I would like to bring Pouliot back but idk if he is worth $2-3M on a long term deal. This season was his "break out season" and he scored 36 points.
$3.5-3.7M is about right for Brassard. Slightly off his career average of .578PPG @ .556PPG. At this point he absolutely "is what he is." Can anchor a scoring line decently well. Moveover it's gonna be tough/impossible to replace his production elsewhere via trade or FA for the same money.
Still would like to see an all around defensive C brought in if Richards is bought out. Obviously it would cost too much but Jordan Staal is the type of player I'd want a 3rd line built around. Match up against the Crosby's of the league and actually be able to contribute offensively / play more than 10min a game. Can Berglund be had? Dubinsky would be a good fit, not to open that can of worms. That type of player. Stepan + Brass running offensive lines, 3rd line defensive C for matchups and Boyle/Moore on 4th line for 10 min a night of energy + PK. I'm sure the hope is Miller could be that guy. I absolutely still believe in his potential. But it would be nice to not have to bank on it. Lindberg with the potential as well.
I think Miller could be an upgrade over Brassard on the 3rd line. Cheaper, likely will be able to have similar offensive production with Zuccarello on his line. Brassard was not playing the way he was playing until Zucc became a part of that line. 45-50 points would be right where I expect Miller in an 82 game season with Zuccarello on his line.
Brassard won face-offs at a 48% rate throughout the season. Richards 49%. Stepan 45%. That's abysmal.
I understand that Stastny might not be the best answer, but he won face-offs at a 54% rate this year. He is as offensively as gifted as Richards is at this stage of his career, and he led the playoffs in scoring for the first round.
A big part of our powerplay problems is that we can't win a ****ing face-off. Stastny would help with that, and he has natural offensive ability, too. I think it would be easier to put a player like Nash or MSL on his line than with Richards, and hope for success.
Miller won face-offs at a rate of 51% this year. The sample size was small, but he is more dominant than Brassard on draws. And if we consider Brassard's contract, he's an absolute upgrade, 3 million dollars cheaper than Brassard is now.
Stastny upgrades our 2c. Miller should slightly upgrade our 3c, too (and over time may even surpass Brassard's value to the team by a significant amount).
I'd try and trade Brassard and something else for a powerpoint shot, defenseman. I'm assuming Diaz can adequately take up the 2nd line minutes with Staal next year, without much drop off from Stralman.
Moore's spot is in jeopardy, playing the way he has.
Brassard, J. Moore, someone like Hagelin - should all be pieces that yield a powerplay bomb shot.
