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[Just A Bit Outside]

Spent some time identifying defencemen that will probably be on the market. Started out by figuring out the teams that are pretty much sure fire sellers: Canadiens, Blue Jackets, Flyers, Blackhawks, Ducks, Sharks, and Sabres*.

I think the Sabres will make some sort of panic move if this season continues to go sideways. They could turn it around enough to finish the same they have the last couple of seasons but will still end up selling someone off.

From these teams, we've got a list of defencemen sorted into 1st pair, 2nd pair, 3rd pair, depth, and a bonus category.

1st Pair:
Travis Sanheim - Flyers - LD - 7y/6.25m (NTC)

2nd Pair:
Cam Fowler - Ducks - LD - 2y/6.5m (4-NTC)
Henri Jokiharju - Sabres - RD - 1y/3.1m (UFA)
Mattias Samuelsson - Sabres - LD - 6y/4.28m
Connor Murphy - Blackhawks - RD - 2y/4.4m (10-NTC)
Ivan Provorv - Blue Jackets - LD - 1y/4.72m (UFA)
Michael Matheson - Canadiens - LD - 2y/4.87m (8-NTC)
David Savard - Canadiens - RD - 1y/3.5m (UFA)
Mario Ferraro - Sharks - LD - 2y/3.25m
Jake Walman - Sharks - LD - 2y/3.4m

3rd Pair:
Brian Dumoulin - Ducks - LD - 1y/3.15m (10-NTC)
Connor Clifton - Sabres - RD - 2y/3.33m
Alec Martinez - Blackhawks - LD - 1y/4.0m (UFA) injured
T.J. Brodie - Blackhawks - LD - 2y/3.75m
Rasmus Ristolainen - Flyers - RD - 3y/5.1m
Jan Rutta - Sharks - RD - 1y/2.75m (UFA)
Cody Ceci - Sharks - RD - 1y/3.25m (UFA)
Matt Benning - Sharks - RD - 2y/1.25m

Depth:
Jack Johnson - Blue Jackets - LD - 1y/0.77m (UFA)
Erik Johnson - Flyers - RD - 1y/1.0m (UFA)

No Chance:
Erik Gudbranson - Blue Jackets - RD - 2y/4.0m (10-NTC) injured

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There's also a few players who could be potential Hronek's. This list is much smaller.

Arber Xhekaj - Canadiens - LD - 2y/1.3m (RFA)
Yegor Zamula - Flyers - LD - 2y/1.7m (RFA)
Bowen Byram - Sabres - LD - 1y/3.85m (RFA)
Urho Vaakanainen - Ducks - LD - 1y/1.5m (RFA)

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Quibble about whether a player is a 2nd or 3rd pairing guy all you want. Ideally the Canucks approach their other pairing like they did last year where the non-Hughes/Hronek pairs were hybrid 2/3s that traded off on duties every other game.

I don't see the Flyers actually trading Sanheim.

I think the Sabres will make some sort of panic move if this season continues to go sideways. They could turn it around enough to finish the same they have the last couple of seasons but will still end up selling someone off. I wouldn't have put Mattias Samuelsson on here but Satiar Shah brought him up yesterday. His reasoning is the Sabres have him on the 3rd pair with Dahlin, Byram, & Power above him and unlikely to want an all-left handed top-4. I really don't see them trading Byram, especially considering the Canucks won't be offering anything more than picks and prospects.

I don't think the Sharks will trade all of Ferraro, Walman, and Benning I do think one of them will get moved this season. I view both depth Johnsons as worse than the options already on the roster. The real interesting acquisitions (Gavrikov, Pettersson, etc.) are on these bubble teams that will wait as long as possible to figure out where they stand.

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The issue with trading with Buffalo, in any respect, is what exactly goes the other way?

There's is almost nothing that makes sense regarding what the Nucks could give up that would be of interest to them.

Blame the coaching all you want, the players are still the players.

They need a culture changing deal.

That's not happening with Van.

 

[God]

Samuelsson makes sense as the odd one out but I wonder if Byram is unhappy there given that he seemed to hate the culture in Buffalo upon arrival, which to date doesn't seem to have changed.

 

[Vector]

The issue with trading with Buffalo, in any respect, is what exactly goes the other way?

There's is almost nothing that makes sense regarding what the Nucks could give up that would be of interest to them.

Blame the coaching all you want, the players are still the players.

They need a culture changing deal.

That's not happening with Van.

I agree! Which I said in my post.

“I really don't see them trading Byram, especially considering the Canucks won't be offering anything more than picks and prospects.“

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

I'm going to put my money on mgmt acquiring Brian Dumoulin.

LHD, pending UFA, $3.15M cap hit, Pitt connection.

 

[VanillaCoke]

David Jiricek.

 

[credulous]

i was optimistic about an in season move to address the defense but i'm getting less optimistic by the day. they're not really taking advantage of abby being close by running a short roster and the joshua and demko injuries dragging on is really hampering their ability to manufacture deadline space

right now any kind of injury is going to necessitate LTIR and torpedo any hope of making a purely additive change to this roster

that leaves just money in money out deals and they don't really have any surplus money to move out. heinen, desharnais or suter maybe but heinen has an m-ntc (really? how?) and suter and desharnais don't really make enough to make a splashy addition

 

[Vector]

i was optimistic about an in season move to address the defense but i'm getting less optimistic by the day. they're not really taking advantage of abby being close by running a short roster and the joshua and demko injuries dragging on is really hampering their ability to manufacture deadline space

right now any kind of injury is going to necessitate LTIR and torpedo any hope of making a purely additive change to this roster

that leaves just money in money out deals and they don't really have any surplus money to move out. heinen, desharnais or suter maybe but heinen has an m-ntc (really? how?) and suter and desharnais don't really make enough to make a splashy addition

After this road trip they should send Bains down (three-day break and multiple two-day breaks) and with Joshua due back in 1-2 weeks that'll get them over 1m in cap space. Other than a few days, haven't really had a chance to run a short roster. They are essentially running a 22-man roster right now with Forbort being away.

 

[F A N]

I'm going to put my money on mgmt acquiring Brian Dumoulin.

LHD, pending UFA, $3.15M cap hit, Pitt connection.

Is he looking better this season than previous?

 

[sandwichbird2023]

i was optimistic about an in season move to address the defense but i'm getting less optimistic by the day. they're not really taking advantage of abby being close by running a short roster and the joshua and demko injuries dragging on is really hampering their ability to manufacture deadline space

right now any kind of injury is going to necessitate LTIR and torpedo any hope of making a purely additive change to this roster

that leaves just money in money out deals and they don't really have any surplus money to move out. heinen, desharnais or suter maybe but heinen has an m-ntc (really? how?) and suter and desharnais don't really make enough to make a splashy addition

They can always send Forbort going the other way to remove $1.5m cap commitment. Then have the other team retain 50%, and find a 3rd team to retain another 50%, so essentially Forbort's salary should net us somebody close to $6m cap hit (plus whatever we banked over the season), assuming max retention from 2 different teams. At least that is how I understand it.

It would add to the cost of acquisition, but I think its doable.

 

[krutovsdonut]

how would Sundin know winning brings calm lol

lidstrom and forsberg told him.

I'm going to put my money on mgmt acquiring Brian Dumoulin.

LHD, pending UFA, $3.15M cap hit, Pitt connection.

i thought they's sign him when they got cole. not sure how mobile he is these days.

 

[David71]

Mario Ferraro this name is intriguing young fits vancouvers agegroup. hows his game overall any sharks fans wanna chime in?

 

[StickShift]

Considering management's predisposition to trade for players they are already familiar with—I think Mike Matheson or Marcus Pettersson are the defensemen they would prioritize going after before the TDL. They already traded for each player once while with Pittsburgh.

 

[ManVanFan]

Mario Ferraro this name is intriguing young fits vancouvers agegroup. hows his game overall any sharks fans wanna chime in?

SJ has probably broke him beyond repair. I thought he was a good fit years ago but now if the price is low then I would, otherwise it seems like a gamble to think that he would automatically be better on a better team. The last couple times I've watched SJ play, I'd put him in the same realm as Soucy for quality.

 

[oceanchild]

Would a Pettersson for Cozens and Byram make sense for the framework of a deal. I think this would balance the lineup more and both players have high upsides and it would free up a bit of cap space (maybe Forbort also goes back).

I still think Petey rebounds and when he does I have a feeling he goes on a hot streak. But the D group isn’t going to take us to the promise land as configured.

 

[PavelBure10]

Mario Ferraro this name is intriguing young fits vancouvers agegroup. hows his game overall any sharks fans wanna chime in?

I wouldn't mind Ferraro, but apparently the price tag on his last season was insanely high. 1st rounder, +, +. If we're going to be paying those types of prices, I would rather go after a more recognized player who excels at both ends of the ice. Rasmus Andersson would of been great, but with 3 goals already and being a beloved teammate, I am not sure he's going anywhere any time soon.

Would love to add that #3 defenseman though.

 

[ManVanFan]

Would a Pettersson for Cozens and Byram make sense for the framework of a deal. I think this would balance the lineup more and both players have high upsides and it would free up a bit of cap space (maybe Forbort also goes back).

I still think Petey rebounds and when he does I have a feeling he goes on a hot streak. But the D group isn’t going to take us to the promise land as configured.

That would definitely give management something to think about I'd say.

 

[StickShift]

I think we should pay close attention to how Tom Willander is trending this season in the NCAA.

• If he establishes a clear path to playing NHL minutes in the next 1-2 seasons—they'll keep him.
• If he doesn't clearly project as being NHL ready and needs refinement in the AHL—they'll trade him for immediate impact help.

I don't think Allvin and Rutherford care about extending their window in 3-4 years from now. If he isn't ready to help this team win now—he will be moved for someone who is.

 

[Vector]

 

[Peter Griffin]

“Unique opportunity”? Ok Justin, you were looking for a contract unless there’s reports of him turning down 1-way NHL deals.

 

[krutovsdonut]

i'd be happy to play a season of pro in switzerland if they let me ski between games.

 

[bossram]

i was optimistic about an in season move to address the defense but i'm getting less optimistic by the day. they're not really taking advantage of abby being close by running a short roster and the joshua and demko injuries dragging on is really hampering their ability to manufacture deadline space

right now any kind of injury is going to necessitate LTIR and torpedo any hope of making a purely additive change to this roster

that leaves just money in money out deals and they don't really have any surplus money to move out. heinen, desharnais or suter maybe but heinen has an m-ntc (really? how?) and suter and desharnais don't really make enough to make a splashy addition

1. It's been like 2 weeks into the season. Disappointed he hasn't made an in-season move?

2. Not taking advantage of Abby to shuttle players? They were literally on a road trip.

3. A injury necessitating LTIR was in the position they were in before. It's not different.

These are complaints just to complain,

 

[credulous]

I think we should pay close attention to how Tom Willander is trending this season in the NCAA.

• If he establishes a clear path to playing NHL minutes in the next 1-2 seasons—they'll keep him.
• If he doesn't clearly project as being NHL ready and needs refinement in the AHL—they'll trade him for immediate impact help.

I don't think Allvin and Rutherford care about extending their window in 3-4 years from now. If he isn't ready to help this team win now—he will be moved for someone who is.

imo they should move willander sooner rather than later

he's a decent prospect but BU are going with gavin mccarthy (also a sophmore) next to cole hutson (a freshman) on their top pairing. willander is playing with boumedienne (a freshman and possible first round pick in 2025) on the second pair. hutson gets the majority of power play time and boumedienne and willander have both been tried on the second unit. he's not really getting the opportunity to be a star at the ncaa level and his development has been frankly disappointing. he still has all the same weaknesses he had when he started at BU

combine that with the fact he's kind of undersized for his style of play and i think he's way more valuable to vancouver as a trade chip than as a potential lineup insertion. if they can use him as the centerpiece for another hronek trade they should absolutely do it

 

[Vector]

Not Canucks talk but says Penguins are not talking to Marcus Pettersson about an extension until they figure out where they fall in the standings.

Rangers:
-Shesterkin asking for 12m
-Lafreniere conversations have been fluid; not imminent
-doesn't think they are waiting on sorting on Shesterkin
-talking to Miller too

Penguins:
-not talking extension with Pettersson
-Penguins want to wait to see where they land in the standings

Flames:
-looking for a young centre; have been looking since last season
-retooling but not a full rebuild

Ducks:
-a number of teams are targeting Zegras
-teams are unsure if he's a centre or winger

Blackhawks:
-need a young second-line centre
-more likely to add in the off-season

Maple Leafs:
-not talking extension with Knies
-had some talks with McCabe in the off-season but nothing gained any traction
-McCabe is open to an extension

 

[RobertKron]

“Unique opportunity”? Ok Justin, you were looking for a contract unless there’s reports of him turning down 1-way NHL deals.

I’d read this more as “well if I’m not going to get an NHL deal, it’ll take a pretty appealing situation for me to want to keep going as a 2-time cup winner in my mid thirties.”

Swiss league is, from what I understand, a pretty sweet gig for a guy like Schultz. Only 50whatever GP, limited travel, it’s in f***ing Switzerland, and I believe the pay for high profile imports is quite solid.

Beats the pants off of grinding it out in the AHL or dealing with the weirdness of the KHL for a guy in Schultz’ position who is probably mostly continuing because he’s looking to avoid regrets when he rides into the sunset.

 

[ziploc]

I’d read this more as “well if I’m not going to get an NHL deal, it’ll take a pretty appealing situation for me to want to keep going as a 2-time cup winner in my mid thirties.”

Swiss league is, from what I understand, a pretty sweet gig for a guy like Schultz. Only 50whatever GP, limited travel, it’s in f***ing Switzerland, and I believe the pay for high profile imports is quite solid.

Beats the pants off of grinding it out in the AHL or dealing with the weirdness of the KHL for a guy in Schultz’ position who is probably mostly continuing because he’s looking to avoid regrets when he rides into the sunset.

Playing out your career in the Swiss league would be awesome, frankly. If you have money, Switzerland is the bee's knees.