Speculation: Trade and Free Agency Talk - 2022-23 Edition - Postseason Success can't be a Myth!

[Digitalbooya]

I'm still doubtful Faber could step into that role right away, but Sustr/Mermis have played NHL hockey before, and Sustr has the size and strength people love to have for the playoffs.

Brodin-Goligoski
Middleton-Spurgeon
Merrill-Addison
Sustr
Mermis

That's not really any worse than what we ran last year in the playoffs. You don't even need to worry about guys like O'Rourke, Hunt, Johansson, who I think are not ready for NHL hockey, let alone the playoffs (if we even make it). And if Faber can step into an NHL role right away then it's even less of a concern.

I’d love to give Faber a shot once the NCAA season ends. See what he’s got to give and then send him down if he’s not ready. I think Faber next to Brodin would fit the shutdown role nicely. It would also give him an excellent player to learn from, similar to how Brodin played next to Suter when he broke into the league.

But yeah, we definitely have plenty of options on D to allow us to trade Dumba away.

 

[AKL]

I’d love to give Faber a shot once the NCAA season ends. See what he’s got to give and then send him down if he’s not ready. I think Faber next to Brodin would fit the shutdown role nicely. It would also give him an excellent player to learn from, similar to how Brodin played next to Suter when he broke into the league.

But yeah, we definitely have plenty of options on D to allow us to trade Dumba away.

I'll give Faber a shot. I'd give O'Rourke, Hunt and Johansson a shot too if their AHL play merits it. I think it's important to get guys tastes before you call them up full time.

 

[Digitalbooya]

I'll give Faber a shot. I'd give O'Rourke, Hunt and Johansson a shot too if their AHL play merits it. I think it's important to get guys tastes before you call them up full time.

The unfortunate part is that our LHD consists of Brodin-Middleton-Merrill, all with 3 or more years left on their contract. Then our 7th D is a LHD with another year left. Would take a decent amount of injuries to see either of O’Rourke/Hunt.

Do you follow Iowa closely? I haven’t seen much of Johansson. He seems to put up points wherever he goes.

Could someone who watches Iowa consistently comment on Johansson’s game?

 

[AKL]

The unfortunate part is that our LHD consists of Brodin-Middleton-Merrill, all with 3 or more years left on their contract. Then our 7th D is a LHD with another year left. Would take a decent amount of injuries to see either of O’Rourke/Hunt.

Do you follow Iowa closely? I haven’t seen much of Johansson. He seems to put up points wherever he goes.

Could someone who watches Iowa consistently comment on Johansson’s game?

I haven't much this year. @57special is your guy.

 

[57special]

The unfortunate part is that our LHD consists of Brodin-Middleton-Merrill, all with 3 or more years left on their contract. Then our 7th D is a LHD with another year left. Would take a decent amount of injuries to see either of O’Rourke/Hunt.

Do you follow Iowa closely? I haven’t seen much of Johansson. He seems to put up points wherever he goes.

Could someone who watches Iowa consistently comment on Johansson’s game?

S JO has looked surprisingly good. Decent skater once he gets going, but a bit slow footed. Tall...he's every bit of 6'2", if not taller. Not physical, but not obviously weak, either. His strength is in his play with the puck and offensively. Smart, and relatively self assured carrying, passing, and shooting the puck. I guess his weakness is defensively. Slow'ish feet, and a bit timid in board battles, but that size/reach makes up for a lot. It's not like he is getting posterized by opposing forwards on line rushes, or anything.

He has been a pleasant surprise. I think he has been better than ROR, so far. ROR hasn't been bad, but hasn't made his presence felt with the puck, though i do like his first pass.

 

[Wabit]

You’re blowing it out of proportion. Plenty of those guys would be fine playing on the third pairing.

Hell, you don’t even have to play any of them:

Brodin-Addison
Middleton-Spurgeon
Goligoski-Merrill

Edit: personally, I’d rather run:

Brodin-Faber
Goligoski-Spurgeon
Middleton-Addison
Merrill

If Faber isn’t ready, then you rotate Merrill in and mix and match as needed

Addison only belongs on an NHL powerplay, nothing else. Goli is a 7D.

So it's 2 top-4 D-men (Brodin/Spurgeon), 2 x 3rd pair d-men (Middleton/Merrill), and the rest are pressbox/AHL quality players.

 

[Minnewildsota]

S JO has looked surprisingly good. Decent skater once he gets going, but a bit slow footed. Tall...he's every bit of 6'2" is not taller. Not physical, but not obviously weak, either. His strength is in his play with the puck and offensively. Smart, and relatively self assured carrying, passing, and shooting the puck. I guess his weakness is defensively. Slow'ish feet, and a bit timid in board battles, but that size/reach makes up for a lot. It's not like he is getting posterized by opposing forwards on line rushes, or anything.

He has been a pleasant surprise. I think he has been better than ROR, so far. ROR hasn't been bad, but hasn't made his presence felt with the puck, though i do like his first pass.

So a bigger, less physical Dumba?

 

[Digitalbooya]

Addison only belongs on an NHL powerplay, nothing else. Goli is a 7D.

So it's 2 top-4 D-men (Brodin/Spurgeon), 2 x 3rd pair d-men (Middleton/Merrill), and the rest are pressbox/AHL quality players.

Goligoski is better than Middleton and Merrill. I don’t give a rip what anyone says.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Goligoski is better than Middleton and Merrill. I don’t give a rip what anyone says.

He is.

 

[57special]

So a bigger, less physical Dumba?

Nowhere near the wheels, or quick twitch athleticism. He's a long shot to play in the NHL. He's more like a less talented Gustav Olofsson.

 

[NHL1674]

I hope not. I’d like them to get assets for a player that won’t be be back.

More games like today, and there won't be any assets to gain for him....except maybe a bag of pucks.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

At this point, I might consider just not re-signing Dumba as a victory here.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Situation next season if we took a flyer on Garland, let's say a 2nd/3rd + prospect:

Kaprizov - Hartman - Zuccarello
Boldy (6.5) - Rossi - Garland (4.95)
GREEF
Duhaime (1.1) - Dewar - Shaw (.8)
13th F (.75)

Boldy bridge deal 2 x $6.5

Brodin - Faber (ELC)
Middleton - Spurgeon
Merrill - Addison (2.5)
Goligoski

Addison bridge deal 1 x $2.5
Move around the 3 LDs after Brodin as seen fit.

Fleury
Gustavsson (1.1)

600k in cap space.

The following season, ~$20 million in space (with a modest cap increase) to replace/re-sign Hartman, Zuccarello, Foligno, Addison and Fleury.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

Situation next season if we took a flyer on Garland, let's say a 2nd/3rd + prospect:

Kaprizov - Hartman - Zuccarello
Boldy (6.5) - Rossi - Garland (4.95)
GREEF
Duhaime (1.1) - Dewar - Shaw (.8)
13th F (.75)

Boldy bridge deal 2 x $6.5

Brodin - Faber (ELC)
Middleton - Spurgeon
Merrill - Addison (2.5)
Goligoski

Addison bridge deal 1 x $2.5
Move around the 3 LDs after Brodin as seen fit.

Fleury
Gustavsson (1.1)

600k in cap space.

The following season, ~$20 million in space (with a modest cap increase) to replace/re-sign Hartman, Zuccarello, Foligno, Addison and Fleury.

Feels a lot like this season. At least Boldy has more help

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Feels a lot like this season. At least Boldy has more help

I don't really see a path to the next 2 seasons not feeling like this one.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Situation next season if we took a flyer on Garland, let's say a 2nd/3rd + prospect:

Kaprizov - Hartman - Zuccarello
Boldy (6.5) - Rossi - Garland (4.95)
GREEF
Duhaime (1.1) - Dewar - Shaw (.8)
13th F (.75)

Boldy bridge deal 2 x $6.5

Brodin - Faber (ELC)
Middleton - Spurgeon
Merrill - Addison (2.5)
Goligoski

Addison bridge deal 1 x $2.5
Move around the 3 LDs after Brodin as seen fit.

Fleury
Gustavsson (1.1)

600k in cap space.

The following season, ~$20 million in space (with a modest cap increase) to replace/re-sign Hartman, Zuccarello, Foligno, Addison and Fleury.

Gus might price himself higher than 1.1 if he continues his play.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

I don't really see a path to the next 2 seasons not feeling like this one.

Unfortunately, you’re right. I was hoping that we’d end up being worse down the stretch the next couple of years, but we probably have too many good players to ever have a real bad season. But hey, we drafted Boldy 12th. Just need to keep hitting in that range.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Unfortunately, you’re right. I was hoping that we’d end up being worse down the stretch the next couple of years, but we probably have too many good players to ever have a real bad season. But hey, we drafted Boldy 12th. Just need to keep hitting in that range.

Just one, IMO.

I had my doubts about whether he could prop up a flawed team this much, but I am currently standing corrected.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

Just one, IMO.

I had my doubts about whether he could prop up a flawed team this much, but I am currently standing corrected.

Yeah, he is single-handedly putting us in playoff contention, but look at the basement dwellers. Even without him, I have a hard time believing over the course of a full season we’d stick near the bottom of the league. I guess continued regression from our defenseman could help. It’s a shame. We’ll probably be a middling team for the next couple of years, develop a supporting cast for Kaprizov, and then be good for one year before Kaprizov leaves. Then, we’re back to middling.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Yeah, he is single-handedly putting us in playoff contention, but look at the basement dwellers. Even without him, I have a hard time believing over the course of a full season we’d stick near the bottom of the league. I guess continued regression from our defenseman could help. It’s a shame. We’ll probably be a middling team for the next couple of years, develop a supporting cast for Kaprizov, and then be good for one year before Kaprizov leaves. Then, we’re back to middling.

I don't have a hard time believing that, unless they went into an absolute defensive shell (which I wouldn't put past them).

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

Alex Formenton needs to be signed in the next 90 minutes. Wouldn’t be a bad target for Guerin to get someone opposite Boldy

 

[AKL]

Alex Formenton needs to be signed in the next 90 minutes. Wouldn’t be a bad target for Guerin to get someone opposite Boldy

Why is he still unsigned?

 

[Wasted Talent]

Why is he still unsigned?

He was part of that Canadian WJC team involved in the scandal and Ottawa seems to have no intention to sign him despite his on-ice play being decent enough.

So one can assume he doesn't exactly fit the mold of Guerin's character guys.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

Why is he still unsigned?

Ah. I guess he was part of the scandal. I didn’t do much research, I just assumed it was a contract dispute

 

[AKL]

He was part of that Canadian WJC team involved in the scandal and Ottawa seems to have no intention to sign him despite his on-ice play being decent enough.

So one can assume he doesn't exactly fit the mold of Guerin's character guys.

You're probably right. But then, weren't Guerin and Fleury both involved in some form of scandal as well?

Has that scandal been substantiated or was it proven Formenton actually played a part? (Not defending any scandals, just interested in knowing facts and what part Formenton played in it)