I’ll keep pointing this out for this offseason but Drury has a very unique opportunity to rebuild this teams defense quickly and to one that I think would actually augment the forwards and goalie they have currently.
Drury is clearly trying to build a forward group who likes to push the pace and play a more physical brand of hockey. Cuylle, Berard, Othmann, Edstrom, Rempe. These guys have no problem getting to the slot and battling in front. The issue this team has currently is they lack guys who can move laterally across the blue line and get pucks to and around the net. Fox is really it.
The addition of another will help this. He’s an above average skater who isn’t shy about shooting. Miller should be able to do this if he can buy in. Schneider is actually pretty good at this as well.
So that leaves us with:
Miller-Fox
_____-Borgen
______-Schneider
Sign Borgen for 4 years at $3.75m
The two guys I’m looking at are Orlov and Provorov. Both of those guys skate really well and while they are both gamblers they also help create offensive opportunities with their skating and lateral mobility. I don’t think Orlov requires a long term deal with his age and I think Provorov’s next deal could be ‘reasonable’. Say
Sign Orlov for 3 years at $4.5m
Sign Provorov for 6 year at $6m
Provorv-Fox
Miller-Schneider
Orlov-Borgen
I will say that if there was a legitimate deal on the table for Miller, I’d consider it. It would need to be either a high end forward or a high end forward prospect +. Think something like the Drysdale trade with Anaheim and Philly last year.
In that case, I’d just be on the lookout for a depth LD. I’m not sold on Jones…