GDT: Let the Free Agency Madness begin

[spockBokk]

If they end up trading Teravainen and Pesce to make room for Karlsson, they’d end up still needing 2 top 9 scorers, instead of the one they still need regardless of getting Karlsson or not.

I don’t mind the idea of 3rd pairing Skjei. I don’t think it’s a good idea to completely overhaul what was one of the best blue lines in the league to bring in Karlsson. Jettisoning both Skjei and Pesce in the same offseason and replacing them with 2 older D in Orlov and Karlsson, who haven’t yet played in RBA’s system, seems like it could blow up in their faces. It took Skjei quite a while to fit in the system (like Hamilton and Burns as well), so it’s realistic to think it may also take Orlov and potentially Karlsson some time to adjust. Having Skjei around I think would mitigate those growing pains. It’s not like they couldn’t afford Skjei if they’re sending out $9M in Pesce and Teravainen.

All that said, I still prefer them to keep Teravainen and one of Skjei/Pesce, forget about Karlsson and go after a forward (or 2). Sign TDA for cheap if you feel you need more pop offensively from the D.

 

[NotOpie]

That pretty much matches the report from a couple days ago about how Carolina is simply sticking around the Karlsson talks to see if we could acquire him for cheap, but it's basically forcing Pittsburgh to negotiate against themselves.

Pittsburgh has to offer a deal that's expensive enough to beat Carolina and satisfy SJ, while still being cheap enough to hedge against the possibility that Karlsson falls back down to Earth.

Despite what some of the Pittsburgh media is reporting, I think Karlsson is sort of skeptical of going there in the hopes of winning the big one. I'm also of the opinion that Waddell is hanging around to drive up the price for other teams (there's always another player or two in these trade deals that few folks know about). This then, potentially, loosens up the availability of a forward because of cap issues of the acquiring team. Just a random thought....

 

[MinJaBen]

View attachment 729870

Just circling around in the middle of summer.





Make landfall damn it!

 

[bleedgreen]

In the current lineup TT is a fourth liner.

Svech - Aho - Jarvis
Bunting - Koko - Necas
Martinook - Staal - Fast
Rees/Pono - Drury - TT - Noesen

Moving TT is about his salary on the fourth line more than anything else imo. Of course injuries will happen so he’d be a nice luxury but it isn’t cap smart when we tend to be cap smart. Sjkei on the third pair doesn’t make a lot of sense to me either, while letting Pesce play out does make some sense especially if we get something back for Skjei.

TT has always made sense in the EK trade to me because he helps them with skill this year, and they can trade him at the deadline so they get cap space for it next season. It obviously also helps us fit EK.

Even if EK doesn’t happen I would think moving TT is still on the table. Presumably Skjei as well unless the market is soft for either moving him or for finding the right third pair guy.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

TT has always made sense in the EK trade to me because he helps them with skill this year, and they can trade him at the deadline so they get cap space for it next season. It obviously also helps us fit EK.

Even if EK doesn’t happen I would think moving TT is still on the table. Presumably Skjei as well unless the market is soft for either moving him or for finding the right third pair guy.

Both TT and Skjei have a 10 team NTC. I have no idea which teams may or may not be on it, but it may take a 3rd team to effect any trade of TT or Skjei (in regards to a EK trade).

Another issue re: trading TT if we don't get a forward back, is assuming Svech will be 100% by the start of the season. He may be, but he may not be. He's just skated for the first time and it's only 2.5 months until the season starts.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I actually think that the Karlsson talks are quite serious. I'm not going to assume that Carolina is just getting in the market to raise prices, but I will say that having an elite RHD on the market puts significant pressure on the Pesce camp to get an extension penned that is closer to Carolina's price point. If they don't, I think the Canes will make the trade.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

In the current lineup TT is a fourth liner.

Svech - Aho - Jarvis
Bunting - Koko - Necas
Martinook - Staal - Fast
Rees/Pono - Drury - TT - Noesen

Moving TT is about his salary on the fourth line more than anything else imo. Of course injuries will happen so he’d be a nice luxury but it isn’t cap smart when we tend to be cap smart. Sjkei on the third pair doesn’t make a lot of sense to me either, while letting Pesce play out does make some sense especially if we get something back for Skjei.

TT has always made sense in the EK trade to me because he helps them with skill this year, and they can trade him at the deadline so they get cap space for it next season. It obviously also helps us fit EK.

Even if EK doesn’t happen I would think moving TT is still on the table. Presumably Skjei as well unless the market is soft for either moving him or for finding the right third pair guy.

TT on the 4th line? Nah. 3rd line in the least. Martinook almost certainly goes back to the 4th line with Bunting added.

 

[bleedgreen]

TT on the 4th line? Nah. 3rd line in the least. Martinook almost certainly goes back to the 4th line with Bunting added.

Would you break up that third line?

Better yet, would Rod?

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Would you break up that third line?

Better yet, would Rod?

I'm certainly not Rod Brind'Amour, but I would think that Bunting would bring a lot of the offensive qualities that Nino did to that 3rd line when he was there.

 

[bleedgreen]

I'm certainly not Rod Brind'Amour, but I would think that Bunting would bring a lot of the offensive qualities that Nino did to that 3rd line when he was there.

I agree with that, but Bunting imo is for the top six whether he really should be there or not. That was probably the best third line in the league.

 

[MinJaBen]

I'm certainly not Rod Brind'Amour, but I would think that Bunting would bring a lot of the offensive qualities that Nino did to that 3rd line when he was there.

You are wasting Bunting if you put him on Staal's line. He should play with Aho or Kotkaniemi, depending on where you put Svech.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I agree with that, but Bunting imo is for the top six whether he really should be there or not.

I think he should be there. If Rod is going to keep Jarvis attached to Aho's hip, and I see no indication that he won't right now, then Bunting is the perfect compliment. They need a physical guy like Bunting of Svech.

Once Svech is 100%, I think we've seen in the past that the line of Svech-KK-Necas can work.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

You are wasting Bunting if you put him on Staal's line. He should play with Aho or Kotkaniemi, depending on where you put Svech.

Is he a waste at that spot? I don't know. His cap hit certainly fits someone that's an elite 3rd line player, a la Blake Coleman, especially since Staal's cap hit is now much lower.

 

[Borsig]

I'm kind of excited to see the new gooncanes. Who will take off Haula's head first?

 

[StormCast]

I'm certainly not Rod Brind'Amour, but I would think that Bunting would bring a lot of the offensive qualities that Nino did to that 3rd line when he was there.

He is a complementary scoring wing who would add little value on a checking line. They brought him in to play on one of the two top lines. Defensive awareness, positioning and skill are not his strengths.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

In the current lineup TT is a fourth liner.

Svech - Aho - Jarvis
Bunting - Koko - Necas
Martinook - Staal - Fast
Rees/Pono - Drury - TT - Noesen

I don't agree with this line of thinking...

I could just as easily say "in the current lineup Jarvis is a fourth liner" then redo the lines to put him down there.

Or I could just as easily swap the 3rd and 4th lines in the above list and now TT is on the 3rd line.

The fact that we have a "3rd" line that has a traditional defensive 3C and 2 traditional 4Ws that stays together for chemistry and gameplan reasons doesn't mean we don't need talented top 6/9 caliber forwards. A "4th" line of TT - Drury - Noesen would be a 3rd on most teams in the league, especially if TT has any semblance of a bounceback which I think we all think he will to some extent.

I think losing TT would be a hole. Svech is a question mark health-wise. Even if Svech is healthy, one top 9 injury and now we're back to where we were last year, lamenting that we need more forward help. We might still need the forward help even if healthy. Bunting, while a good add, isn't exactly the pure goalscorer most were hoping for. Losing TT sets us back, and coming off his season last year I can't imagine his return would be worth losing him.

 

[bleedgreen]

I think he should be there. If Rod is going to keep Jarvis attached to Aho's hip, and I see no indication that he won't right now, then Bunting is the perfect compliment. They need a physical guy like Bunting of Svech.

Once Svech is 100%, I think we've seen in the past that the line of Svech-KK-Necas can work.

Yup, that’s the top six unless we’re adding another forward. I don’t see them breaking up the third line at all, way too successful.

This leaves TT sol unless someone gets hurt early. I’ve been thinking for awhile as the skill level of the team has been rising that moving TT for a more “in the style of Rod” player makes sense, even if we lose on the skill side.

 

[Borsig]

Yup, that’s the top six unless we’re adding another forward. I don’t see them breaking up the third line at all, way too successful.

This leaves TT sol unless someone gets hurt early. I’ve been thinking for awhile as the skill level of the team has been rising that moving TT for a more “in the style of Rod” player makes sense, even if we lose on the skill side.

Unfortunately his value is at an all time low.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

He is a complementary scoring wing who would add little value on a checking line. They brought him in to play on one of the two top lines. Defensive awareness, positioning and skill are not his strengths.

Which makes me think...Turbo...may he be a fit with Staal? Hmmmm...defensive skills, positioning, and awareness?

Bunting-Aho-Jarvis
Svech-KK-Necas
Turbo-Staal-Fast
Martinook-Drury-Noesen

I like the look of that forward group a lot.

 

[bleedgreen]

I don't agree with this line of thinking...

I could just as easily say "in the current lineup Jarvis is a fourth liner" then redo the lines to put him down there.

Or I could just as easily swap the 3rd and 4th lines in the above list and now TT is on the 3rd line.

The fact that we have a "3rd" line that has a traditional defensive 3C and 2 traditional 4Ws that stays together for chemistry and gameplan reasons doesn't mean we don't need talented top 6/9 caliber forwards. A "4th" line of TT - Drury - Noesen would be a 3rd on most teams in the league, especially if TT has any semblance of a bounceback which I think we all think he will to some extent.

I think losing TT would be a hole. Svech is a question mark health-wise. Even if Svech is healthy, one top 9 injury and now we're back to where we were last year, lamenting that we need more forward help. We might still need the forward help even if healthy. Bunting, while a good add, isn't exactly the pure goalscorer most were hoping for. Losing TT sets us back, and coming off his season last year I can't imagine his return would be worth losing him.

I think TT down the lineup is wasted cap space, nothing else. I just see guys ahead of him currently due to last season and also necessity. Younger guys have to take jobs, you can’t keep all your veterans. I think we can survive the loss of TT in a primary role, and he’s got a lot of competition that hopefully isn’t going anywhere for a complimentary one. I don’t disagree that we probably need to replace him, but he’s on the last year of his contract. I think there’s a good chance he’s at or near the end of his run with us one way or another. He could come back in great shape, someone could get injured, a younger player could regress…..any of these things could happen and TT could be right back to where he was.

You have to let guys go, and I don’t think TT is more irreplaceable than any of the other big players we let walk. Imo wingers are easier to replace than centers and top pairing defenseman.

 

[spockBokk]

Which makes me think...Turbo...may he be a fit with Staal? Hmmmm...defensive skills, positioning, and awareness?

Bunting-Aho-Necas
Svech-KK-Necas
Turbo-Staal-Fast
Martinook-Drury-Noesen

I like the look of that forward group a lot.

Cloning Necas would be a good way to get another top 6 forward

 

[SvechneJerk]

Which makes me think...Turbo...may he be a fit with Staal? Hmmmm...defensive skills, positioning, and awareness?

Bunting-Aho-Necas
Svech-KK-Necas
Turbo-Staal-Fast
Martinook-Drury-Noesen

I like the look of that forward group a lot.

Needs moar Jarvis.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Cloning Necas would be a good way to get another top 6 forward

Damn, I mistyped Jarvis hahahahahahaha

 

[StormCast]

Which makes me think...Turbo...may he be a fit with Staal? Hmmmm...defensive skills, positioning, and awareness?

Bunting-Aho-Necas
Svech-KK-Necas
Turbo-Staal-Fast
Martinook-Drury-Noesen

I like the look of that forward group a lot.

If it were my decision, that's what I'd do. The tradeoff though is mucking in the corners and a physical forecheck that Martinook is known for and Turbo is not. But Staal and Fast do a lot of dirty work and a defensively responsible, skilled player who can add scoring to that line is not a bad thing.

P.S. you have Necas in there twice and assuming Jarvis is on L1.

 

[chaz4hockey]

He is a complementary scoring wing who would add little value on a checking line. They brought him in to play on one of the two top lines. Defensive awareness, positioning and skill are not his strengths.

yet....I'm sure RBA will teach him his responsibilities.....