EspenK
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- Sep 25, 2011
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Summer '15 Thread (All Proposals/Blog Rumors in here)
- Thread starter cslebn
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Barry Trotz said today his team needed one more level of killer instinct (to compete for the Cup). We need two more levels.
That's where I think our depth and deep prospect pool is going to reallly boost our club over the next 3-5 years. Watching NHL tonight they kept going over what all 4 of the remaining teams had in common. Depth. Something we are blessed with, both on the roster and in the propect pool.
punk_o_holic
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Not sure if this was posted elsewhere but Scott Cullen of TSN had his off season game plan for Columbus.
http://www.tsn.ca/off-season-game-plan-columbus-blue-jackets-1.282066
In the end, he had Columbus signing Franson and Greiss.
http://www.tsn.ca/off-season-game-plan-columbus-blue-jackets-1.282066
In the end, he had Columbus signing Franson and Greiss.
He said our one real need is a top pair D, but bowed to realism in his roster picks; Franson is obviously not an upgrade for us, but there's a better chance we end up thickening the D with a player like him, than landing a big upgrade.
Xoggz22
Registered User
A few thoughts... A little early but thought you all might have interest. Thanks.
http://alongtheboards.com/2015/05/columbus-blue-jackets-offseason-needs/
http://alongtheboards.com/2015/05/columbus-blue-jackets-offseason-needs/
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EspenK
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Pretty much sums it up.
The big problem is the two positions we need help at are not easy to fill.
Teams don't trade top 4 D or top 6 F's very often unless there is a perceived problem with the player (Tyler Seguin) or there are cap issues. Or possibly impending UFA status.
Cap issues are probably our best shot to pry someone loose, especially if the cap doesn't rise due to the Canadian dollar or the players not invoking the escalator clause.
Xoggz22
Registered User
I think it depends on the time horizon and risk associated with each. By that I mean how close does the FO think we are to competing for the cup? I get the impression we're still building the foundation for long term success (like Detroit, for example). Do they want a guy on the back end that still is at some level of "potential" (more cost effective move but higher risk) or do they want a guy who is in his prime and ready to shoulder the load (higher cost, lest risk)?
I'd like to see us start to use some of our younger assets to add to the NHL team that can help now and long term. Ellis, Tanev, Murphy, Larson, Jones and others would fit different requirements on the back end (all RHD). Getting the RW may be something we can wait for guys like Bjorkstrand or Milano to develop if the defense can be upgraded enough. This team can score right now and if Dano can play at a similar level or higher next year the RW may not be as critical.
Still need to add defensive depth in the system and at the NHL level but the draft can handle the long term system needs. The depth will need to come with minor trades and signings I think. Also need to shore up the backup goaltender but I'm OK if Curtis came back....
EspenK
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I would think they are more in the longer term camp rather than the one guy away from contending camp. I like the idea of adding younger D talent at a lesser cost than splurging for an established top 4 guy.
In my opinion we don't have the depth of assets yet to trade away top guys to get top guys.
I would seriously consider trading Wennberg in a package to get Jones from Nashville but I don't see them giving him up. Your other candidates are better possibilities.
EspenK
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In the Clarkson thread lee posted that he thought many were going to be surprised by Clarkson as our 3rd line RW.
That got me to wondering-who exactly is our 3rd line next year?
At this point I'm a bit confused
Foligno-Joey-Atkinson - at least the first 2/3 is solid in my mind and I don't see a better option than Cam at RW if you want to keep the GOAT line together.
Hartnell-Wennberg-Dano
Jenner-Dubi-Clarkson(?)
Calvert -Anisimov-Morin/Boll/Bourque
To me until they mess up I'd keep the new GOAT line together.
Does That make Dubi's line the 3rd or does the Wennberg line get that distinction?
Can we keep Arty as a 4th line C or does he move to W on Dubi's line? Or does Dubi move to W on Arty's line?
Then who plays 4th C? Re-sign Letestu or go with Karlsson or Chaput?
Do we keep 14 F's or only 13 because we don't want to expose Golobuef to waivers (assuming he signs) so we keep 8 D?
Definitely a logjam of players that has to be sorted out via trades, buyouts (he says diehardedly), demotions and free agency.
That got me to wondering-who exactly is our 3rd line next year?
At this point I'm a bit confused
Foligno-Joey-Atkinson - at least the first 2/3 is solid in my mind and I don't see a better option than Cam at RW if you want to keep the GOAT line together.
Hartnell-Wennberg-Dano
Jenner-Dubi-Clarkson(?)
Calvert -Anisimov-Morin/Boll/Bourque
To me until they mess up I'd keep the new GOAT line together.
Does That make Dubi's line the 3rd or does the Wennberg line get that distinction?
Can we keep Arty as a 4th line C or does he move to W on Dubi's line? Or does Dubi move to W on Arty's line?
Then who plays 4th C? Re-sign Letestu or go with Karlsson or Chaput?
Do we keep 14 F's or only 13 because we don't want to expose Golobuef to waivers (assuming he signs) so we keep 8 D?
Definitely a logjam of players that has to be sorted out via trades, buyouts (he says diehardedly), demotions and free agency.
I've said all this before..
There's no real need to acquire a top six RW. We have uncertainty there, but it's possible we'll have more than enough RW's play at that level. And plenty of our wingers can play either side well. A short list of players who could be top six RW's for us this year: Atkinson, Dano, Foligno, Hartnell, Jenner, Clarkson, Bourque, etc... Not a need!
And we could use a second pair RHD, but unless you think David Savard is a true top pair D, and I don't, then the real need, and the club's only real need, is for a top pair D, preferably RHD. We'll take a stopgap, but we need a serious upgrade before any Stanley Cup talk.
There's no real need to acquire a top six RW. We have uncertainty there, but it's possible we'll have more than enough RW's play at that level. And plenty of our wingers can play either side well. A short list of players who could be top six RW's for us this year: Atkinson, Dano, Foligno, Hartnell, Jenner, Clarkson, Bourque, etc... Not a need!
And we could use a second pair RHD, but unless you think David Savard is a true top pair D, and I don't, then the real need, and the club's only real need, is for a top pair D, preferably RHD. We'll take a stopgap, but we need a serious upgrade before any Stanley Cup talk.
cslebn
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I think that we need to throw line numbers out the window at this point and just roll the best chemistry/most productive units out we can.
Clarkson? Borque? That's rich.
It's not a "need" necessarily. It's more of a "we'd like to upgrade our top 6 if we can." Top priorities are backup G and upgrade the blueline first. But Atkinson is not a #1 RW and that's where he's going to start most likely. It's not really a "top 6" so much as trying to get an elite winger to go along with Joey up top. We have a lot of good middle 6 type forwards, but no one really is elite besides Johansen and perhaps Foligno if he produces 70+ points again. Which is fine, but it would be nice to upgrade a winger. Missed on Gaborik and Horton who could have been that elite winger Jarmo was seeking.
If you think a backup G is a top priority to the front office I've got some bad news for your then. I think Curtis proved himself capable in the last half of the season.
I think it comes down to allocating resources. We don't have a ton of CAP room (even if we would spend to the cap) and the clear priority is the blue line. We have to get at least one top pairing d-man. After you add in that salary (at least $5m) it doesn't leave us with much.
So I agree we will try to address the blue line and getting a backup tender, and at that point we likely wouldn't have the $$$ needed to upgrade the top 6 forwards. Will be hoping the kids grow up and produce.
only if we choose not to resign him. In which case then we definitely need to find a backup, however I find it unlikely that we dont resign him.
Viqsi
"that chick from Ohio"
How many NHL teams out there have "true" #1[position]s at every position on the first line - LW, C, and RW?I'll give you a hint - the poster child for same is better at winning draft lotteries than hockey games.
Admittedly, there's also one that regularly makes the playoffs but doesn't get anywhere while they're there, and missed this year...)
Oh okay, gotcha. Unless Curtis wants some unreasonable amount of money, I dont see anyone else backing up Bob
I agree with you that we have space for an upgrade in the elite wing department, and not "top 6". You're a top 6 wing in the NHL if you can pot 18-25 goals, and Clarkson and Bourque both have a chance to return to that. If they don't, one likely reason is that we'll have half a dozen better options for that ice time, in other words, no shortage of second line level wingers - on both wings.
Still, adding an elite winger is a low priority. This forward group can score a lot of goals - more than enough to win the cup. Can we win the cup with a defence like this one? Not even close.
EspenK
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A lot of the goals we score are for lack of a better term "garbage goals" Add to that a decent pp this past year and I see the potential to regress somewhat. I don't see Foligno potting 30 again; on the other hand we'll (hopefully) have more Dubi & Jenner plus full seasons of Dano & Wennberg to offset that. All in all if we could add a sniper/pure scorer type I'd feel better. I agree though its probably not necessary.
We're good at scoring garbage goals. It's a repeatable skill, just like scoring pretty goals.
Yep. It'd be basically a luxury upgrade. But much more work is needed on the back end.
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