Aside from leaving Bobrovsky and Varlamov off the list, if you wouldn't want Fleury then not sure what to say.
That said, I proposed my solution in net. What's yours?
Fleury is 33 and has a history of injuries, so that's my concern. It's the same with most of those guys, they'll pretty old at this point. How long of a deal did you want to give some of them? I'm not saying they aren't good now, it's the contract that they're likely going to sign that wouldn't be good moving forward.
Overpay for a goalie on the trade market or hope a home grown talent can become one of these guys. There aren't many other goalie options for a long term solution.
Also, we know that the list for UFA's for an upcoming year always shrinks as it gets closer.
I like Beauvillier with Barzal.
This sequence of events would really upgrade the bottom six.
- Get rid of Nelson (we can all agree on that), maybe add a sweetener like a 2nd + Prospect in a deal for Skinner, or just trade Nelson for a pick and parlay that into a deal for a top flight D
- Sign a true 3C who is better at center then Nelson - see UFA's Filpulla, Ryan, Letustu, Nash
- Sign Michael Grabner
It's a harder working, faster bottom 6.
I just really want no part of Grabner. Filpulla was someone I wanted to replace Nielsen a few years ago. Don't mind trading Nelson at all.
Don't at all agree with selling Rinne short. He'd be the best goalie we've had in years if he came here.
He's 35 though, how much longer will he be good? How long do you want to sign him for? I have no idea what the market is for him. I'd fear some other team will give him a stupid long contract.