Speculation: Spitballing destinations/returns for Niskanen

[mpp9]

What teams would be willing to move assets for a cheap #4/5 D on an expiring contract. I think Anaheim, Minnesota and Tampa have the need as well as some urgency to get results this year.

I really like Winnik. But it'd be tough to pry him away from the Ducks. And I doubt Nisky is getting us one of their high end NHL ready forwards. Minnesota makes the most sense but cap space is certainly an issue for them. Killorn from Tampa would be a nice return.

 

[Shrimper]

Is there actually any speculation of Nisky moving?

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I'd like for us to have more depth there, but the fact is that we're in a cap world, and we probably have fewer concerns (Fleury meltdowns aside) regarding our team that just about anybody out there.

I mean, our biggest concern is that we "only" have 5 capable top 6 wingers. The defending champs have friggin Michael Handzus as their 2nd line center.

 

[mpp9]

Not concerned, but it should be addressed, not for now, but for April.

The Pens can win the cup without Niskanen, I'm not sure they can win it, as constructed, without more top-9 depth.

I'd go out on a limb and say they aren't winning a Cup without addressing the forward depth.

Hope Shero is able to make a move that solves that issue longterm. No more rentals.

 

[mpp9]

I'd like for us to have more depth there, but the fact is that we're in a cap world, and we probably have fewer concerns (Fleury meltdowns aside) regarding our team that just about anybody out there.

I mean, our biggest concern is that we "only" have 5 capable top 6 wingers. The defending champs have friggin Michael Handzus as their 2nd line center.

It's depth as well as the proper mix of skillsets. We could use some more size on the wing.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Is there actually any speculation of Nisky moving?

Speculation is speculation. It's not a rumour that requires links, it only requires the capacity for a poster to speculate.

 

[Ogrezilla]

Is there actually any speculation of Nisky moving?

if Maatta stays up there's a good chance someone gets traded. The other option is we sit Bortuzzo which is stupid and makes us a worse team.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I'd go out on a limb and say they aren't winning a Cup without addressing the forward depth.

Hope Shero is able to make a move that solves that issue longterm. No more rentals.

We had an abundance of forward depth last year and still didn't win.

Not really going out on a limb to bet on the field against one team though.

 

[IcedCapp]

I'd go out on a limb and say they aren't winning a Cup without addressing the forward depth.

Hope Shero is able to make a move that solves that issue longterm. No more rentals.

i can't ever say "impossible" because Crosby and Malkin can always go into god mode at the same time. It probably won't happen, but if it did, the bottom-6 issues wouldn't matter.

 

[Darth Vitale]

Is there actually any speculation of Nisky moving?

Speculation is all there is. There have been no mentions of it from respectable hockey reporters or tv outlets, that i know of. This is 100% HFB-generated talk, going on assumptions and our own bias.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

It's depth as well as the proper mix of skillsets. We could use some more size on the wing.

That we could.

 

[mpp9]

We had an abundance of forward depth last year and still didn't win.

Not really going out on a limb to bet on the field against one team though.

True. I just hope we don't go the vet route this time around. And if we do, it better be someone we plan on re-signing.

 

[AquaticBirdman]

Really? Spurgeon, Brodin, Suter, Ballard, and Dumba. He could add to that sure, but I don't know if the Wild are desperate to make that move yet.

Who do you target on the Wild? Dream possibilities are Zucker for me.

I think the fact that he's a local boy would also be a good selling point for the Wild...

 

[mpp9]

That we could.

Winnik, McGinn, Killorn and Greening. That'd be my list from teams who have a need for Nisky.

I don't think Shero will move him unless it helps us win this year.

 

[AquaticBirdman]

if Maatta stays up there's a good chance someone gets traded. The other option is we sit Bortuzzo which is stupid and makes us a worse team.

I agree with this. However the fact that Niskanen is seeing as much ice time as he is (especially on the PP) and the fact that he's got 6 points in 8 games will only make it all the more difficult for him to get bumped out of the lineup. Once Letang gets back it'll sadly likely be Bort that gets scratched...

 

[66-30-33]

Sending Dumba down creates that space they need.

You mean Dumba55.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Winnik, McGinn, Killorn and Greening. That'd be my list from teams who have a need for Nisky.

I don't think Shero will move him unless it helps us win this year.

I'd love any of them. Not sure how realistic they'd be though.

 

[66-30-33]

Speaking of Anaheim....Niskanen+Jeffrey for Fasth? or is that too much/little? Send our backup back to WBS, but Fasth is day to day right now. Some Ducks fans say that one of their goalies is ready to be a backup (Not Gibson, but he's close).

 

[IcedCapp]

Speaking of Anaheim....Niskanen+Jeffrey for Fasth? or is that too much/little? Send our backup back to WBS, but Fasth is day to day right now. Some Ducks fans say that one of their goalies is ready to be a backup (Not Gibson, but he's close).

his cap hit is 2.9MM. Be hard to fit him and improve the team in any other way.

 

[66-30-33]

his cap hit is 2.9MM. Be hard to fit him and improve the team in any other way.

Yeah, that's why Jeffrey goes aswell. Think it would be tight. Perhaps add someone else? But he's a good goalie, although he's only played a few games and allowed 10 goals but it's early and that was back when Ducks were a mess.

 

[JTG]

Destinations? Don't really know. Return I'd like...same thing San Jose garnered from us for Murray would be where I'd start.

 

[Ogrezilla]

Destinations? Don't really know. Return I'd like...same thing San Jose garnered from us for Murray would be where I'd start.

so we're waiting for the deadline and then selling him off?

 

[Darth Vitale]

Speaking of Anaheim....Niskanen+Jeffrey for Fasth? or is that too much/little? Send our backup back to WBS, but Fasth is day to day right now. Some Ducks fans say that one of their goalies is ready to be a backup (Not Gibson, but he's close).

I can't see them trading Hiller or Fasth; they're built to be a good tandem. When one is playing poorly, the other tends to step up and compete a little harder. Neither is steady enough over a long string of games to be clearly better than the other; they both are prone to playing a few good games then having a stinker and tailing off for a couple games. LIttle bit of a yoyo thing. But together they do all right.

I especially can't see them trading Hiller or Fasth for a main return of Niskanen. That's just bad value for them, plain and simple. Both goalies are worth considerably more than Niskanen IMO and Jeffrey doesn't close that gap much. They don't really need a Jeffrey type either.

 

[JTG]

so we're waiting for the deadline and then selling him off?

Not necessarily at the deadline.


EDIT: I'll also add that if we keep him until the deadline, I don't think you can trade him off at that point.

 

[Darth Vitale]

(I'll add to my earlier thought, that it is possible we'd trade Nisky+ for a backup goalie, but I don't think there's much chance we'll get anyone as good as Hiller or Fasth in that trade or backup capacity... that's a bit of a stretch. If we added Elmer in there instead of Jeffrey, and added a pick coming back... now you might be talking something that's more plausible value-wise... but I still don't think Anaheim will trade either goalie until they're sure Gibson is ready to have a go.)