Speculation: Trade & Free Agency Talk XXXV

[MuckOG]

I know people seem to talk about staal as trade piece but what about koivu ?

I think he might be willing to come play for the only fin gm and you can't ask that much for him ?

definitly no 1st/key player or anything crazy idk does he have value to you ?

Doesnt sound like Koivu would ever waive his NMC.

 

[pled]

He has a full NMC and by all accounts probably won’t even be approached by Guerin about waiving it. On top of that, his value has plummeted and it’s probably not even worth trading him at this point.

but I think Columbus has the fin factor additionally to chance at playoff so maybe he'd consider it.
He has leadership and experience which is lacking in Columbus and he isn't particularly worst than wennberg/no center at all as 2c I think.
if he were to accept the trade what would you ask for ?

 

[AKL]

but I think Columbus has the fin factor additionally to chance at playoff so maybe he'd consider it.
He has leadership and experience which is lacking in Columbus and he isn't particularly worst than wennberg/no center at all as 2c I think.
if he were to accept the trade what would you ask for ?

There are a lot of assumptions being made here and I don’t think I agree with any of them.

But I’d ask for a 2nd.

 

[pled]

There are a lot of assumptions being made here and I don’t think I agree with anyone.

But I’d ask for a 2nd.

yeah lot's of speculation but it's worth asking. if I was jarmo I would call just to ask if he wants. and I would probably offer a 2nd but only have one in 2022. if that's enough id do it.

 

[TaLoN]

but I think Columbus has the fin factor additionally to chance at playoff so maybe he'd consider it.
He has leadership and experience which is lacking in Columbus and he isn't particularly worst than wennberg/no center at all as 2c I think.
if he were to accept the trade what would you ask for ?

Saku has said that he would be SHOCKED if Mikko ever played for anyone else. It's apparently very important to Mikko that he's played his entire career with a single Franchise.

 

[SupremeNachos]

Am I the only one that doesn't think the Bruins "debacle" told us much of anything? 1-0 game at even strength, hit a couple posts, then go down 4-1 because our PK/goalie sucks (which we already knew).

Nothing that we didn't already know. Our special teams have been horrible this season. Our PP has never been great, but the fact our PK is near the bottom is alarming.

 

[Webster]

Doesnt sound like Koivu would ever waive his NMC.

There's so much talk about this, but normally it won't happen. Why should a player let go of his insurance? He has absolutely nothing to gain unless he actually wants to leave. To help the team? Forget it, a lot of players have learned the hard way that loyalty to a team in this league will never pay off.

A GM can always ask, but he should take a no for a no. If he's trying to force a player to waive his clauses he's moving into dangerous waters simply because it will be a contract violation.

 

[TaLoN]

There's so much talk about this, but normally it won't happen. Why should a player let go of his insurance? He has absolutely nothing to gain unless he actually wants to leave. To help the team? Forget it, a lot of players have learned the hard way that loyalty to a team in this league will never pay off.

A GM can always ask, but he should take a no for a no. If he's trying to force a player to waive his clauses he's moving into dangerous waters simply because it will be a contract violation.

Not sure why you mention anyone forcing anything... because nobody is suggesting such a thing. It never hurts to ask though.

 

[Webster]

Not sure why you mention anyone forcing anything... because nobody is suggesting such a thing. It never hurts to ask though.

That's true, I just mean it would be wrong if any GM tried to do this. But I agree it's okay to ask.

 

[TaLoN]

That's true, I just mean it would be wrong if any GM tried to do this. But I agree it's okay to ask.

Of course it would be wrong. I've never even heard of such an instance. Yet players are asked to waive every year... some say yes, others say no.

That said, I doubt Mikko would waive.

 

[pled]

Of course it would be wrong. I've never even heard of such an instance. Yet players are asked to waive every year... some say yes, others say no.

That said, I doubt Mikko would waive.

I was really just suggesting to ask. and I only considered it because cbj gm is fin too. if he doesn't that's still okay. it's the player choice here.

 

[Saga of the Elk]

He has a full NMC and by all accounts probably won’t even be approached by Guerin about waiving it. On top of that, his value has plummeted and it’s probably not even worth trading him at this point.

Is this really what it's come to? That a professional hockey player is so inured to futility that he wouldn't agree to be traded to a playoff team and that a GM wouldn't look at taking even a draft pick in return.. woeful.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Guerin has already said that he would tell Koivu if he was approached about a trade.

The only way you could "force" somebody would be to threaten them with healthy scratches.

 

[Digitalbooya]

It would feel so wrong to see Koivu in another jersey. On the other hand, he sure deserves a Cup.

 

[57special]

I don't think that Koivu is what CBJ needs.

 

[thestonedkoala]

It would feel so wrong to see Koivu in another jersey. On the other hand, he sure deserves a Cup.

I mean Alfreddson, Bourque, Forsberg, Federov all wore different jerseys.

 

[AKL]

I mean Alfreddson, Bourque, Forsberg, Federov all wore different jerseys.

Yeah I’m sure their fans thought it was a little weird too

 

[Prior]

Koivu hasn’t been playing well nor moving well since he came back from injury.

I have a hard time believing teams are even interested in him at this point even if he’s be willing to go (which I doubt). For teams that would in theory be interested, going after a true bottom six center that skates much better would seem to be a much more prudent move. The way he’s playing right now I would imagine that this is Koivu’s last year in the NHL.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Yeah I’m sure their fans thought it was a little weird too

Weird, but were happy.

 

[57special]

Koivu has definite value as a defensively trustworthy bottom six C with FO, and other, skills. Until you see him play in person you don't realize what a presence he is on the ice, even if he isn't scoring. He is a big body, and he knows how to use it effectively.

I'm hoping that the Wild bring him back for one more year( at a reasonable rate), and that they buy out Rask, letting Sturm( or whomever) get some ice time at C. Mikko would be a kick ass #4C, and a decent #3C.

Rask is nowhere near the player that Mikko is. Never has been, and never will be.

All this might change if we acquire another C in trade or FA, but I can't think of who that would be. AT this point we are down to hoping that JEE improves, Staal maintains, and that someone like Khovanov can be a top 6 C in a year or three. Pretty slim pickings. We need to get someone like Lundell this year in the draft.

 

[Prior]

You don’t need to tell a Wild fan since the inception of this franchise where Koivu’s value lies.

He is not the same player right now. He is not even the same player as he was at the start of the year. It doesn’t take much to notice it and the team elevating other centers while dropping him down the line up is an indictment on that. He’s the captain of the team, they’re not going to pull him out of the lineup.

He was a great player for a long time for this franchise. Undervalued by much of this fan base during much of his tenure. But he is essentially done and I’d be very surprised if anyone was even interested in him, let alone giving up anything of any relative value for him with the way he’s going. The chances of this team re-signing him in the offseason is extremely low.

 

[StateofCelly]

He is not the same player right now. He is not even the same player as he was at the start of the year. It doesn’t take much to notice it and the team elevating other centers while dropping him down the line up is an indictment on that. He’s the captain of the team, they’re not going to pull him out of the lineup.

He was a great player for a long time for this franchise. Undervalued by much of this fan base during much of his tenure. But he is essentially done and I’d be very surprised if anyone was even interested in him, let alone giving up anything of any relative value for him with the way he’s going. The chances of this team re-signing him in the offseason is extremely low.

I agree that he has been undervalued and that we shouldn't look at re-signing him unless its on a cheap deal and we have no other options, because I do believe he can at least be serviceable in a role, even if it isn't the role we have always expected of him. However I disagree that no teams at the deadline would have any interest, for those very same reasons. He is still a 2 way Center that can kill penalties and bring some stability to a bottom 6 for teams that would be interested or in need. Regardless I doubt he will get approached to waive because the returns probably wouldn't be worth the loss, and I doubt he would waive.

 

[AKL]

I agree that he has been undervalued and that we shouldn't look at re-signing him unless its on a cheap deal and we have no other options, because I do believe he can at least be serviceable in a role, even if it isn't the role we have always expected of him. However I disagree that no teams at the deadline would have any interest, for those very same reasons. He is still a 2 way Center that can kill penalties and bring some stability to a bottom 6 for teams that would be interested or in need. Regardless I doubt he will get approached to waive because the returns probably wouldn't be worth the loss, and I doubt he would waive.

Last I heard, no one had asked Guerin about him yet. Of course that could have and can change. One reason I doubt he’s going to be very popular at the deadline now is because he’s basically been a 4C for most of this season and he’s making 5.5M. Even if we retain half, that’s still 2.75M that a team needs to take on, and with how tight most teams are against the cap, 2.75 is a lot to take on for a 4C. Especially if those teams feel they have more pressing needs to address at the deadline.

 

[StateofCelly]

Last I heard, no one had asked Guerin about him yet. Of course that could have and can change. One reason I doubt he’s going to be very popular at the deadline now is because he’s basically been a 4C for most of this season and he’s making 5.5M. Even if we retain half, that’s still 2.75M that a team needs to take on, and with how tight most teams are against the cap, 2.75 is a lot to take on for a 4C. Especially if those teams feel they have more pressing needs to address at the deadline.

Related, or very loosely related I suppose, I was listening to The Power Play with Steve Kouleas on NHL Network Radio last night and they went off on a rant about Giordano and the "knee" on McDavid the other night, and he went out of his way to say how it ruined Koviu's career. Was just interesting to hear that take, and kind of shows what an outsider's perspective is on his current game/career right now.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Last I heard, no one had asked Guerin about him yet. Of course that could have and can change. One reason I doubt he’s going to be very popular at the deadline now is because he’s basically been a 4C for most of this season and he’s making 5.5M. Even if we retain half, that’s still 2.75M that a team needs to take on, and with how tight most teams are against the cap, 2.75 is a lot to take on for a 4C. Especially if those teams feel they have more pressing needs to address at the deadline.

It would be Leipold's call, but in theory, we could absorb every bit of it. Unless there's a rule that I'm not aware of limiting retainage.