting Tanev does not settle down in the bible belt and returns to Canada with one of Ottawa, Toronto or Vancouver.

 

[stempniaksen]

I think Montour, Pesce and Roy will end up getting big money in a more desirable location. Demelo and Chatfield are already re-signed. Guys like Walker, Schultz, Deangelo, Barrie aren't what the Sens need (and personally I'd add Dumba to that list).

The names that that I'd target are Tanev, Carrier, Myers, Hakanpa, Lyubushkin, Desharnais. Shattenkirk might work as a 6/7 next to Kleven as well as a veteran puck mover.

In a semi ideal world the defence would look something like this next season:

Sanderson - Zub
Chabot - Tanev/Carrier
Kleven - Myers/Hakanpa/Lyubuskin/Desharnais/Shattenkirk
Myers/Hakanpa/Lyubuskin/Desharnais/Shattenkirk /De Haan/JBD

 

[scout20]

What about a 3rd pairing of Joel Edmundson &Tyler Myers?

 

[Micklebot]

What about a 3rd pairing of Joel Edmundson &Tyler Myers?

Myers re-signed in Vancouver

 

[Good in Osgoode]

Myers goes back to Van.
Looks like Tanev is going to Toronto and Pesce to NJD.

The number of UFA top-4 RHD options is getting pretty thin.
Roy, Montour, Carrier & Walker.

Carrier starting to look like our best possible option.
Plan B looking like one (or two) of Hakanpaa, Lyubushkin, Desharnais.

 

[aragorn]

Since they are not buying anyone out I assume they sign one UFA RD who they can afford to fit under their cap. I think that these guys might be a one or two yr rental given I expect Yakemchuk to be in the lineup the following season.

Justin Schultz
Alex Carrier
Sean Walker
Jani Hakanpaa
Matt Dumba
Keven Shattenkirk

 

[Ouroboros]

The Sens are in desperate need of penalty killing and physical forwards on the bottom end of the roster. A lot of the more established bottom-six options are probably going to be out of Ottawa's price range given their cap constraints. Some options to keep an eye on...

• MacKenzie Entwistle
  • Seems like a layup. 6'3", 210 pound winger. Racks up hits and does some PK'ing. Staios and Andlauer had him in Hamilton.
• Sam Carrick
  • Physical 4th line center. Middleweight fighter, penalty killer. Experienced, gritty vet. DiMaio brought him to Anaheim.
• Trevor Lewis
  • Can you believe this guy is still in the league? Still manages to get it done defensively. Cup winner/grizzled vet. Fits the bill.
• Brandon Duhaime
  • A lot like Parker Kelly, but a better fighter.
• Sam Steel
  • Another guy Rob DiMaio had in Anaheim. More skill than most of the others on this list. Less physical as well.

 

[Dionysus]

The Sens are in desperate need of penalty killing and physical forwards on the bottom end of the roster. A lot of the more established bottom-six options are probably going to be out of Ottawa's price range given their cap constraints. Some options to keep an eye on...

• MacKenzie Entwistle
  • Seems like a layup. 6'3", 210 pound winger. Racks up hits and does some PK'ing. Staios and Andlauer had him in Hamilton.
• Sam Carrick
  • Physical 4th line center. Middleweight fighter, penalty killer. Experienced, gritty vet. DiMaio brought him to Anaheim.
• Trevor Lewis
  • Can you believe this guy is still in the league? Still manages to get it done defensively. Cup winner/grizzled vet. Fits the bill.
• Brandon Duhaime
  • A lot like Parker Kelly, but a better fighter.
• Sam Steel
  • Another guy Rob DiMaio had in Anaheim. More skill than most of the others on this list. Less physical as well.

Carrick would be a decent Kastelic replacement. Stenlund as well if Florida doesn't get him signed.

 

[Ouroboros]

Some defense options - outside of the obvious names - that could be in the mix...

• Dmitry Kulikov
  • Tenured vet, lots of experience. Has played the right-side despite being a left shot. DiMaio brought him into Anaheim.
• Calvin De Haan
  • Local. Vet. Seemed to be lobbying for the job on social media. Can play RD.
• Joel Edmundson
  • Tough, experienced Cup winner. Can fight, PK. Has played RD. DiMaio would know him well from St. Louis.
• Vincent Desharnais
  • Massive, young RD. Insane defensive metrics. Kill penalties, bangs, fights. Staios would know him from Edmonton. Can he play an expanded role?
• Ilya Lyubushkin
  • Physical PK guy. Got that dog in him. DiMaio brought him to Anaheim. Probably cheap.
• Nate Schmidt
  • Can play RD. Played for Travis Green in Vancouver. Not really sure he's a fit - doesn't really PK, not a PP guy. Kinda soft.
• Colin Miller
  • Played for Green in New Jersey. Usually posts decent results but never sticks anywhere.

 

[Good in Osgoode]

Matt Roy signs with the Capitals. 7 years @ $5.5/year.
Capitals don't seem to be aware that there is a salary cap.

Did we just get our top-4 RHD in Nick Jensen???

 

[h2]

Matt Roy signs with the Capitals. 7 years @ $5.5/year.
Capitals don't seem to be aware that there is a salary cap.

Did we just get our top-4 RHD in Nick Jensen???

Yes we did. He's a solid #4.

 

[Alex1234]

We need Desharnais