Roster Building XXVI: Picking Our Teeth Off the Ice

[Borsig]

We can take bradyshay back at say... 50% retained lol.

I wonder if he's regretting signing there now that they have imploded.

 

[CanesUltimate11]

With our defens I would trust Saros to bounce back far more than I would trust Freddie, Demko or Gibson to stay healthy.

Isn’t Saros also a notorious high volume shot guy? Granted a far better track record then PK with his low shot issues but still a potential worry.

 

[chaz4hockey]

 

[DaveG]

TBH I'm going for a shirsey for Boom until we lock him into a long-term deal.

 

[Sigurd]

I'm caught up on this topic. Regarding the Dobson discussions:

If we make a trade for a #1 RHD, Dobson would be great, but with Edmonton's salary crunch in the not so distant future with contract extensions coming up including for McDavid, Bouchard will likely face the possibility of Edmonton not paying him what he's worth.

Also, there's this:



Apparently some commentators speculated Carolina tried to trade for Bouchard. So, I wonder if Carolina will try to trade for him again this summer, and or maybe they pivot to Dobson. If both are available, that works in Carolina's favor with getting at least one of them. I'd consider trading Morrow to get either one to make a very serious offer. I just worry we might not have enough trade assets to get a 2C if we trade for a 1RHD. The only good 2C that's a free agent this summer is Benett; so there's not good odds of signing a good 2C when there's only one guy since I'm excluding Duchene for a 1 year contract.

Although maybe Carolina says screw it and does offer a 1 year contract for Duchene (if they don't sign Benett) if they use their trade assets on Dobson or Bouchard.

 

[User13452]

I'm caught up on this topic. Regarding the Dobson discussions:

If we make a trade for a #1 RHD, Dobson would be great, but with Edmonton's salary crunch in the not so distant future with contract extensions coming up including for McDavid, Bouchard will likely face the possibility of Edmonton not paying him what he's worth.

Also, there's this:



Apparently some commentators speculated Carolina tried to trade for Bouchard. So, I wonder if Carolina will try to trade for him again this summer, and or maybe they pivot to Dobson. If both are available, that works in Carolina's favor with getting at least one of them. I'd consider trading Morrow to get either one to make a very serious offer. I just worry we might not have enough trade assets to get a 2C if we trade for a 1RHD. The only good 2C that's a free agent this summer is Benett; so there's not good odds of signing a good 2C when there's only one guy since I'm excluding Duchene for a 1 year contract.

Although maybe Carolina says screw it and does offer a 1 year contract for Duchene (if they don't sign Benett) if they use their trade assets on Dobson or Bouchard.

Bouchard defends worse then burns does

 

[Unsustainable]

I think if you talk to Islanders, you have to consider Barzal or Horvat and Dobson.

Horvat wouldn't be as big or shiny as Bennett, but miles better 2C for us.

 

[User13452]

I think if you talk to Islanders, you have to consider Barzal or Horvat and Dobson.

Horvat wouldn't be as big or shiny as Bennett, but miles better 2C for us.

Should of made a Horvat deal when Vancouver traded him they got nothing of big value in return

 

[Blueline Bomber]

I think if you talk to Islanders, you have to consider Barzal or Horvat and Dobson.

Horvat wouldn't be as big or shiny as Bennett, but miles better 2C for us.

Barzal would be great, but two major injuries this year is concerning. Missed the entirety of November and half of December, then played until the start of February and got injured again and missed the remainder of the season.

 

[chaz4hockey]

This needs to be burns rest of the season…Slavin looks fried too. Please rest him this week

 

[chaz4hockey]

Nice article from Cory on Nikishin and Canes D for playoffs. This is the archived link:

https://archive.ph/FvTQS

 

[Unsustainable]

Barzal would be great, but two major injuries this year is concerning. Missed the entirety of November and half of December, then played until the start of February and got injured again and missed the remainder of the season.

I kinda lean Horvat for that reason, Horvat does have pretty solid numbers overall.

What all teams are looking to shake up?
Islanders
Bruins
Predators
Rangers
Pens

 

[Chrispy]

I kinda lean Horvat for that reason, Horvat does have pretty solid numbers overall.

What all teams are looking to shake up?
Islanders
Bruins
Predators
Rangers
Pens

Islanders and Predators, the question remains how much the GM wants to shake up the players he recently signed.

Bruins and Penguins are probably in that time frame, but again do the Bruins move players they just brought in (Lindholm)?

The biggest question is do any of these teams move the players other teams want, or do they try to move out lesser pieces?

 

[DaveG]

Islanders and Predators, the question remains how much the GM wants to shake up the players he recently signed.

Bruins and Penguins are probably in that time frame, but again do the Bruins move players they just brought in (Lindholm)?

The biggest question is do any of these teams move the players other teams want, or do they try to move out lesser pieces?

yep. Pens aren't moving out either of Crosby or Malkin unless they specifically ask to leave. Same likely goes for Letang (there's rumor that a Letang deal that ownership shot down is what caused JR to leave) so the only interesting piece on their roster is EK at this point. Maybe Rakell but he's not going to bring a prime asset or put a team over the top, he'd be a glue guy here which is always nice to have but... meh, maybe worth a 2nd.

Isles have some semi-realistic interesting pieces (Horvat, Dobson) and one of them (Dobson) is an impending RFA with 1 year left til UFA but will Lou's stubborn ass actually make them available and kickstart the rebuild, or will he keep thinking he can just barely claw his way into the playoffs which hypothetically gives them a chance even though they get steamrolled every time they run into a real contender in this division?

 

[Sigurd]

I think if you talk to Islanders, you have to consider Barzal or Horvat and Dobson.

Horvat wouldn't be as big or shiny as Bennett, but miles better 2C for us.

Since I think some of the recent talk about Larkin among some on HF is very unlikely since I can't imagine Detroit trading him in the near future, Horvat is my number 1 target for a centerman that's actual plausible with being available (even if there isn't credible trade rumors of Horvat as far as I know) given the shape the Islanders have been in, and also Horvat wouldn't be part of a young core for their future since he just turned 30 earlier this month.

Horvat just seems to check so many boxes. Also, I again want to stress that once Staal retires, we will need another centerman that's really good on faceoffs, and Horvat has faceoffs as one of his several strengths.

I know a few posters like to make a blockbuster trade proposal occasionally on here, but I'm being serious when I say I would like to get both Horvat and Dobson. Personally, I think you have to give the priority to Dobson though if you had to pick between the two, and you're willing to more than likely trade Morrow. 1RHD are rare, and even rarer are young ones that can be a part of a core for many years.

Getting a 2C should be a lot easier than getting a good 1RHD.

 

[Unsustainable]

Offseason will be interesting with all of our cap space and draft capital.

Horvat would definitely be a target even if Dobson wasn't involved. Would we even attempt Sorokin along with them?

 

[chaz4hockey]

Speaking of C's, a big surprise this year has been 29 yo Ryan Donato of the Black Hawks with 31 Goals, 30 Assists. I read an article on the Athletic where he fixed his skating this past off season working with a guy in Florida. It has been a difference maker for him this year (lefty and Fo% is not great though).

He is a UFA this year.

Anyway, younger than Brock Nelson in the likelihood that both Horvat and Larkin are not available

 

[SlavinAway]

Speaking of C's, a big surprise this year has been 29 yo Ryan Donato of the Black Hawks with 31 Goals, 30 Assists. I read an article on the Athletic where he fixed his skating this past off season working with a guy in Florida. It has been a difference maker for him this year (lefty and Fo% is not great though).

He is a UFA this year.

Anyway, younger than Brock Nelson in the likelihood that both Horvat and Larkin are not available

I'd prefer we aim higher. Looks like he's spent more time on the wing than at C and it's tough to gauge how anyone's production would transfer from the tire fire in Chicago to anywhere else in the league.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Offseason will be interesting with all of our cap space and draft capital.

Horvat would definitely be a target even if Dobson wasn't involved. Would we even attempt Sorokin along with them?

Horvat would be my pick....almost 59% FO% this year and a consistent 30ish goal scorer and is a big guy.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I think the Hurricanes are fully capable of riding their stacked farm on defense. If you're going to make a blockbuster trade, it should be for a center like Horvat, since there's precious few 2C pickings in UFA (outside of Bennett, who I think will stay in Florida, or Duchene, who actually could be a distinct short-term possibility if he wants to sign here and isn't as attached to Dallas as rumored).

 

[chaz4hockey]

Athletic's top 15 Free Agent list...get Gavrikov, Provorov, re-sign Orlov along with Nikishin and that's a big & good RU-led defense :

Athletic's top 15 free agent list:

 

[Sigurd]

I think the Hurricanes are fully capable of riding their stacked farm on defense. If you're going to make a blockbuster trade, it should be for a center like Horvat, since there's precious few 2C pickings in UFA (outside of Bennett, who I think will stay in Florida, or Duchene, who actually could be a distinct short-term possibility if he wants to sign here and isn't as attached to Dallas as rumored).

It is an interesting debate/discussion about which is the higher priority: 2C or 1RD.

Given the lack of options for both in free agency, it's unlikely they get both this summer IMO, but it's still possible. You are right though that Carolina could just keep their prospects on the blue line (namely Morrow) and see how things go while focusing on getting a good 2C.

Missing from our recent discussion is the possibility of signing a top line winger; namely Marner or Ehlers. So, that's another variable in all of this.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

Minnesota's regression, albeit impacted by some rough injury luck, brings Kaprizov's future back into question. The Canes will likely be there, if he does become available.

 

[spockBokk]

It is an interesting debate/discussion about which is the higher priority: 2C or 1RD.

Given the lack of options for both in free agency, it's unlikely they get both this summer IMO, but it's still possible. You are right though that Carolina could just keep their prospects on the blue line (namely Morrow) and see how things go while focusing on getting a good 2C.

Missing from our recent discussion is the possibility of signing a top line winger; namely Marner or Ehlers. So, that's another variable in all of this.

While maybe not an immediate top 4 impact, the Canes have plenty of RD “could be’s” with Morrow, Badinka, Nystrom, Heimosalmi and Legault in the fold. They have zero potential impact Cs. I hope they go for Horvat, re-visit Pettersson, try to sign one of Bennett, Nelson or Duchene, etc.

It’s time they had a top 6C and bonafide 1G on their summer shopping list.

 

[Sigurd]

While maybe not an immediate top 4 impact, the Canes have plenty of RD “could be’s” with Morrow, Badinka, Nystrom, Heimosalmi and Legault in the fold. They have zero potential impact Cs. I hope they go for Horvat, re-visit Pettersson, try to sign one of Bennett, Nelson or Duchene, etc.

It’s time they had a top 6C and bonafide 1G on their summer shopping list.

All the more reason they should have extended Pesce. Not extending Burns this summer, and putting Pesce with Slavin on the 1st pair for next season, while having Morrow ease into the NHL on the 3rd pair, along with Chatfield as the 2RD, would've given us peace of mind with our blue line while Carolina focused on other positions this summer.

Obviously that ship sailed with extending Pesce, but we'd be looking at a way different situation right now had we done so.