GDT: The Annual "I've Made a Huge Mistake" Thread: Free Agent Frenzy 2015

[nobuddy]

As it stands now…

E. Staal – J. Staal – Lindholm
Skinner – Nash – Nestrasil
Gerbe – Rask – Terry
Malone – McClement – XXX
XXX

Hainsey – Faulk
Liles – Wisniewski
XXX – Murphy
Jordan

Lack
Ward

Harrison (Retained)
Ruutu (Retained)
Semin (Buyout)

Based on the numbers from General Fanager, the above lineup costs ~$57.666 mil in real salary (ELC bonuses not included.) I imagine Hanifin is the missing piece on the blueline and I think a Lindholm-like base salary is likely. That will bring the number up to ~$58.591 mil. Assuming the budget is something to the effect of $60 mil, that leaves ~$1.409 mil for a 4th liner and 13th forward.

Thank god Alex Semin is gone!

 

[What the Faulk]

I'm a little annoyed about Sekera. We should've been able to keep him if that's all he needed. We had to be expecting 5.0, and all he got was 5.5. He must've really not want to stay here, but Edm? That much better?

I wonder if the term mattered? Maybe they wanted to offer like 4 but he wanted something like 7 and Edmonton was able to talk him down to six.

 

[NotOpie]

As it stands now…

E. Staal – J. Staal – Lindholm
Skinner – Nash – Nestrasil
Gerbe – Rask – Terry
Malone – McClement – XXX
XXX

Hainsey – Faulk
Liles – Wisniewski
XXX – Murphy
Jordan

Lack
Ward

Harrison (Retained)
Ruutu (Retained)
Semin (Buyout)

Based on the numbers from General Fanager, the above lineup costs ~$57.666 mil in real salary (ELC bonuses not included.) I imagine Hanifin is the missing piece on the blueline and I think a Lindholm-like base salary is likely. That will bring the number up to ~$58.591 mil. Assuming the budget is something to the effect of $60 mil, that leaves ~$1.409 mil for a 4th liner and 13th forward.

I think that the budget is closer to $63-$66 million. I also think that you've got Nash and Rask inverted. Rask played much more 2C last year (and was mostly adequate). I think Nash slots in either as 3C or a 3W (or even a 4W). However, I really think that Gerbe ends up slotting in in Patty Dwyer's old position.

So my guess is that we're either looking for a 2C/3C or a 2W/3W and perhaps a depth defenseman signing. But with GMRF's comments about trying to get Hanifin signed, the depth defenseman might not be a need anymore.

 

[Oogie Boogie]

matthews please. starts with matthews, lindholm and jstaal down the middle in '17.

We will never get Matthews

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

I thought our budget was supposed to be around ~$66m?

 

[Joe McGrath]

I wonder if the term mattered? Maybe they wanted to offer like 4 but he wanted something like 7 and Edmonton was able to talk him down to six.

I also don't think Francis is a big fan of NTCs either. Edmonton gave him one.

 

[DaveG]

I'm a little annoyed about Sekera. We should've been able to keep him if that's all he needed. We had to be expecting 5.0, and all he got was 5.5. He must've really not want to stay here, but Edm? That much better?

This is about where I am. Or at the very least we should have been making a much stronger run at bringing him back

 

[NotOpie]

This is about where I am. Or at the very least we should have been making a much stronger run at bringing him back

I don't know guys....I think Reggie felt that this team wasn't going to be his vehicle to make a run at the post-season. Edmonton is putting together a nice team, young, talented, and mixing in a few vets. So I think for us to have been in the Sekera sweepstakes we would have had to overpay considerably.

Therefore I don't think he was going to be a realistic possibility.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

Edmonton's defense is still bottom-3, even with Sekera.

Worse, none of Edmonton's defense besides Sekera can successfully retrieve the puck and pass it to a breaking forward without inexplicably screwing it up. At least Philly has Mark Streit and Andrew MacDonald.

I'm pretty sure the hold up was term. Francis doesn't want to risk another Semin. And it's very likely, given their respective ages, that Hanifin will be better and cheaper than Sekera roughly halfway through a 6 year deal.

Still, if that's the case, Hanifin-Sekera down the left side looks pretty nice for 2 years.

 

[FlyingSquirrels]

I think RF believes our future top 4 D will be filled with guys already in the system. Pick 4 of Hanifin, Faulk, Fleury, Murph, Pesce, McKeown, Slavin, Carrick.

Not saying this is correct thinking, but might very well be the reason he didn't want to risk that term and $. He really needs to keep his powder dry for F help, this year and beyond.

 

[DaveG]

Edmonton's defense is still bottom-3, even with Sekera.

Worse, none of Edmonton's defense besides Sekera can successfully retrieve the puck and pass it to a breaking forward without inexplicably screwing it up. At least Philly has Mark Streit and Andrew MacDonald.

I'm pretty sure the hold up was term. Francis doesn't want to risk another Semin.

Bottom 3 is probably bring generous. To paraphrase Brian Clough, I'm not saying they're the worst in the league, but they're in the bottom one

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

I mean, who thinks "Oh boy, I get to play with Mark Fayne!!!!"?????

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

the oilers are instant cup contenders tbh

don't forget, unless mcdavid scores 70/70/140 he will be a bust

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

lebrun says the red wings are in talks w/ brad richards for a 1 yr deal

if all he wants is one yr, give him w/e ronnie

 

[GoldiFox]

lebrun says the red wings are in talks w/ brad richards for a 1 yr deal

if all he wants is one yr, give him w/e ronnie

IMO Toronto has really gotten it right handing out these 1-year* deals that are crap shoots. For a rebuilding team there is no real downside. Worst case they suck and you still suck. Best case they play decent and you get a great return at the TDL. They got a free 2nd from Winnik last year and could match or better that with PAP this year.

 

[Ole Gil]

When the Canes project out their D, I imagine in 3 years they've got 3 of their top 4 already in Hanifin/Faulk/Fleury. Toss in Murphy/McKeown/The Rest, it seems like maybe 17-18 to 20-21 they think they probably won't need Sekera, and more importantly, probably don't want to risk having 5.5m tied up in what amounts to an unknown.

Nobody can predict with any certainty what Sekera is going to be like at ages 32-35.

Better to maintain flexibility and deal with the situation if one arises then, than take a big risk now.

 

[bleedgreen]

I wonder if the term mattered? Maybe they wanted to offer like 4 but he wanted something like 7 and Edmonton was able to talk him down to six.

we mustve lowballed him in some way, either term or aav. or both.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

I think that the budget is closer to $63-$66 million. I also think that you've got Nash and Rask inverted. Rask played much more 2C last year (and was mostly adequate). I think Nash slots in either as 3C or a 3W (or even a 4W). However, I really think that Gerbe ends up slotting in in Patty Dwyer's old position.

So my guess is that we're either looking for a 2C/3C or a 2W/3W and perhaps a depth defenseman signing. But with GMRF's comments about trying to get Hanifin signed, the depth defenseman might not be a need anymore.

We’ve talked about this before, but I still don’t think they’ll spend that much considering the attendance issues and lack of playoff revenue. GMRF talking about a 4th liner and extra forward in today’s presser leads me to believe that is indeed the case. I mean, he won’t have to break the bank to bring those guys in. I hope I’m wrong about the budget, but that’s the feeling I have.

With the way BP juggles lines, I'm not sure there will be much of a distinction between the 2nd and 3rd. I just see 6 interchangeable parts.

 

[Havoq]

lebrun says the red wings are in talks w/ brad richards for a 1 yr deal

if all he wants is one yr, give him w/e ronnie

As much as a veteran presence would be good to have around these young guys - have a strong feeling Richards is only considering offers from contenders at this point in his career. Not much incentive to come unless we offer way more $$$ or he had some sort of tie to the team/city.

 

[andy500]

How much does Justin Williams get paid do we think? Is he a good fit, for 1 or 2 years?

What would you think if we signed Justin Williams for 2 years at $3.75m AAV?

 

[bleedgreen]

jwilly wants another cup. He won't get that here regardless of what we pay him. Have to think JR wants him.

 

[Novacane]

How much does Justin Williams get paid do we think? Is he a good fit, for 1 or 2 years?

What would you think if we signed Justin Williams for 2 years at $3.75m AAV?

I'd do it in a second

 

[Blueline Bomber]

How much does Justin Williams get paid do we think? Is he a good fit, for 1 or 2 years?

What would you think if we signed Justin Williams for 2 years at $3.75m AAV?

I'd freak out, because Williams will be getting MUCH more than that. Especially on such a short-term deal.

 

[Francis10]

Get ready for plenty of 8000-10000 crowds in the PNC and move to Quebec rumours.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Minnesota signs Zac Dalpe. Yeah, you're jealous.