Grier said quite clearly that he is not giving anyone any term (5+ yrs). Unless he changes his mind, I think he will stick to that. The long term D consists of Mukh, Dick, and hopefully Schaefer, with an outside chance of adding LSW, Pohlkamp, and/or Cagnoni. This means that he will likely try to acquire a top 4 D 25 or younger (preferably 23 or younger) who fits in the roster for the next 10 years. I don't think term and $$ for a 28-30 year old is coming, as much as I wish he did. The only UFA adds on D are likely to be depth guys (perbix =like), or veterans on short term deals. While this strategy sure surely suck next year (and likely the year after), a Long term top four of Schaefer, Dick, Dobson, and Mukh (with Pohlkamp and Perbix filling it out on RHD) is likely to be a top-of-the-league D in due course.
6'2, 6'3, 6'4, 6'4, 6'4, and 5'11, all eventually 200lb+.
Hopefully Bystedt can be the 3C (I hae zero faith in ostapchuk). Then, its just a matter of filling out the wings, which is usually quite doable with a combo of vets and rookie grads.
I think Grier walked back the term comment slightly. I took that to mean, we'll be sticking with 2-4 years with the unlikely but possible exception of pursuing Marner and Ekblad/Gavrikov.
So your 'preferably 23 and younger' got me thinking. How many RHD played 17+ minutes and 15+ games this year? The answer is 70 including Jan Rutta, Travis Hamonic, Jeff Petry, Erik Gudbranson, and Trevor van Riemsdyk- none of whom I'd be keen to bring in. Rizel, Levshunov, Brunicke, and Parekh also averaged more than 18 but in fewer games. These guys, Crevier, Seider, Raddysh, and Faber are the rare sub-25 inclusions. Aside from Crevier (who's hardly proven top 4, I don't see any being available. Clarke, Nemec may very well get there, but I don't see either being available.
He 'benefits' from being in SJ, but Liljigren is 48th. Ceci also benefited at 25th. There are a few left shot guys who play right that are excluded, but they're pretty rare.
Near the top of the list (top 18) are soft offenseman Kris Letang (in broken form), Karlsson, and Tony Deangelo. Current or soon to be $9M+ dmen with warts on he list include Bouchard, Dobson, and Jones.
RHD options are dire. Guys who might be available by minutes played (and ranked). I didn't account for NTCs, which is several, but bolded the under 28 crowd.
7. Andersson- 24:10 (UFA next year, hoping to extend)
13. Ekblad- 23:30 (UFA)
14. Bouchard- 23:28 (Must decide to commit $9-10M)
16. Dobson- 23:16 (Widely discussed)
18. Karlsson 23:14 (honestly, I'd be game!)
20. Faulk- 22:27 (2 years left, probably not available)
25. Ceci- 21:13 (UFA)
28. Pulock- 21:05 (Cap reduction?)
29. Burns- 20:57 (UFA)
30. Fabbro- 20:54 (UFA)
31. Myers- 20:48 (Rebuild?)
34. Murphy- 20:37 (UFA next year)
37. Risto- 20:31 (tank? Philly wanted 1st+)
44. Hamilton- 19:51 (5 RHD options)
49. Sverson- 19:30 (Cap reduction, team fit?)
55. Manson- 18:02 (UFA next year)
25. Ceci- 21:13 (UFA)
53. Peeke- 18:36 (tank?)
57. Jokiharju- 17:50 (UFA)
66. Crevier- 17:17 (lot's of RHD, but I think they'd move Murphy instead)
70. Mayfield- 17:00 (cap move?)
So, back up the brinks truck for Ekblad, and try and bring back Ceci or Perbix (not included with under 15:00 a night, but young)!
