Injury Report: Micheal Ferland (Upper Body)

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Despite all the noise, if he does go, we need at least one guy to replace his physical presence and talent. Who among UFA's has that this year? The smart play would be replacing him with a RIGHT shooter that brings the same game. But does someone like that exist on the UFA market? Im not even sure I want to see faulk go at this point anymore

I'd prefer to get a center to move Wallmark down 1 line, bring up Necas for the RH side (and RH shot on PP). Something like:

Svech-Aho-TT
Nino-Staal-Williams
Foegele-XXX-Necas (or maybe put Martinook on this line the help Necas like he did with Svech)
Martinook-Wallmark-McGinn (although this line might get as much ice time as line 3)

Kadri might be a good choice here as he brings a physical presence as well, but the cost might be too high. Good news is the Leafs can't take much cap back so it might be a futures deal.

In terms of UFA forwards: Browse - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Also, there will likely be a D for F type trade to take advantage of teams near the cap. Lastly, new GMs sometimes like to move players they don't have an attachment to and try to craft the line-up like they want. Not always in year 1, but last year we saw:

Fenton: Nino, Coyle, Granlund all moved with at least another year on their contract.
Waddell: Lindholm, Hanifin, Skinner, Rask
Botterill: ROR

Wouldn't surprise me to see Yzerman (Det), Fletcher (Phi), and Holland (EDM) all trying to make moves to re-shape their rosters.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

That's even more important for a player like Ferland who didn't start playing in the NHL until 2015 and wasn't a regular until 2015-16.

Ferland has only made around $5.5M in NHL salary in his career ($5.15M for his 4 full seasons + whatever he made on his ELC, mostly in the minors.) This is his shot at a major payday, and I don't fault anyone for going for that when they have the opportunity. Ferland is probably only going to get one shot at a big contract at 27.

Exactly. Which is why I think it's gotta be killing him not to be playing right now. Guys like Foegele (as well as the rest of the Canes) are getting all sorts of visibility and press right now and if he was out there, he'd have a chance to really up his stock IMO.

 

[Chrispy]

Despite all the noise, if he does go, we need at least one guy to replace his physical presence and talent. Who among UFA's has that this year? The smart play would be replacing him with a RIGHT shooter that brings the same game. But does someone like that exist on the UFA market? Im not even sure I want to see faulk go at this point anymore

Right-handed UFA forwards for summer 2019:
Browse - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

1) Yes, re-sign Justin Williams when you look at how thin RH forwards are.
2) As far as righty shooters who can replace Ferland's game or bring something else needed:
Wayne Simmonds? Eric Fehr as a RH Center? Smith-Pelly if you think he's a casualty of Washington's depth?

 

[Vagrant]

it weakens ferland's case to ask for big money from this specific organization considering we've won playoff series without him. how much can you really demand from a team that performs as well with you out of the lineup as in it? not that ferland is a bad player, it's just the basic truth. we have internal candidates for the combination of skills he provides. foegele and mcginn seem to somewhat fit that description and are around the same age ferland himself started to show an offensive pulse. as far as i'm concerned, mcginn has gotten better every season he's played and it wouldn't be unreasonable to suggest he could give you 20-20 down the line. he's had seemingly bad puck luck as it is as far as his goal scoring goes. hard to recall another guy who has hit more posts on this team. unfortunately, the ferland role being replaced internally by likely unfit candidates is the price for being a budget team sometimes.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Right-handed UFA forwards for summer 2019:
Browse - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

1) Yes, re-sign Justin Williams when you look at how thin RH forwards are.
2) As far as righty shooters who can replace Ferland's game or bring something else needed:
Wayne Simmonds? Eric Fehr as a RH Center? Smith-Pelly if you think he's a casualty of Washington's depth?

NO to all of those. We don't need plugs who are big/physical (Fehr/Smith-Pelly). If we are going to pay Simmonds, we might as well pay Ferland, who is younger.

 

[Borsig]

Agreed. Don't want ANY of them over ferland.

I like the guy, and what he brings. I don't like the injuries and "mystery" of whatver is going on with him.

 

[Chrispy]

The issue is a right-handed UFA Ferland replacement doesn't exist this year. A left-handed UFA Ferland replacement would be hard to find as well.

It's going to be easier to find a skilled forward to fill into the top 6 and use Foegele, Martinook, and others to replace the physicality lost if Ferland leaves.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

The issue is a right-handed UFA Ferland replacement doesn't exist this year. A left-handed UFA Ferland replacement would be hard to find as well.

It's going to be easier to find a skilled forward to fill into the top 6 and use Foegele, Martinook, and others to replace the physicality lost if Ferland leaves.

Agree. We don't need a RH UFA Ferland replacement. Assuming Williams is re-signed and Necas makes the team, there are two RH Wingers right there.

 

[GoldiFox]

Tyler Johnson or Derek Stepan are the two right handed Centers I'd target to slide into the middle-6. Before this run I'd have said there was a 0% chance TyJo would waive for Carolina. Now I'd say there is at least a chance.

I'll miss Ferland but Foegele is looking good enough in the top-9 to stay there.

 

[NotOpie]

But does someone like that exist on the UFA market?

The easy answer is no....the only UFA right-shot winger I'd consider is the previously mentioned Brett Connolly....and he might price himself out of our range, but maybe not.

 

[My Special Purpose]

Despite all the noise, if he does go, we need at least one guy to replace his physical presence and talent. Who among UFA's has that this year? The smart play would be replacing him with a RIGHT shooter that brings the same game. But does someone like that exist on the UFA market? Im not even sure I want to see faulk go at this point anymore

The issue is a right-handed UFA Ferland replacement doesn't exist this year. A left-handed UFA Ferland replacement would be hard to find as well.

If we really are looking at a breakout for Warren Foegele, right there is your Ferland replacement. If the way Foegele has played the past 20 games is at all sustainable, he's a top nine guy who can chip in 20 goals and is non-stop on the forecheck.

I can't count very many teams that go deeper than Nino, Svech, Foegele on the left side. Hell, Ferland is on the fourth line behind those three tonight (for obvious reasons, I know).

As for right shots, all of Necas, Geekie, Gauthier, Mattheos and Roy are right shots. I think the issue is a little overblown, especially if we're talking about DSP as a possibility.

 

[Joe McGrath]

If we really are looking at a breakout for Warren Foegele, right there is your Ferland replacement. If the way Foegele has played the past 20 games is at all sustainable, he's a top nine guy who can chip in 20 goals and is non-stop on the forecheck.

I can't count very many teams that go deeper than Nino, Svech, Foegele on the left side.

As for right shots, all of Necas, Geekie, Gauthier, Mattheos and Roy are right shots. I think the issue is a little overblown, especially if we're talking about DSP as a possibility.

Going into the season with Svech penciled in on the right side I couldn’t come up with a team with a worse group of left wings. It was what? Ferland/Foegel/McGinn/Martinook/Zykov?

 

[My Special Purpose]

Going into the season with Svech penciled in on the right side I couldn’t come up with a team with a worse group of left wings. It was what? Ferland/Foegel/McGinn/Martinook/Zykov?

Yeah, that was weird this year. Even Nino is still listed as a RW on NHL.com (as well as Svech). It's yet another reason that a guy like Teravainen is so incredibly valuable. It doesn't seem to matter where he lines up.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

It's yet another reason that a guy like Teravainen is so incredibly valuable. It doesn't seem to matter where he lines up.

I think Svech can as well. Time will tell though.

 

[Joe McGrath]

I think Svech can as well. Time will tell though.

TT can play center too if necessary.

Svech will likely be a RW long term, but could play either I’m sure.

McGinn switches back and fort pretty regularly himself.

 

[My Special Purpose]

TT can play center too if necessary.

Svech will likely be a RW long term, but could play either I’m sure.

McGinn switches back and fort pretty regularly himself.

Yeah, but McGinn *has* to, or he's just not valuable. Same with Martinook. As long as those guys can play any position in the bottom six, they can stay (as far as I'm concerned).

Y'know, for all the crap we've given Roddy about being hard-headed (and he probably deserves it in regards to the PP), he's got guys in positions to succeed, even if they aren't the position we thought they'd be in on Day 1 of camp.

And when you think about it, when you've got Aho, TT, Svech on a line, what difference does it really make who's listed at what position.

 

[Roboturner913]

I just don't see how we can keep Ferland at anywhere near his market value. We have $25 million cap space and I believe only 14 players under contract going into this offseason. Aho is going to take at least $8 million all by himself. Williams another $4 million. McGinn is probably a $2M player at this point.

Even with those conservative estimates we've burned through $16 million of that cap space and still need to sign at least 5 more players including a starting goalie salary. Can you sign 5 players including a starting goalie with $9 million? Sure. As long the 4 non-goalies are all on entry-level (or otherwise sub-$1M) deals.

Numbers are here, if anybody's interested: Carolina Hurricanes - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

 

[A Star is Burns]

That's all assuming we don't buyout Darling (we should) and that we don't move out a Faulk and/or TVR (more difficult with the injury) to create some more space.

 

[TheBigKahuna]

Aho at 7, Williams at 2.5, McGinn at 2.

Take it or leave it.

 

[Borsig]

Ferland is 4-5m probably.

Mrazek? 4?

 

[Borsig]

Aho doesn't get 7. He gets 8. Williams probably signs at 3, ginner at 2m

 

[Borsig]

Simply put darling needs to GO and he's a boat anchor. Cut him loose and give that space to mrazek.

That contract and that guy. What a chud.

 

[GoldiFox]

I just don't see how we can keep Ferland at anywhere near his market value. We have $25 million cap space and I believe only 14 players under contract going into this offseason. Aho is going to take at least $8 million all by himself. Williams another $4 million. McGinn is probably a $2M player at this point.

Even with those conservative estimates we've burned through $16 million of that cap space and still need to sign at least 5 more players including a starting goalie salary. Can you sign 5 players including a starting goalie with $9 million? Sure. As long the 4 non-goalies are all on entry-level (or otherwise sub-$1M) deals.

Numbers are here, if anybody's interested: Carolina Hurricanes - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

8 + 4 + 2 = 14
Darling buyout saves another $2 million per year.

I'm not sure where your "at least 5 more players" comes in. Signing Aho + Williams + McGinn leaves two bottom-6 spots and 2 goalies. Add Maenalanen and Necas (both under $1 million), Nedeljkovic (under $1 million) and sign Mrazek (~$4 million).

Nino ($5.25 million) - Aho ($8 million) - TT ($5.4 million)
Svechnikov ($925k) - Staal ($6 million) - Williams ($4 million)
Foegele ($745k) - Wallmark ($675k) - Martinook ($2 million)
McGinn ($2 million) - Necas ($895k) - Maenalanen ($1 million)

Slavin ($5.3 million) - Hamilton ($5.75 million)
De Haan ($4.5 million) - Faulk ($4.8 million)
TVR ($2.3 million) - Pesce ($4 million)
Bean ($863k)

Mrazek ($4 million)
Nedeljkovic ($950k)

Total Cap hit (including Semin and Darling buyouts) = $73 million
Total Cap space is roughly $10 million

That is without dealing a D (hopefully Faulk).

 

[MinJaBen]

I just don't see how we can keep Ferland at anywhere near his market value. We have $25 million cap space and I believe only 14 players under contract going into this offseason. Aho is going to take at least $8 million all by himself. Williams another $4 million. McGinn is probably a $2M player at this point.

Even with those conservative estimates we've burned through $16 million of that cap space and still need to sign at least 5 more players including a starting goalie salary. Can you sign 5 players including a starting goalie with $9 million? Sure. As long the 4 non-goalies are all on entry-level (or otherwise sub-$1M) deals.

Numbers are here, if anybody's interested: Carolina Hurricanes - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Isn't that already baked in? He doesn't "add" anything if he is already taking up the $4M...he just doesn't free up any space.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I just don't see how we can keep Ferland at anywhere near his market value. We have $25 million cap space and I believe only 14 players under contract going into this offseason. Aho is going to take at least $8 million all by himself. Williams another $4 million. McGinn is probably a $2M player at this point.

Even with those conservative estimates we've burned through $16 million of that cap space and still need to sign at least 5 more players including a starting goalie salary. Can you sign 5 players including a starting goalie with $9 million? Sure. As long the 4 non-goalies are all on entry-level (or otherwise sub-$1M) deals.

Numbers are here, if anybody's interested: Carolina Hurricanes - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

I get what you are saying and don't disagree with it completely, but there are options/considerations. 1) there will be other moves I think. Buying out Darling saves ~$3M. Making a RHD trade (I still think Faulk is traded this offseason) saves $4.8M. and 2) a lot of the holes will either be bottom end guys that won't make much or will be holes filled with guys on ELCs.

$54M with 14 players today:
+ 8M (Aho) + 2M (McGinn) + 4M Williams + 4?M Mrazek + 1?M Ned.
- 2.9M (Darling) - $4.8M (Faulk)
= $65.3M with 18 players (after subtracting Faulk).

Not saying it's exactly these guys/this line-up, but from the current cap friendly listing and the adds/subtracts above the line-up of the 18 players look like this:

Svech-Aho-TT
Nino-Staal-Williams
Foegele-Wallmark-??1
Martinook-??2-McGinn
??3

Slavin-Pesce
CDH-Hamilton
Bean-TVR
??4

Mrazek, Ned

?? 1 = Necas at $0.9M
?? 2 = a 4C at $1.5M
?? 3 = $1M at most.
?? 4 = Fleury at $1.5M (or McKeown)

That only adds another $5M to fill out that roster. So IF they wanted to, they could fit Ferland, but I don't think that's where they want to spend that money.

EDIT: others beat me to it.