Summer '15 Thread (All Proposals/Blog Rumors in here)

[CBJFan827]

Gryba, Marincin being traded as well.....lots of D men changing address, Jarmo needs to get in on this

They're both bottom pair 0defensemen at best. I don't think Gryba plays over any of our glut of bottom pair guys. The best dman to move so far was Wiz by a fair margin.

Hopefully Jarmo is making some calls to see if anything worth going after is available, but nothing earth shattering on a D front has been moved (other than Hamilton).

 

[major major]

I don't disagree with the premise that we should be trading prospects for proven QUALITY commodities. I don't think Jarmo's sitting on his hands, either. Sweeney made it clear it would accept less to send Hamilton to the Western Conference (so we weren't even eligible). PHX had no intention of trading #3. Dion Phaneuf doesn't improve this team that much on the backend, and Nik Grossman or Kevin Bieksa are older, more expensive versions of what we already have in 5/6/7 defensemen.

Teams don't trade young, cost-controlled and somewhat experienced top four defenders often. Shattenkirk or Seabrook would be FANTASTIC players to add, but I have a great deal of doubt that they're available from STL and CHI. Prices are probably absurdly high, as well. Midsummer is when teams who need to cut cap make moves. Something will happen. I'm willing to be patient and trust Jarmo to make a move. If we're in September with the same team we currently have, there's cause to be displeased.

I agree with all of this.

Jarmo made good offers for the 3rd and 6th picks, and you can surmise from the reporting that he outbid calgary for hamilton. As for bieksa et. co., we might as well reacquire Wiz.

I doubt Shattenkirk or Seabrook are available, but Burns and Buff probably are. And I hope we snag one of them, even if it's an overpay.

 

[Cannonfodder43]

Me either



I'd do Wennberg and a 1 or 2. Give to get.

Agreed. Would do this. I think it's time to go all in. Although I think Shattenkirk would be more available since the Blues haven't been able to get over the hump in the playoffs and as such they may be more willing to trade/retool before Chicago breaks up the Keith/Seabrook pairing (not going to happen).

 

[DJA]

They're both bottom pair quality defensemen. I don't think Gryba plays over any of our glut of bottom pair guys. The best dman to move so far was Wiz by a fair margin.

Hopefully Jarmo is making some calls to see if anything worth going after is available, but nothing earth shattering on a D front has been moved (other than Hamilton).

I wasn't saying we should have gotten Gryba or Marincin. I was saying moves are out there to be made and people are being proactive. We were told that our D needed to be "overhauled", and the draft is usually the place to get the ball rolling on the offseason.

I also understand that not all trades are made at this draft, so I will be patient. I also am not looking forward to July 1 because I am not a fan of the UFA defensemen.

 

[Kev22]

I wasn't saying we should have gotten Gryba or Marincin. I was saying moves are out there to be made and people are being proactive. We were told that our D needed to be "overhauled", and the draft is usually the place to get the ball rolling on the offseason.

I also understand that not all trades are made this offseason, so I will be patient. I also am not looking forward to July 1 because I am not a fan of the UFA defensemen.

Watch it, you'll be told to get off the ledge too. I agree with you 100%. It's time to poop or get off the pot.

 

[pete goegan]

...I doubt Shattenkirk or Seabrook are available, but Burns and Buff probably are. And I hope we snag one of them, even if it's an overpay.

I'm with you, here, mm. My choice is Buff, I think he can be gotten without a massive overpayment and I think he would bring an offensive aggressiveness to the back line that isn't consistently apparent.

 

[CBJFan827]

I wasn't saying we should have gotten Gryba or Marincin. I was saying moves are out there to be made and people are being proactive. We were told that our D needed to be "overhauled", and the draft is usually the place to get the ball rolling on the offseason.

I also understand that not all trades are made this offseason, so I will be patient. I also am not looking forward to July 1 because I am not a fan of the UFA defensemen.

My argument is that the players moving aren't improvements to what we have, and I haven't seen/read anything to make me think that top four defensemen, other than Dion Phaneuf, are on the move today.

If a player isn't at least a clear improvement over Tyutin right now, I personally don't see reason to add them. I hope Jarmo's making calls, but I'm not going to freak that perennial loser Edmonton traded a third pairing defender to Toronto for a pick then got another, slower third pairing defender from Ottawa. Those trades don't move the meter.

If Shattenkirk, Burns, TJ Brodie, Seabrook, Byfuglien move and we weren't in the thick of it, I'll panic!

 

[Kev22]

I'm with you, here, mm. My choice is Buff, I think he can be gotten without a massive overpayment and I think he would bring an offensive aggressiveness to the back line that isn't consistently apparent.

I'd have no problem with Byfuglien, I just mentioned Seabrook a while back, because with the cap situation Chicago is in, you never who might be available. Perhaps they can't move the pieces they want to move and have to look at moving a piece like Seabrook instead. Can't hurt to ask.

Buff could probably be had for a second rounder next year and a decent prospect. I'd offer them Atkinson and next year's second to see how that would go over.

 

[pete goegan]

I'd have no problem with Byfuglien, I just mentioned Seabrook a while back, because with the cap situation Chicago is in, you never who might be available. Perhaps they can't move the pieces they want to move and have to look at moving a piece like Seabrook instead. Can't hurt to ask.

Buff could probably be had for a second rounder next year and a decent prospect. I'd offer them Atkinson and next year's second to see how that would go over.

I like that offer.

 

[major major]

My fear is that we'll make the second best offer on everyone, and that's a much scarier prospect than overpaying IMO.

I don't want us going into the year with a mediocre d corp full of middling second pair and bottom pair d men.

The only alternative is to take our extra d men and mash them into a super d man, like Boston did with Chara. But the ethics of that are questionable.

 

[Kev22]

My fear is that we'll make the second best offer on everyone, and that's a much scarier prospect than overpaying IMO.

I don't want us going into the year with a mediocre d corp full of middling second pair and bottom pair d men.

The only alternative is to take our extra d men and mash them into a super d man, like Boston did with Chara. But the ethics of that are questionable.

That's why I'm so disappointed with how Jarmo handled the draft. Did he get some kids that will eventually make this club? Sure he did, but it did nothing at all to help the big club. By not using some of his extra picks (especially the 2nd rounders) to find upgrades on D, I think he made a big mistake. There's obviously players available, but not jumping to make a move now, probably means he's got to try to find something on the UFA market and that never turns out well for the Jackets.

 

[Kev22]

I like that offer.

And if that offer didn't cut it, I'd add Rychel to it. That kind of offer for a soon to be FA would have to give a team pause.

 

[futurcorerock]

Is Brent Burns really that available? I get the sense that Sharks fans would lock Doug Wilson in SAP and burn the building down if he were moved.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Burns is going nowhere.

The Flames have amazing depth on defense, I think they are the ideal partner for an Arty deal.

 

[major major]

Burns is going nowhere.

The Flames have amazing depth on defense, I think they are the ideal partner for an Arty deal.

Yeah if you want Dennis Wideman.

Arty isn't going to get us an upgrade.

 

[Crede777]

We need someone to fill in the top right defensive slot. I am not comfortable with a defense where Savard moves up to play next to Murray or where Johnson and Savard are our top pairing. While I have a lot of admiration for both Johnson and Savard, they are not top pairing defenseman on a playoff caliber team.

Further, I am not comfortable with us bringing in a free agent who is well in his 30's and will be making $6 million + to lead our defense. I think we need an impact d-man sooner, rather than later and it will only come through a trade.

Unfortunately, Jarmo's track record makes it clear that he is a drafting guru and not a trade guru. Between the Gaborik deals and the signing of Horton, I don't know what will happen. A GM who covets all of his draft picks and is trying to find diamonds in the rough at every round of the draft is not the kind of GM we need right now. We need a guy who is great at trading and contract negotiations so we can take the next step next year, not in 5 years. Also, that contract negotiation aspect will be valuable as our young guys reach free agency.

We have our core. It is time to go out and find that last piece to make it complete, not time to be worrying about what our cupboard looks like.

 

[Kev22]

We need someone to fill in the top right defensive slot. I am not comfortable with a defense where Savard moves up to play next to Murray or where Johnson and Savard are our top pairing. While I have a lot of admiration for both Johnson and Savard, they are not top pairing defenseman on a playoff caliber team.

Further, I am not comfortable with us bringing in a free agent who is well in his 30's and will be making $6 million + to lead our defense. I think we need an impact d-man sooner, rather than later and it will only come through a trade.

Unfortunately, Jarmo's track record makes it clear that he is a drafting guru and not a trade guru. Between the Gaborik deals and the signing of Horton, I don't know what will happen. A GM who covets all of his draft picks and is trying to find diamonds in the rough at every round of the draft is not the kind of GM we need right now. We need a guy who is great at trading and contract negotiations so we can take the next step next year, not in 5 years. Also, that contract negotiation aspect will be valuable as our young guys reach free agency.

We have our core. It is time to go out and find that last piece to make it complete, not time to be worrying about what our cupboard looks like.

Wow. You better step back from the ledge. Glad to see I'm not the only one that sees things this way. Time to stop being a "small market expansion" franchise and put on our big boy pants and start being a consistent playoff participant and Cup contender.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Yeah if you want Dennis Wideman.

Arty isn't going to get us an upgrade.

Arty+. Always been Arty+

 

[Crede777]

Arty+. Always been Arty+

Probably more "+ Arty..."

 

[cslebn]

I've got to be honest. Giordano really is exactly what we need.

Oh but that price tag.

 

[Jackets16]

All I know is Wennberg is a no go for me. There is no way I trade him. It's just as hard to get good #1 and #2 centers. We finally have them (I know Wennberg isn't a #2 C yet) and I have no interest in trading either. I'm not creating one hole just to fill another.

 

[CBJFan827]

A guy that surprisingly hasn't gotten more attention from our board of paranoid Blue Jackets fans is Jared Spurgeon from Minnesota.

He's 25, a righty, going into the last year of a deal at $3.6M before RFA. Plus, this guy seems to think he's one of their best puck-possession players. Might be a little small, but I've loved what I've seen from him the last year or two. With Suter/Brodin/Scandella solidly locked as top four guys, signing Reilly, and the emergence of guys like Folin and Dumba, he might be available. He would be an improvement on what we have, and has played tough minutes (as, according to that article, the Wild play two "top" pairings and a heavily sheltered 3rd pairing). I have no concerns about how he'd look beside Murray.

Jarmo, make a call!

What would you be willing to give up?

 

[Viqsi]

A guy that surprisingly hasn't gotten more attention from our board of paranoid Blue Jackets fans is Jared Spurgeon from Minnesota.

He's 25, a righty, going into the last year of a deal at $3.6M before RFA. Plus, this guy seems to think he's one of their best puck-possession players. Might be a little small, but I've loved what I've seen from him the last year or two. With Suter/Brodin/Scandella solidly locked as top four guys, signing Reilly, and the emergence of guys like Folin and Dumba, he might be available. He would be an improvement on what we have, and has played tough minutes (as, according to that article, the Wild play two "top" pairings and a heavily sheltered 3rd pairing). I have no concerns about how he'd look beside Murray.

Jarmo, make a call!

What would you be willing to give up?

I have a list of guys which I think we can get that folks will probably underestimate to their endless chagrin. Ryan Ellis is #1 on that list. Jared Spurgeon is #2. (And that only because Ellis's contract is ludicrously awesome).

I am totally in favor of a Spurgeon acquisition. Just don't know what Minnesota actually wants at this point.

 

[Kev22]

Overpay on Trade or UFA?

Now that we've gotten through the draft with no lineup holes filled, it looks like to fill the hole of a top pairing, right handed defenseman we'll either have to trade or go UFA.

Typically in the history of the franchise, it's perceived that the Jackets need to overpay in many situations. My question to the board is would you rather they overpay when trading to acquire a needed piece or overpay to sign a player to a free agent contract?

My personal take before the draft was to take advantage of our picks and forward depth to make a deal, but that didn't happen. Now, if I had to choose, I guess I'd overpay in a trade.

 

[Viqsi]

Now that we've gotten through the draft with no lineup holes filled, it looks like to fill the hole of a top pairing, right handed defenseman we'll either have to trade or go UFA.

Typically in the history of the franchise, it's perceived that the Jackets need to overpay in many situations. My question to the board is would you rather they overpay when trading to acquire a needed piece or overpay to sign a player to a free agent contract?

My personal take before the draft was to take advantage of our picks and forward depth to make a deal, but that didn't happen. Now, if I had to choose, I guess I'd overpay in a trade.

Tell you what. You come up with enough examples in NHL history in which employing that kind of blatant overpayment strategy has actually led to teams winning the Stanley Cup - bonus points if it's multiple Cups - and I'll take it seriously. Until then, **** that ****.

(And before you or anyone else asks me for a corresponding example in the other direction - Eric Lindros. )