Speculation: Trade & Free Agency Talk XXXV

[MuckOG]

If we need to create room on the wing, I would rather move Donato for a mid round draft pick than moving Zucker and not getting a decent return.

 

[AKL]

If we need to create room on the wing, I would rather move Donato for a mid round draft pick than moving Zucker and not getting a decent return.

What about moving Donato for a mid round pick vs getting a decent return for Zucker? And what would you consider a decent return?

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Foligno for a 2nd
Pateryn for a 3rd/4th
Donato for a 3rd/4th

Adding that to our own high 1st, high 2nd and high 4th is plenty of additional draft capital, plus nearly $7 million in newly opened cap space.

I'd much rather do that than Zucker for a 1st (right now).

 

[TaLoN]

If we need to create room on the wing, I would rather move Donato for a mid round draft pick than moving Zucker and not getting a decent return.

The question then is what you consider decent return?

I think Donato is gone regardless of a Zucker trade because he too is part of the log jam as it is, Zucker moving creates the top 6 LW spot for Fiala to shift to... Donato moving only, doesn't.

 

[Bazeek]

If those are my options I would look elsewhere and if that can’t be beaten I would strongly consider waiting until summer.

I wouldn't be mad about Hallander, but less than that and I agree. There's little risk in waiting.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Foligno for a 2nd
Pateryn for a 3rd/4th
Donato for a 3rd/4th

Adding that to our own high 1st, high 2nd and high 4th is plenty of additional draft capital, plus nearly $7 million in newly opened cap space.

I'd much rather do that than Zucker for a 1st (right now).

So with Kap coming next year, does that mean we are bumping Fiala to 3RW or Zucc?

 

[thestonedkoala]

The late first would be a reset on the cap cycle for Zucker and loosen up the log jam at LW that needs to be solved pretty soon with incoming wingers.

The late first could end being a bust. I understand that it would reset the cap cycle for Zucker, but I'd rather trade Donato and Foligno to loosen up the log jam on the left side.

 

[AKL]

So with Kap coming next year, does that mean we are bumping Fiala to 3RW or Zucc?

I think the hope if you keep Zucker is that Zucker, Fiala, Kaprizov and Zuccarello would play top 6, Parise, Greenway/Foligno, Hartman and Kunin would play bottom 6.

 

[AKL]

The late first could end being a bust. I understand that it would reset the cap cycle for Zucker, but I'd rather trade Donato and Foligno to loosen up the log jam on the left side.

The late first could also be the next Pastrnak.

 

[MuckOG]

The question then is what you consider decent return?

I think Donato is gone regardless of a Zucker trade because he too is part of the log jam as it is, Zucker moving creates the top 6 LW spot for Fiala to shift to... Donato moving only, doesn't.

2020 1st (top 20 selection) + top 6 center prospect or top 4 defense prospect

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

So with Kap coming next year, does that mean we are bumping Fiala to 3RW or Zucc?

Parise to #3 LW.

 

[TaLoN]

So with Kap coming next year, does that mean we are bumping Fiala to 3RW or Zucc?

Both are out of position as 3rd line RW. We have to make room on the left for Fiala. He will replace Zucker's production there, Kap will replace Fiala's on the right.

Whatever we get in return for Zucker, wil be used for other improvements to the lineup or prospect pool.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

I think the hope if you keep Zucker is that Zucker, Fiala, Kaprizov and Zuccarello would play top 6, Parise, Greenway/Foligno, Hartman and Kunin would play bottom 6.

mmm true didn't think of bumping parise down. BB needs to be gone for that to happen though right? cant see Fiala above Parise in his eyes.

 

[AKL]

mmm true didn't think of bumping parise down. BB needs to be gone for that to happen though right? cant see Fiala above Parise in his eyes.

Yeah I don’t see any way Boudreau plays all of Fiala, Zucker and Kaprizov over Parise.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Both are out of position as 3rd line RW. We have to make room on the left for Fiala. He will replace Zucker's production there, Kap will replace Fiala's on the right.

Whatever we get in return for Zucker, wil be used for other improvements to the lineup or prospect pool.

my question was with him trading donato and keeping zucker meaning zucker stays on the LW along with Parise and then Kap walks in needing to make room in the top 6. Parise to 3LW makes the most sense.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Yeah I don’t see any way Boudreau plays all of Fiala, Zucker and Kaprizov over Parise.

sadly neither do I. Parise - Ek/Sturm/Koivu - Kunin could be a very interesting 3rd line if we go that route though.

 

[TaLoN]

Parise to #3 LW.

Are you committing Greenway to the 4th line no matter what?

 

[AKL]

Both are out of position as 3rd line RW. We have to make room on the left for Fiala. He will replace Zucker's production there, Kap will replace Fiala's on the right.

Whatever we get in return for Zucker, wil be used for other improvements to the lineup or prospect pool.

FWIW I still think Donato could succeed here if Bruce stopped trying to play him in a checking role. The only opportunity he’s gotten here this year has been fourth line and 2C, neither of which he is.

I understand finding a spot where Donato can succeed is maybe easier said than done, but that’s Boudreau’s job. And he’s not doing it. Donato looked good last year when he was in a scoring LW role.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

my question was with him trading donato and keeping zucker meaning zucker stays on the LW along with Parise and then Kap walks in needing to make room in the top 6. Parise to 3LW makes the most sense.

Zucker will eventually be gone, if guys like Boldy, Beckman and/or Firstov turn out to be NHL-caliber players, the question is just a matter of when. But until we see more of those guys, I wouldn't be in all that much of a rush. If he's worth a 1st and prospect right now, he'll be worth a 1st and prospect in the summer of 2021.

 

[TaLoN]

2020 1st (top 20 selection) + top 6 center prospect or top 4 defense prospect

Zucker isn't going to bring back a top 6 center prospect alone, let alone a +. Top 6 center prospects carry more value than Zucker.

 

[AKL]

Zucker will eventually be gone, if guys like Boldy, Beckman and/or Firstov turn out to be NHL-caliber players, the question is just a matter of when. But until we see more of those guys, I wouldn't be in all that much of a rush. If he's worth a 1st and prospect right now, he'll be worth a 1st and prospect in the summer of 2021.

Not necessarily. Case in point: his last two years.

 

[TaLoN]

FWIW I still think Donato could succeed here if Bruce stopped trying to play him in a checking role. The only opportunity he’s gotten here this year has been fourth line and 2C, neither of which he is.

I understand finding a spot where Donato can succeed is maybe easier said than done, but that’s Boudreau’s job. And he’s not doing it. Donato looked good last year when he was in a scoring LW role.

Donato is not better than either Zach or Zucker though, which is why he has no top 6 LW spot to play him.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Are you committing Greenway to the 4th line no matter what?

That's where he'd be in this hypothetical, at least to start. I've never been all that high on his upside, even since the draft, so him being on the 4th line doesn't bother me that much.

I guess in a perfect world you have him and Parise have an honest competition for the #3LW spot, but the world ain't perfect.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Zucker will eventually be gone, if guys like Boldy, Beckman and/or Firstov turn out to be NHL-caliber players, the question is just a matter of when. But until we see more of those guys, I wouldn't be in all that much of a rush. If he's worth a 1st and prospect right now, he'll be worth a 1st and prospect in the summer of 2021.

if he only gets 30-40 points next year his value would drop would it not?

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Not necessarily. Case in point: his last two years.

His last two years what? There's nothing definitive that has said that his value changed in any meaningful way over the last 2 years.