Roster Thread (2023-2024 Season)

[TheBarnIsElectric]

Like many, I am also imagining trades this summer where Joki/Peterka/Krebs are on the table. The two trades I have penciled in as the types of moves I'd be looking for are:

Crouse for Peterka
Borgen for Joki

Who knows if these are possible, but value-wise they are in the ballpark, and they'd round out the roster nicely IMO.

The needs are clear. Up front we need beef, preferably with some skill. We need someone to drag the team into the fight some nights. Someone who is a presence around the goal.

On D we need... the same, we just need them to be a righty.

Center depth would be nice, but less important than the above IMO. We need Tage/Cozens to have good seasons regardless of who else we add at C.

 

[TehDoak]

For those who have doubted the 'we are better team without Skinner narrative. Skinners drop in TOI has correlated to two of the best games of the season.

Look at the offseason options if we buyout skinner and utilize that cap space to go get a top six winger. Now try to do that with Skinner still here, in terms of TOI and long term space

It really is a no brainer. It's not economic or efficient...probably effective though. We won't do it, but we really really should..

 

[Der Jaeger]

Too many think it’s a video game or fantasy hockey roster. You need guys like Girgs on the team to fill a role. Let them get mad.

One of the funnier aspects of this season is watching some posters cling to various narratives about depth guys. When the top guys were the issue all season.

I have this same argument over in the Bills thread. It's not a video game. You don't go get the fancy players and then win without having the warriors in the trenches.

Girgensons is a player any team would love to have on the 4th line. It's too bad he's not been to the playoffs because he'd shine in that environment.

For those who have doubted the 'we are better team without Skinner narrative. Skinners drop in TOI has correlated to two of the best games of the season.

View attachment 835142

Look at the offseason options if we buyout skinner and utilize that cap space to go get a top six winger. Now try to do that with Skinner still here, in terms of TOI and long term space

It really is a no brainer. It's not economic or efficient...probably effective though. We won't do it, but we really really should..

Skinner is a boat anchor on the team. I'm good with a buyout. Let a better player take his line spot.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I think next season will be another "development" season (i.e. no real playoff requirement for management), so I think Skinner will be back, along with Donny. Based on Adams recent comments. But they both absolutely need to be gone the following offseason.

I don't think it would be difficult for Adams to ice a playoff team next year -- but it would probably require a new coach and a Skinner buyout, which we all know isn't happening.

 

[Jim Bob]

Kevyn Adams: Hey, Terry. I have this idea and it will save you $7.5M in cash next year...

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Funny, I have a list of centers running for a "Center of Attention" thread idea and he's fifth:

1. Jack Drury – Carolina, 23, RFA for his 2nd contract coming of his ELC.
2. Nic Dowd – Washington, 33, $1.3M AAV for just next season.
3. Teddy Bleuger – Vancouver, 29, UFA.
4. Anthony Cirelli – Tampa, 26, $6.25M AAV for 7 more seasons, no NT protection now, 1st year of extension.
5. Noah Cates – Philadelphia, 25, $2.625M AAV for 1 more season, then RFA.
6. Phillip Danault – Los Angeles, 31, $5.5M AAV for 3 more seasons, 10 team NT protection.
7. Brock Nelson – NY Islanders, 32, $6M AAV for just next season, 16 team NT protection
8. JP Pageau – NY Islanders, 31, $5M AAV for 2 more seasons, 16 team NT protection.
9. Lars Eller – Pittsburgh, 34, $2.45M AAV for just next season.
10. Noel Acciari – Pittsburgh, 32, $2M AAV for 2 more seasons, 8 team NT protection.
11. Barclay Goodrow – NY Rangers, 31m $3.641M AAV for 3 more seasons, 15 team NT protection.

Jack Drury remains my favorite guy to try to pry out by whatever means necessary.

Also, Jenner is the Jackets version of Girgensons. The owners love the guy. It seems unlikely that he's moving in the summer after they didn't leverage the league-wide lust for him at this trade deadline.

Nice work coming up with the list. Some of those names will depend on how the season closes out: Dowd/Nelson/Pageau/Eller. Drury, Danault, Cates are doubtfully on the table.

Trading with Carolina is a dangerous proposition. There could be an opportunity because of how old their defense is. If they graduate Morrow that covers their bottom pair, so maybe you get them to bite on Jokiharju? I doubt they accept Johnson or Samuelsson as the basis, given they still have Orlov/Slavin, and Nikishin is coming sooner or later. Power is way too much, trading Jokiharju just opens another hole.

Something needs to give in Tampa, especially if they want to sign Stamkos. Do they manage another great cap escape? Is dumping Cirelli on someone would be part of that heist. That's a ton of salary for a good suppression guy who turns 27 to start next season, and ends his contract at 34.

Goodrow and Acciari would be available assuming they'd waive, it's not clear to me they'd be an improvement on Krebs. They do take really hard deployment. I'm skeptical.

Blueger would be an improvement on Krebs, someone will overpay for his good season.

Danault is an important part of a team trying to win. I just don't see an incentive for Philadelphia to trade Cates. Also doesn't he mostly play wing?

 

[Beerz]

This tells the whole story of what's been going on..

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

I have this same argument over in the Bills thread. It's not a video game. You don't go get the fancy players and then win without having the warriors in the trenches.

Girgensons is a player any team would love to have on the 4th line. It's too bad he's not been to the playoffs because he'd shine in that environment.

Skinner is a boat anchor on the team. I'm good with a buyout. Let a better player take his line spot.

If Skinner is hurt or dealing with someone I could see giving him another year. If he's 100% I'm coming around to a buyout.

This tells the whole story of what's been going on..

Yeah, they're terrible at chasing hockey games. Their transition defense is atrocious.

 

[TehDoak]

An A+ Offseason for me right now is:

1. Skinner Buyout
2. Replace with a veteran top six winger, hopefully one with a bit of bite to their game
3. A middle six center and a 4th line center
4. A veteran backup goalie to ensure Levi will continue to get starts in the AHL.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Like many, I am also imagining trades this summer where Joki/Peterka/Krebs are on the table. The two trades I have penciled in as the types of moves I'd be looking for are:

Crouse for Peterka
Borgen for Joki

Who knows if these are possible, but value-wise they are in the ballpark, and they'd round out the roster nicely IMO.

The needs are clear. Up front we need beef, preferably with some skill. We need someone to drag the team into the fight some nights. Someone who is a presence around the goal.

On D we need... the same, we just need them to be a righty.

Center depth would be nice, but less important than the above IMO. We need Tage/Cozens to have good seasons regardless of who else we add at C.

There's no way Arizona bites on that. Seattle might.

 

[Chainshot]

Nice work coming up with the list. Some of those names will depend on how the season closes out: Dowd/Nelson/Pageau/Eller. Drury, Danault, Cates are doubtfully on the table.

Trading with Carolina is a dangerous proposition. There could be an opportunity because of how old their defense is. If they graduate Morrow that covers their bottom pair, so maybe you get them to bite on Jokiharju? I doubt they accept Johnson or Samuelsson as the basis, given they still have Orlov/Slavin, and Nikishin is coming sooner or later. Power is way too much, trading Jokiharju just opens another hole.

Something needs to give in Tampa, especially if they want to sign Stamkos. Do they manage another great cap escape? Is dumping Cirelli on someone would be part of that heist. That's a ton of salary for a good suppression guy who turns 27 to start next season, and ends his contract at 34.

Goodrow and Acciari would be available assuming they'd waive, it's not clear to me they'd be an improvement on Krebs. They do take really hard deployment. I'm skeptical.

Blueger would be an improvement on Krebs, someone will overpay for his good season.

Danault is an important part of a team trying to win. I just don't see an incentive for Philadelphia to trade Cates. Also doesn't he mostly play wing?

All valid points. It’s not gonna be easy unless they’re getting some cap reject.

As for Cates, I was looking at moneypucks’ line combos to see who they have listed at center over 70 minutes. With Frost and Laughton, maybe he is playing more wing, that would require a little more more digging.

 

[Gabrielor]

God I wish Quinn could play right now...

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

All valid points. It’s not gonna be easy unless they’re getting some cap reject.

As for Cates, I was looking at moneypucks’ line combos to see who they have listed at center over 70 minutes. With Frost and Laughton, maybe he is playing more wing, that would require a little more more digging.

It's such a big difference when someones makes the low effort comment "go get a top 6 forward who plays with some thump" vs actually making an effort to look at players around the league who fit that criteria.

We collectively should encourage more of the latter.

 

[Chainshot]

It's such a big difference when someones makes the low effort comment "go get a top 6 forward who plays with some thump" vs actually making an effort to look at players around the league who fit that criteria.

We collectively should encourage more of the latter.

Hell, there’s a post asking them to go get two centers let alone just one.

As a team, they seem like they’re in a very funny spot in that they have a lot of prospects, which could limit their ability to sign UDFA or look externally for unconventional sources for these players. And the fans aren’t going to give them the benefit of the doubt if they decide on a less than recognizable individual to fit a role.

I would also comment that some people seem to think that picking up a center is somehow easy and yet there is picking up any center versus picking up a good center.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Hell, there’s a post asking them to go get two centers let alone just one.

As a team, they seem like they’re in a very funny spot in that they have a lot of prospects, which could limit their ability to sign UDFA or look externally for unconventional sources for these players. And the fans aren’t going to give them the benefit of the doubt if they decide on a less than recognizable individual to fit a role.

I would also comment that some people seem to think that picking up a center is somehow easy and yet there is picking up any center versus picking up a good center.

It's easy: go trade for B. Tkachuk or someone like him

UDFA - They have 8 contract slots open right now. Back of the envelop they'll pick up 2 more from expiring Amerks. Those are backfillable but not a requirement.

Maybe they sign 2 people off the reserve list? That'd be on the high end. So that leaves their 1st/2nd this year. Those picks could move.

You're right that it'll be a hard sell since they can't let anyone just walk into a spot.

 

[TehDoak]

It's such a big difference when someones makes the low effort comment "go get a top 6 forward who plays with some thump" vs actually making an effort to look at players around the league who fit that criteria.

We collectively should encourage more of the latter.

Eh, that is my blueprint for a good off season.

Of course its harder in practice.

Hell, there’s a post asking them to go get two centers let alone just one.

As a team, they seem like they’re in a very funny spot in that they have a lot of prospects, which could limit their ability to sign UDFA or look externally for unconventional sources for these players. And the fans aren’t going to give them the benefit of the doubt if they decide on a less than recognizable individual to fit a role.

I would also comment that some people seem to think that picking up a center is somehow easy and yet there is picking up any center versus picking up a good center.

Finding an effective forth line center isn't difficult. You simply have to overpay if you aren't a contender or in a desirable market. 500k more a year might not move the needed for guys who have 30M in career earnings. But for guys with 5M career earnings it probably does. And that isn't true of every guy on the market, but there are certainly guys that fit that. The guy I'm thinking of in that mold is Stenlund, with just over 4M career earnings at the age of 27. He's a UFA and probably looking to make as much as he can on his next contract.

Middle six center is a much harder proposition simply because demand is greater and the proliferation of NTCs now. But...that is why being a NHL GM is hard, especially in a small market. You have to improve the team with the odds stacked against you.

 

[Zman5778]

It's easy: go trade for B. Tkachuk or someone like him

You have a very strange definition of the word "easy".

 

[Chainshot]

Eh, that is my blueprint for a good off season.

Of course its harder in practice.




Finding an effective forth line center isn't difficult. You simply have to overpay if you aren't a contender or in a desirable market. 500k more a year might not move the needed for guys who have 30M in career earnings. But for guys with 5M career earnings it probably does. And that isn't true of every guy on the market, but there are certainly guys that fit that. The guy I'm thinking of in that mold is Stenlund, with just over 4M career earnings at the age of 27. He's a UFA and probably looking to make as much as he can on his next contract.

Middle six center is a much harder proposition simply because demand is greater and the proliferation of NTCs now. But...that is why being a NHL GM is hard, especially in a small market. You have to improve the team with the odds stacked against you.

Finding an effective 4th line center is difficult. That's why it's been a topic of conversation between us for something going on 20 years.

 

[Zman5778]

Finding an effective 4th line center is difficult

There's an argument to be had that we find 4th liners just fine. We just don't hold onto them.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Eh, that is my blueprint for a good off season.

Of course its harder in practice.




Finding an effective forth line center isn't difficult. You simply have to overpay if you aren't a contender or in a desirable market. 500k more a year might not move the needed for guys who have 30M in career earnings. But for guys with 5M career earnings it probably does. And that isn't true of every guy on the market, but there are certainly guys that fit that. The guy I'm thinking of in that mold is Stenlund, with just over 4M career earnings at the age of 27. He's a UFA and probably looking to make as much as he can on his next contract.

Middle six center is a much harder proposition simply because demand is greater and the proliferation of NTCs now. But...that is why being a NHL GM is hard, especially in a small market. You have to improve the team with the odds stacked against you.

What's your list of top 6 forwards with thump to target?

Stenlund is a significant step down from Krebs. Sure he's tall, but he's not an effective player. He's probably the worst player on Florida.

 

[Chainshot]

There's an argument to be had that we find 4th liners just fine. We just don't hold onto them.

Or that the fans define fourth liners as guys who are actually playing 3rd line or even 2nd line minutes.

 

[Mattilaus]

It's such a big difference when someones makes the low effort comment "go get a top 6 forward who plays with some thump" vs actually making an effort to look at players around the league who fit that criteria.

We collectively should encourage more of the latter.

I still think Crowse is getable with the right combination of assets and wouldn't break the bank like a Tkachuk would.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Sabres’ Zemgus Girgensons sees future in Buffalo, glad trade deadline passed - Buffalo Hockey Beat

It sounds like winger Zemgus Girgensons, the Sabres’ longest-tenured player, has a future here following what he called “an emotional week.”

www.buffalohockeybeat.com

I will not be shocked if Zemgus re-signs here.

Good!

The Byram addition has improved the defense dramatically + his personality seems contagious to the rest of the team.

That being said, I think Girgs choosing to stay and fight alongside the boys rather than chase a cup resonated with the team as well.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

I still think Crowse is getable with the right combination of assets and wouldn't break the bank like a Tkachuk would.

Arizona values him as a core piece to build their team around. They only value 3 things in this life:

1. Crouse-Keller-Schmultz
2. Making the floor via insured LTIR dumps
3. Acquiring every 2nd round pick between 2023-2025

More seriously, they see him the same way Buffalo views Cozens or Thompson

 

[TehDoak]

What's your list of top 6 forwards with thump to target?

Stenlund is a significant step down from Krebs. Sure he's tall, but he's not an effective player. He's probably the worst player on Florida.

Stelund is the top TOI center on a top 10 PK unit. He wins faceoffs. He's a utility center. He's not going to produce much, but he's not Eakin either.