Plekanec and Markov should be re-signed and not to used as trade bait.

[MasterD]

They can be kept, or be let go, I don't really care either way. I think Plekanec is expensive for what he brings though, 40 some points a seaon with strong defensive play is a 3rd line center to me. Also, if he's kept, then I guess Eller has to go, because DD is the home town boy and Galchenyuk needs to play C.

Personnally, I'd try to trade Pleky for a less than 25 years old top 4 dman.

I love Marky, and I guess he could be traded, but who can we realistically replace him with for cheaper? I don't see any good option, and am not confident in Beaulieu.

 

[Kriss E]

They've never been as good as right now come playoff time. Let's not forget the TBL didn't look like a 101 point team and Lindback stunk up the joint. We'll see what they're made when we face Boston.

Disagree. Plek has always been solid. Shutting down Ovechkin, Crosby, Krejci. He always did great. But people always blamed him for not producing.
Markov was always overly criticized too and he never had the luxury of having a Norris winner on another pairing. That certainly helps everybody.

 

[MasterDecoy]

Look at it this way.

You let Markov walk, investing his contract money to further solidify our forward crop, singing Plekanec and Vanek to long term deals, Gionta to a short one, and finally the rookies (Gally, Galchy and Bournival) when their contracts come around.

With the newly created space at the blueline you start grooming Beaulieu properly.

Subban, Tinordi, Beaulieu, Emelin, Gorges + 6th (Weaver for example, who is both cheap and reliable).

thats a bad blueline. 1 #1 (who still struggles with consistency), 2 #3/4 and rookies and plugs

 

[MsChanandlerBong]

They can be kept, or be let go, I don't really care either way. I think Plekanec is expensive for what he brings though, 40 some points a seaon with strong defensive play is a 3rd line center to me. Also, if he's kept, then I guess Eller has to go, because DD is the home town boy and Galchenyuk needs to play C.

Personnally, I'd try to trade Pleky for a less than 25 years old top 4 dman.

I love Marky, and I guess he could be traded, but who can we realistically replace him with for cheaper? I don't see any good option, and am not confident in Beaulieu.

That's an awfully silly thing to say...just because Plekanec gets 43pts this season where our points are especially spread out, he has consistently hit 50+ points, and we all know he hit 70pts and 69pts seasons ago...to classify him as a 40 some point player is underselling hard. Plus, strong defensive play is an undersell too. The guy is one of the best two way forwards in the NHL, that is not a 3rd line player plain and simple.

 

[Tyrus]

thats a bad blueline. 1 #1 (who still struggles with consistency), 2 #3/4 and rookies and plugs

We're currently running this :

Subban/Gorges
Markov/Emelin
Bouillon/Weaver

I'm convinced that this line up wouldn't be that much worse :

Subban/Gorges
Emelin/Beaulieu
Tinordi/Weaver

Main difference is that it's a much cheaper blue line, and it's a blue line that finally gives us a chance to groom our kids. I liked what I saw of Tinordi and Beaulieu this year, and I'm sure that they can both progress a lot during the summer (same goes for PK) in order to not be liabilities on the ice.

My point is, Markov doesn't make or break our blueline by any stretch, and I'd rather sack him now in favor of our forwards than keep him to their detriment.

 

[ZARTONK]

They can be kept, or be let go, I don't really care either way. I think Plekanec is expensive for what he brings though, 40 some points a seaon with strong defensive play is a 3rd line center to me. Also, if he's kept, then I guess Eller has to go, because DD is the home town boy and Galchenyuk needs to play C.

Personnally, I'd try to trade Pleky for a less than 25 years old top 4 dman.

I love Marky, and I guess he could be traded, but who can we realistically replace him with for cheaper? I don't see any good option, and am not confident in Beaulieu.

How many 40+ point third line centres do you know?

He was 54th in points among all the centres this season, and 25th in +/-, third in short handed TOI, and 12th in total TOI.

Far from a regular third liner IMO.

 

[Madevilz]

There's actually a group who's felt these two are not expendable all year long. Both players with tremendous hockey minds. Markov may have list a step and does get beat to the outside more than in years part but what he brings to the team outweighs his imperfections. Anyone who can't see what Plekanec brings to the table isn't watching the right game.

Im one of them. Markov was our #1 dman this year, not Subban, and nobody in this roster would be able to fill his void. I was always for giving him an extension of 2-3 years. Plekanec is another one I would keep for sure, he's one of the reasons for our success defensively, not far from Selke contention.

Just annoyed that these kind of threads only appear when the team goes well. Too many bandwagonners.

 

[jpchabby]

Definitely, and when the trade deadline comes around and people suggest we trade them, I'll be there to argue against it.

Yes.

And in fact, I don't think Markov will ask for so much money... I don't want to talk about a home discount or something like that, but I think singing him for 5,5 millions would be great for our team.

Yeah he's lost a step compared to the years where people were arguing whether he was a top 5 or top 7 defenseman in the NHL. But he plays well, reads the plays like noone else on this team, and creates a lot of good scoring chances.

I'd keep him.

Plekanec, it goes without saying. He's solid.

 

[beowulf]

oh my how a successful series can change things.

Personally thought and still think they should be resigned. Both of these players are amazing at what they do and that is more than score points, etc.

 

[Strik_IX]

Why are we talking about resigning Plek when his contract lasts until 2016?

Markov needs to be signed, that's for sure, but extending Plek is much further down the list of priorities. It will be done, but I wouldn't expect it until next season.

 

[Demon Wolf]

Markov isn't a second pairing defenseman, he is a top two guy and has shown it with his great play this year. Top 10 in icetime in the entire league.

No way we let him walk

 

[ZARTONK]

TSN just noticed how awesome Plekanec is, TWO whole videos about him on their site.

 

[Fish on The Sand]

Plekanec was on the ice for 47% of Stamkos' shifts in GM 1, 58% in GM 2, 59% in GM 3, 78% in GM 4.

Stamkos ended the series with 2 goals and 4 points in 4 games (he's sill Stamkos), and hasn't scored a goal since game one. The Plekanec line dominated the advanced stats.

It is worth noting that one of those Stamkos goals could have been entirely avoided if Markov didn't botch his positioning on the 2 on 1 as well.

 

[Bacchus1]

Can we change the title of this thread?

re-signed: to sign again.
resigned: to accept something unpleasant that one cannot do anything about.

Yes, we should re-sign Markov and Plecks.

 

[Jake5]

agreed, I was pleasantly surprised by Markov's nastiness several times this season!

yeah he's getting really grumpy in his old age. that's a good thing

 

[hockeyfan2k11]

Im one of them. Markov was our #1 dman this year, not Subban, and nobody in this roster would be able to fill his void. I was always for giving him an extension of 2-3 years. Plekanec is another one I would keep for sure, he's one of the reasons for our success defensively, not far from Selke contention.

Just annoyed that these kind of threads only appear when the team goes well. Too many bandwagonners.

Subban with all his struggles has still been our best dman. It has been that way since he broke in the league. Markov has been very steady but to say he has been better? Disagree. Markov has looked bad a number of times this year.

 

[borisbadenough]

How many 40+ point third line centres do you know?

He was 54th in points among all the centres this season, and 25th in +/-, third in short handed TOI, and 12th in total TOI.

Far from a regular third liner IMO.

Plus: His vision, timing, instincts, defense, work on the boards and passing skills are better than the first line center. lol His goals and point production would be higher too if he played with two guys who could score 40. A better idea would be to trade DD .