Contract Termination: [STL] F Brandon Saad on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination

[FrozenKing18]

Depth for Avs or back to CHI?

 

[Homesick]

I just don't see a fit, but if he drives to the net like Hyman does, he might

RNH-McDavid-Hyman
Saad-Draisaitl-Podkolzin
Arvidsson-Henrique-Brown
Philp-Janmark-Perry
Skinner, Kapanen ***LTIR Kane

Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Kilngberg
Kulak-Emberson
Stetcher

Something has to give because I cant see the Oilers carrying 23 guys

 

[Homesick]

Except unlike Kapanen and Saad, you could actually use both of those guys in your lineup.

Kapanen has been been effective in a 4th line role by contributing a little offense, playing physical, draws penalties, doesn't take many penalties and plays a small amount on the PK. Thats what he was brought to Edmonton for; not be a scoring top 6 winger.
I'll agree with you on Saad though

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Must be something off-ice going on. He should have no reason to walk away from the remaining money on his contract. Something's not right.

His wife just had a baby. So, yes, something off-ice is happening.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

We wo

Two Oilers rejects have contributed greatly to the Blues in a solid 25th spot in the league.

We would be about 30th without them.

 

[Czechboy]

This has the oilers written all over it. He's older.. not wanted and we will probably overpay him and give him a NMC. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[LTIR]

The man would rather give up 5M just so he won't have to play in the AHL.

Hopefully more than ego involved.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

The man would rather give up 5M just so he won't have to play in the AHL.

Hopefully more than ego involved.

Nah….when his wife had a baby, he almost completely checked out. Maybe it is something much more simple than just walking away from money. Family.

As a side note, the 26 goals he scored last season were the most boring and unimpactful 26 goals ever.

Then again, maybe he signs with a contender for one more fun run and retire. That’s what I would do.

 

[HaNotsri]

If he doesn’t have a deal lined up elsewhere giving away 5.4 million is a…..choice.

His career dies in the ahl. Sign for 1 mill and he loses less and have a shot at another contract.

 

[HolyGhost]

Since he terminated his contract he can essentially sign for the minimum.

Roster space vs Cap space

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

He's going to the Oilers. But not right now.

 

[DingDongCharlie]

says who?
They have Hyman, RNH, Arvidsson, Skinner and eventually Kane on the LW. There's no room for him in the top 6

I’d like to see the team finally exploit this centre depth we’ve been soo reluctant to role out. I get we didn’t have the winger depth or options before. We do now even if these guys as a group underperform statistically we see the roster near the top of the standings cause the depth is there.

xxx - McDavid - Hyman
Podkolzin - Draisaitl - Arvidsson
xxx - RNH - Brown
Janmark - Henrique - Perry/Kapanen

One of these spots in theory is there for Kane when healthy. He won’t have his game legs or timing down so the spot on the 3rd line is probably ideal. He also might not be back in the reg season. I still don’t see where Skinner fits and I’m not convinced the team will want an NHL rookie in Philp with a half season as a regular starting the playoffs. Prior to the playoffs starting we likely see some game management with Perry to keep him fresh as possible. I could see the spot there for Saad. I see multiple reasons to add him providing he comes cheap of course.

 

[Devilmademedoit]

I just don't see a fit, but if he drives to the net like Hyman does, he might

RNH-McDavid-Hyman
Saad-Draisaitl-Podkolzin
Arvidsson-Henrique-Brown
Philp-Janmark-Perry
Skinner, Kapanen ***LTIR Kane

Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Kilngberg
Kulak-Emberson
Stetcher

Something has to give because I cant see the Oilers carrying 23 guys

Philip back to the farm or Kapanen sent down

 

[MMC]

 

[Clint Eastwood]

My guess is Vegas.

Saad - Karlsson - Roy third line sounds good on paper.

 

[DoubleK81]

I just don't see a fit, but if he drives to the net like Hyman does, he might

The only time he drives the net is if he's on a breakaway, then he only knows how to shoot 5-hole. Actually, 5-hole is the only place he actually gets a shot on net. Everything else is wide.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Wonder if my Devils will get Saad

 

[Reality Czech]

I don't mind that lineup, aside from the fact that it feels like we are wasting Henrique on the 4th line, but it is a solid lineup. I don't think Skinner gets back in without more injury issues. I think they hold him out and he eventually accepts a trade.


Kapanen has been fine here in a depth role. Saad would really only be useful in the top six, in my opinion. He has been a decent addition to scoring lines in the past. I'm not even sure if I want to give him a chance, but if we do, its probably a good bet that he sees time with McDavid, just to see if there is any chemistry there.

Based on what I've seen this year, I can't imagine Saad playing top 6 on a contending team but maybe he's been holding back on us.

 

[Zwui21]

Bolts need all the help they can get for the bottom six. Would be nice to get Saad, allows Tampa.to test him out till the deadline and see if they need to further bolster the bottom six or not.

 

[Rubi]

The Oilers love these types of players. I expect Bowman will be going after Saad hard. No such thing as too old in the Oilers dressing room.

 

[Paper]

Obviously the biggest handicap in taking a risk on Saad was his current salary and the 4.5M cap hit for another season, not necessarily his 3M salary next year. If he ends up toiling in the AHL the remainder of this year and next, he'll have to assume that it for his NHL career.

If he can get in the right environment and prove he's still an NHL player today, he could even parlay that into getting a multi-year contract of like 2x2M or whatever. If he approaches anywhere near the 26 goal scorer he was just last season, maybe he could be making near the 3M he would next year anyways.

So I don't necessarily see this as him giving up 5M to avoid the bus. I think he's expecting it will cost him less than that especially if he is betting on himself. Of course the risk for him to lose the 5M is there though.

 

[ManofSteel55]

Based on what I've seen this year, I can't imagine Saad playing top 6 on a contending team but maybe he's been holding back on us.

Well, you would know better than I. Thanks for the report. I hope we don't go for him, I don't think our issues can be solved with more reclamation projects.

 

[hangman005]

My guess is Vegas.

Saad - Karlsson - Roy third line sounds good on paper.

Anything to avoid having to watch Wild Bill get dragged down by Holtz or Schwint (Or however his names spelled)

 

[Reality Czech]

Well, you would know better than I. Thanks for the report. I hope we don't go for him, I don't think our issues can be solved with more reclamation projects.

Stranger things can happen. The Blues have a history of ex players thriving on other teams so I wouldn't rule it out. But he hasn't looked like his old self this year at all aside from a handful of games. He's just been....there.

 

[SomeDude]

I think with the news of the cap drastic increase over the next 3 years coming out, he’s betting on himself getting into a good situation for the rest of this year which will result in even more money next year than he was slated to make.