GDT: Let the Free Agency Madness begin

[Blueline Bomber]

It's hard to tell how much TT's year last year was due to injury. Obviously, it was a VERY poor year from him, and that's made it so that his name is (rightfully, IMO) in the trade rumors.

But one poor year isn't enough to write him off completely, so if we keep him, there's enough there to hope he bounces back.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Aho and Turbo both have played their best when they're on a line together, I would put them back together to start next season, the question is who goes on their wing. SAT could come back or Bunting I think would be a good fit with the other 2 guys feeding and him cleaning up in front of the net and dirty areas. But then you've got Jarvis or Necas on an off wing or in the bottom 6, neither of which are ideal. Jarvis and Necas aren't the best fits with Aho/Turbo though. I also don't think we're out on Tank yet and if we get him that muddies the waters even more (in a good way).

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

TT needs to have a healthy season. Between covid, shortened seasons, his concussion and other injuries, he really hasn't seemed to be able to completely get in a groove. He was ok 2 seasons ago, but still didn't quite look the same to me. If he stays healthy, I expect a bounce back season for him.

 

[NotOpie]

TT needs to have a healthy season. Between covid, shortened seasons, his concussion and other injuries, he really hasn't seemed to be able to completely get in a groove. He was ok 2 seasons ago, but still didn't quite look the same to me. If he stays healthy, I expect a bounce back season for him.

There was also talk that he was very close to his grandfather who died during the season.

I would 100% disagree with that. TT’s effort level all year was pathetic.

Instead of pouting about not being on PP1 or not playing 1st line with Aho, pick up your lip and be a professional and work harder to get back to where you think you belong.

Maybe I'm blind but I didn't see Teravainen as dogging it. What I saw was a guy who was snake-bit, frustrated with himself, and aware that he wasn't getting PP time because of his performance. I didn't take his comments about not being on the power play or on a higher line as excuses, but more of an explanation of lower point totals.

 

[raynman]

I agree with what’s been said about Turbo’s health but I also think he looks better on the RW.

 

[Derailed75]

There was also talk that he was very close to his grandfather who died during the season.

Maybe I'm blind but I didn't see Teravainen as dogging it. What I saw was a guy who was snake-bit, frustrated with himself, and aware that he wasn't getting PP time because of his performance. I didn't take his comments about not being on the power play or on a higher line as excuses, but more of an explanation of lower point totals.

This. Also with him and Aho being good friends i don't think Aho allows him to half ass it. At least not during games. He just had a bad season thats all

 

[WreckingCrew]

Aho and Turbo both have played their best when they're on a line together, I would put them back together to start next season, the question is who goes on their wing. SAT could come back or Bunting I think would be a good fit with the other 2 guys feeding and him cleaning up in front of the net and dirty areas. But then you've got Jarvis or Necas on an off wing or in the bottom 6, neither of which are ideal. Jarvis and Necas aren't the best fits with Aho/Turbo though. I also don't think we're out on Tank yet and if we get him that muddies the waters even more (in a good way).

Bunting - Aho - Turbo (BAT)
Svech - KK - Nachos (SKoN?)
MartyParty - Staal - Fast
Noesen - Drury - Jarvy*
Lemieux

*I don't think he'd work on the 3rd with Staal bc he'd be an easy target as the only real scoring threat there

If Turbo doesn't pick it back up
Bunting - Aho - Jarvis?
SKN
Marty - Staal - TT
Noesen - Drury - Fast

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

Bunting - Aho - Turbo (BAT)
Svech - KK - Nachos (SKoN?)
MartyParty - Staal - Fast
Noesen - Drury - Jarvy*
Lemieux

*I don't think he'd work on the 3rd with Staal bc he'd be an easy target as the only real scoring threat there

If Turbo doesn't pick it back up
Bunting - Aho - Jarvis?
SKN
Marty - Staal - TT
Noesen - Drury - Fast

This is exactly how I see it. I love Fast and he obviously fits on that 3rd line with Marty and Staal super well but that's where I feel there is a logjam and I think it would be great for Jarvis to be in that spot. BAT + SKN for the top 6 absolutely make sense at least as a starting point.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

This. Also with him and Aho being good friends i don't think Aho allows him to half ass it. At least not during games. He just had a bad season thats all

Indeed.

We're spoiled from watching essentially the hardest working team in the league the past 5 seasons. The boys 100% bust their ass starting game 1 of the regular season. We scream at them when they lose 1 game to the Senators and it brings their record from 0.700 winning percentage to 0.694, in a game where we probably outshot them 49-14 and the other team went 2/4 on the powerplay and we went 0/1.

I've watched since 2001 and I've never seen a team just outwork the other team 95% of the time like the Canes of now do. There isn't a single player half assing it on our team. There just isn't. Rod has the team dialed in all of the time, and we have veterans like Staal and Burns who are great workhorses for everyone else to model their games after.

When we lose games, it's because of the huge variability in puck luck, getting outgoaltended, and getting outskilled on the powerplay. There's a small handful of games in which we lost where it wasn't one of these reasons in the past 3 seasons.


All this to say I'd be happy if we were to get one Brock Boeser or a pure goal scorer, add TDA for cheap, and call it a day. I'd like one guy we can count on to score some goals, and he doesn't need to be as good defensively. In his 7 seconds playing with us last year, Max Pac was that guy and he was lethal.

 

[cptjeff]

All this to say I'd be happy if we were to get one Brock Boeser or a pure goal scorer, add TDA for cheap, and call it a day. I'd like one guy we can count on to score some goals, and he doesn't need to be as good defensively. In his 7 seconds playing with us last year, Max Pac was that guy and he was lethal.

Per that Elliotte Friedman interview from yesterday, (this one) Tarasenko is waiting on some teams that will be interested to clear cap room or make other moves, which makes me thing we're still in on him and everything is being held up by this damn Karlsson business. I think that's my preferred move at this point. We can't score. Add somebody who can even if he's past his prime.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

Indeed.

We're spoiled from watching essentially the hardest working team in the league the past 5 seasons. The boys 100% bust their ass starting game 1 of the regular season. We scream at them when they lose 1 game to the Senators and it brings their record from 0.700 winning percentage to 0.694, in a game where we probably outshot them 49-14 and the other team went 2/4 on the powerplay and we went 0/1.

I've watched since 2001 and I've never seen a team just outwork the other team 95% of the time like the Canes of now do. There isn't a single player half assing it on our team. There just isn't. Rod has the team dialed in all of the time, and we have veterans like Staal and Burns who are great workhorses for everyone else to model their games after.

When we lose games, it's because of the huge variability in puck luck, getting outgoaltended, and getting outskilled on the powerplay. There's a small handful of games in which we lost where it wasn't one of these reasons in the past 3 seasons.


All this to say I'd be happy if we were to get one Brock Boeser or a pure goal scorer, add TDA for cheap, and call it a day. I'd like one guy we can count on to score some goals, and he doesn't need to be as good defensively. In his 7 seconds playing with us last year, Max Pac was that guy and he was lethal.

I like Boeser's skillset a lot and think he could absolutely take off in the right environment. He's not a guy that has shown a lot of grit or two way game in his career but he is young and Vancouver has largely been a disaster on and off the ice since he's been in the league. Rod is the best there is at molding guys and getting them to buy into the culture and team mentality. I think there's a big difference in bringing in a young guy with those deficiencies and being able to get them to turn into complete players vs. vets who have been in the league for a long time and just are what they are at that point. Old dogs and new tricks and all of that.

 

[LostInaLostWorld]

Old dogs and new tricks and all of that.

Brought this memory up for some reason.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Per that Elliotte Friedman interview from yesterday, (this one) Tarasenko is waiting on some teams that will be interested to clear cap room or make other moves, which makes me thing we're still in on him and everything is being held up by this damn Karlsson business. I think that's my preferred move at this point. We can't score. Add somebody who can even if he's past his prime.

I think Tarasenko is just waiting on Ottawa to know if Toronto plans on buying out Murray. If so, ottawa is likely offering more money and possibly term with over a million more cap space. If not he takes our offer. 3rd option is he takes the Klingberg route and hopes for the best with more money in his pocket .

 

[Stickpucker]

I agree with you overall on this issue, I just wanted to point out something about the Staal line playoff performance. The team slowly evolved after the Svech injury into the playoffs imo. It was clear we didn’t have enough scoring, and our scorers like Necas were getting ground down. The team really embraced Rod’s style to a whole new level of execution. Everyone doubled down on the buy in. In such a system, in the playoffs where everything turns into the grind that this line specializes in it’s pretty unsurprising that they brought more offense. It’s the time of year where grinders always start showing up more on a scoresheet.

I’m just saying it’s hard to use this years playoff performance as an argument about what line really carries the mail for this team. The scorers get us into the playoffs, the grinders have huge moments in the playoffs. That’s pretty standard.

So.....since we're easily making the playoffs we don't need more scorers....we need more grinders if we want a cup?

Is Kucherov a grinder?

 

[Svechhammer]

I think Tarasenko is just waiting on Ottawa to know if Toronto plans on buying out Murray. If so, ottawa is likely offering more money and possibly term with over a million more cap space. If not he takes our offer. 3rd option is he takes the Klingberg route and hopes for the best with more money in his pocket .

I still think he's making a mistake if he signs long term this year. Go balls out for one season this year on a prove it deal and then capitalize on the higher cap next year.

I also think any team that offers him a long term contract with his injury history, especially if its a higher dollar contract, is making a big mistake. I'm very much torn if I even want us involved to get him knowing he wants to get paid and wants term.

 

[bleedgreen]

So.....since we're easily making the playoffs we don't need more scorers....we need more grinders if we want a cup?

Is Kucherov a grinder?

Watching this years playoffs really made me wonder about us as 12 grinders with skilled D and a great goalie. Find as many guys who can play our third line game and also kick in some occasional offense as we can. Intentionally dumb down our offense and just play the system. The forwards would be affordable and replaceable.

 

[Stickpucker]

Watching this years playoffs really made me wonder about us as 12 grinders with skilled D and a great goalie. Find as many guys who can play our third line game and also kick in some occasional offense as we can. Intentionally dumb down our offense and just play the system. The forwards would be affordable and replaceable.

Any grinders out there with a high end shot who are easily affordable?

 

[bleedgreen]

Any grinders out there with a high end shot who are easily affordable?

What does Boeser look like after Rod shows him the light? Coleman isn’t a sniper but if Calgary keeps falling off a cliff maybe he’s something we can get. Can Florida keep affording Bennett and Reinhart? Don’t know if Reinhart is truly grindy but he has some of that in him and can shoot.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

Any grinders out there with a high end shot who are easily affordable?

Nino and Patrick Eaves.

 

[spockBokk]

If you can take turtleneck at his word, which you can’t, he hopes Aho is re-signed within days.

Still talking to Tarasenko, not enough cap to sign him.

Also they have been talking to DeAngelo, which contradicts what DeCock reported a few days ago.

Not much else in there.

Personally, sign me up for TDA for 1yr around $1M and see if you can get Tatar signed cheaply. Tatar should be good for 20g in the regular season. Trade Pesce or Skjei for the best futures-filled package you can get, own-rental the other. Bank as much cap space leading up to the deadline as possible, then deal those afformentioned futures for an impact forward who can replace Tatar come playoff time.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

I also think any team that offers him a long term contract with his injury history, especially if its a higher dollar contract, is making a big mistake. I'm very much torn if I even want us involved to get him knowing he wants to get paid and wants term.

a team badly wanting to compete (ottawa) makes a bad signing. Never happens.

 

[WreckingCrew]

Watching this years playoffs really made me wonder about us as 12 grinders with skilled D and a great goalie. Find as many guys who can play our third line game and also kick in some occasional offense as we can. Intentionally dumb down our offense and just play the system. The forwards would be affordable and replaceable.

Isn't that kinda the Islanders? Pass on that

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Isn't that kinda the Islanders? Pass on that

Islanders are far worse offensively, like not even in the same universe.

 

[bleedgreen]

Isn't that kinda the Islanders? Pass on that

I mean sure…..but we’d do it better!

 

[Discipline Daddy]

Islanders are far worse offensively, like not even in the same universe.

They're also far worse defensively. Even if you include their vastly superior goalie, they still allow more GA than the Canes.