Speculation: Off-Season 2013 - Part II

[TBLHoser]

Because a player being bought out has everything to do with his talent level. Think about the interest level in Lecavalier before and after the buyout. It just shows how much a players contract affects his value in the cap world.

Maybe so, but nobody on the Lightning forum was ripping Lecavalier for his play. Yes, we know he did not have a great overall season, but he played great until he got hurt again. He didn't have the inconsistent play throughout his career - you could always count on at least 20 goals minimum a season. The only real knock on him was his albatross of a contract just like Grabo's was. Difference being, Grabo is totally inconsistent and plays only when he wants to. We need more than that from a 2nd line center.

Edit: Actually, the more I think about it, I would agree that there are some good things he does, but the deal would really have to be good for us to go after him. I'm just not a big fan of the way he plays and don't see him as a fit. I actually like him better than Bozak.

 

[LightningStrikes]

Pierre LeBrun @Real_ESPNLeBrun
https://twitter.com/Real_ESPNLeBrun/status/352794814284181504

I just mentioned him because he was one of the bigger names available.

Pierre LeBrun ‏@Real_ESPNLeBrun
Briere informed the Habs 15 min ago. Two years, $8 M deal

https://twitter.com/Real_ESPNLeBrun/status/352899462164774912

 

[The Wyzerhood]

I live in Toronto as well, and I personally disagree. Last season was poor for him production-wise, but I believe he is a much better player than what we saw. His combination of elusiveness, skill, forechecking qualities, toughness (ability to bounce back from big hits), and good work ethic leads me to believe that he is a much better player than how he is percieved right now. I think he is well worth a chance.

However I will agree that trading for him would be a poor idea. In hindsight, I wouldn't trade for him unless a significant amount of his cap hit was eaten. The reason I bring up Grabovski is that he's rumored to be a potential CBO candidate, which would make him a free agent and rid him of his bad contract. I don't expect us to be destinations for any of the free agent centers. Grabovski would be worth it as a stop gap, IMO, once the fates of those players are resolved.

I completely understand where you're coming from and of course fans will always evaluate players differently. I think there are definitely some positives to Grabo's game, but at his current contract, he's just not worth the risk. Now that he's been bought out, he's a decent option if we can sign him at a reasonable hit and on a short-term deal.

I'm just very confident that once we're a contender again, you won't want his 5.5mil/year salary on the books, especially when he's not a good enough 2C on a SC contending team.

 

[nhljohnson]

Living in Toronto and watching him play every other night, I can say with the utmost confidence that I want nothing to do with him.

I have to admit, I was eager to read the rest of what I knew would be a lot of misinformation so I could refute it.

There's a reason why he fell in the depth chart behind Kadri and Bozak

He played behind Bozak because the coach is an idiot. Grabovski may be a biased party, but he's even gone so far as to call Carlyle "stupid."

he's just not a top two line centerman on a good team and is unfortunately being paid as one.

He's being paid like one because Toronto was in a jam. He didn't take a hometown discount. Big whoop. Doesn't change the fact that he'd be a fine replacement for Lecavalier.

Prototypical player who has good skills but is awful at using his teammates - the only way he could play a top 6 role on a good team is if he was shifted to the wing and we already have a logjam there.

Uh...what? He was a very good center for the Leafs for several years. He's a strong possession player who elevates his linemates around him, especially at even-strength (the state which most of the game is played in) and when slotted between skilled players, produces. Carlyle's usage of him is to blame for his down year, which, from a production standpoint stunk but, again, it wasn't like he was being given choice minutes and linemates. What did Carlyle think was going to happen utilizing him as a 3C in a more defensive-minded role? Compare his production in previous seasons to his usage in 2011-2012, 2010-2011 and 2009-2010. Notice some correlation?

Trading for Grabo would be one of the absolute worst ways to tie up the breathing room we just gained from buying-out Vinny.

This was a much better line of reasoning, especially since you'd also have the cost of assets used to acquire him. But TB would still have had $2m+ more cap space with the 2C slot filled. Of course, such a trade is a moot point now with Grabovski being on waivers to be bought out. Now you can claim him off waivers or sign him as a free agent (for potentially less money and a different term) without having to give up an asset. He makes even more sense now.

Even if you take the contract away, he would not be centering one of the first two lines in Toronto; simply put, he's just not good enough.

Because the coach is a part-dinosaur, part-idiot. How can you defend playing TYLER BOZAK over Grabovski? Please enlighten us.

 

[The Wyzerhood]

http://www.tsn.ca/toronto/blogs/jonas_siegel/?id=426967

It's nice to know that if we gamble on signing Grabo as a short-term stop gap that he'll be a team-oriented player without any behavioral issues/distractions following him!

What a guy.

 

[HotPaquette]

http://www.tsn.ca/toronto/blogs/jonas_siegel/?id=426967

It's nice to know that if we gamble on signing Grabo as a short-term stop gap that he'll be a team-oriented player without any behavioral issues/distractions following him!

What a guy.

Yes because showing emotion gives him a major behavioral issue.

 

[The Wyzerhood]

Yes because showing emotion gives him a major behavioral issue.

I was unaware that calling your coach an "expletive idiot" was part of showing emotion. Is biting another player also part of showing emotion? What about leaving the Montreal Canadiens after being a healthy scratch in 2008?

Or what about his bar fight in downtown Vancouver during the 2010 Olympics?

Yeah you're right, he has no major behavioral issues.

 

[Steve Yzerman]

http://www.tsn.ca/toronto/blogs/jonas_siegel/?id=426967

It's nice to know that if we gamble on signing Grabo as a short-term stop gap that he'll be a team-oriented player without any behavioral issues/distractions following him!

What a guy.

I don't understand, what behavioral issues? He should be furious at Carlyle with the way he managed him.

 

[Yzlamic Preacher*]

Grab was given the Crap end of the stick in Toronto. He might have behavioural issues but whatever. If he can plug a hole for a season or 2 until a proper 2C so be it.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Wonder what he will be offered in the open market. May be more than were willing to pay.

 

[The Wyzerhood]

I don't understand, what behavioral issues? He should be furious at Carlyle with the way he managed him.

Look above. That was just one incident in a line of many. If it's unclear, there's nothing wrong with voicing your sadness that you are leaving a team and its fans or even your displeasure over your playing time/role with a team, but it's quite unnecessary to call your former coach an "expletive" idiot, regardless of how you felt about him.

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

I have to say, if Grabovski is going to handle himself that unprofessionally, then Yzerman and Vinik will have no part in adding him to this organization.

 

[CupsOverCash]

I have to say, if Grabovski is going to handle himself that unprofessionally, then Yzerman and Vinik will have no part in adding him to this organization.

Could be. I could see SY at least seeing what the deal is though if he doesnt already know.

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

Could be. I could see SY at least seeing what the deal is though if he doesnt already know.

Agreed, Grabovski was clearly caught at a bad time and most of that was emotionally driven. It's still not an excuse for the language he used, he should be acting professional. At least he has heart and cares about his game, I guess.

 

[The Wyzerhood]

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Mich...ed-in-Vancouvers-Edler/173/52545#.UdYUJBaffZs

Must be legit since it's from hockeybuzz and Bruce Garrioch.

Do any of you think we'd have serious interest in Edler? Or is the asking price too rich considering that most of us don't necessarily see us as contenders next year, even with Edler?

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

I thought Dreger said that Edler was off the table after the Ballard buy-out?

I'd be very interested in Edler, he's one of the better two-way defensemen in the league and he's a dynamic skater. I'm not sure what the asking price would be, but I assume it would be somthing around Purcell +?

 

[The Wyzerhood]

I thought Dreger said that Edler was off the table after the Ballard buy-out?

I'd be very interested in Edler, he's one of the better two-way defenseman in the league and he's a dynamic skater. I'm not sure what the asking price would be, but I assume it would be somthing around Purcell +?

Canucks beat writer, Jason Botchford, believes that the Canucks will continue to listen to offers for Edler. He claims that there's only 7 mil remaining and 7 players still to sign.

Only problem with taking on Purcell is that they'd be trading Edler to shed salary. My guess is they'd want Connolly, a cheaper current top 6 forward and other prospects/picks as well. We don't have any current cheap top 6 forwards to trade, since I highly doubt SFY would look to move Killorn or Panik, in addition to Connolly.

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

Canucks beat writer, Jason Botchford, believes that the Canucks will continue to listen to offers for Edler. He claims that there's only 7 mil remaining and 7 players still to sign.

Only problem with taking on Purcell is that they'd be trading Edler to shed salary. My guess is they'd want Connolly, a cheaper current top 6 forward and other prospects/picks as well. We don't have any current cheap top 6 forwards to trade, since I highly doubt SFY would look to move Killorn or Panik, in addition to Connolly.

Fair enough. If they're just listening to offers, they probably won't jump at an offer of Connolly +. Another team will probably come along and match anything we could realistically offer, and as you said before, I'm not willing to part with any of our young wingers at the moment.

 

[TBLHoser]

Hockeybuzz also said last night that we are still in the mix for Ryan Miller....

As for Edler....one thing we have going for us is Bowness knows everything about him.

 

[TBLHoser]

Agreed, Grabovski was clearly caught at a bad time and most of that was emotionally driven. It's still not an excuse for the language he used, he should be acting professional. At least he has heart and cares about his game, I guess.

Nice timing too...the day before his wedding. Couldn't they have done this a couple days ago?

 

[The Wyzerhood]

Hockeybuzz also said last night that we are still in the mix for Ryan Miller....

As for Edler....one thing we have going for us is Bowness knows everything about him.

Notice the sarcasm when I first reported the news about our interest in Edler

 

[The Wyzerhood]

Fair enough. If they're just listening to offers, they probably won't jump at an offer of Connolly +. Another team will probably come along and match anything we could realistically offer, and as you said before, I'm not willing to part with any of our young wingers at the moment.

Agreed. Based on the article, it seems as though Van would be looking for a deal around Purcell, Connolly +, but with Teddy's contract, it doesn't make sense for Van to absorb that if the key is to create more cap space to re-sign their current players. Unless of course, the logic is that Van are getting two players plus prospects/picks for one roster player, with 7 mil to still re-sign other players?

Who knows, as the past draft just showed us, Nonis is capable of making questionable moves. I would love to see Purcell, Connolly and a few minor parts be moved for Edler.

 

[HoseEmDown]

Agreed. Based on the article, it seems as though Van would be looking for a deal around Purcell, Connolly +, but with Teddy's contract, it doesn't make sense for Van to absorb that if the key is to create more cap space to re-sign their current players. Unless of course, the logic is that Van are getting two players plus prospects/picks for one roster player, with 7 mil to still re-sign other players?

Who knows, as the past draft just showed us, Nonis is capable of making questionable moves. I would love to see Purcell, Connolly and a few minor parts be moved for Edler.

You would trade Purcell + Connolly + more for Edler? That's a bit much to me. He's a good player but not for that. There's also some concerns I have about him and our team. We just paid a hefty sum for Carle last year who's a similar player. Most of his points come from the PP, ours could use the help but I don't trust guys who can't score 5 on 5. I'd prefer if he were RH to play alongside Hedman. I'd prefer if we trade with Vancouver we do Connolly for Tanev.

 

[The Wyzerhood]

You would trade Purcell + Connolly + more for Edler? That's a bit much to me. He's a good player but not for that. There's also some concerns I have about him and our team. We just paid a hefty sum for Carle last year who's a similar player. Most of his points come from the PP, ours could use the help but I don't trust guys who can't score 5 on 5. I'd prefer if he were RH to play alongside Hedman. I'd prefer if we trade with Vancouver we do Connolly for Tanev.

The more would be minimal imo.

The way I see it, it's not everyday that a top pairing dman becomes available and certainly not one capable of producing 35+ points a season, but is also fairly reliable in their own end too. On the wing in the top 6, we could conceivably have Marty, Killorn, Drouin and one of Panik or Malone (if Drouin is deemed NHL ready by the coaching staff of course).

With Edler, we'd suddenly have a top pairing of Hedman-Edler and a 2nd unit of Carle-Salo, with Brewer moving onto the 3rd pair with Gudas, while Aulie becomes the 7th d (ideally we'd trade Brewer though).

I don't know about you, but that looks much better to me than what we currently have on defense, while not sacrificing too much offensively either.

 

[Glide5]

With Edler, we'd suddenly have a top pairing of Hedman-Edler and a 2nd unit of Carle-Salo, with Brewer moving onto the 3rd pair with Gudas, while Aulie becomes the 7th d (ideally we'd trade Brewer though).

I don't know about you, but that looks much better to me than what we currently have on defense, while not sacrificing too much offensively either.

Ya, that defense is one that would actually be able to hold up I think. Edler-Hedman would be set to go for a number of years, Carle played really well with Salo last year, so that would benefit him I think. I doubt we could trade Brewer, but he might not be a bad guy to have on a line with Gudas, and have Aulie at the ready at 7 to jump in if Brewer still sucks.

I like that defense a lot... I just know its not going to happen. I doubt Yaz will part with the required pieces. One can hope though.