Tweaks = Back to the Finals = Better result

[Fletch]

I'm in no hurry to trade Staal, but I think it's worth listening to what the market has to offer. My main concern is that Staal's replacement would be Moore. That's a much sharper downgrade than replacing Stralman with Klein.

when you just made a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals and find yourself in cap hell the next day, in a division in which some teams are really itching to get back since they didn't make it, you need to listen to offers for everyone not named Lundqvist. There is depth near the top at every positions...except in nets.

 

[True Blue]

The Rangers already have two of them signed going forward. Do you think Staal will take second pairing money just because he plays on it?

No, my point has always been to sign Staal to a top-pair defenseman money. I like Brassard and Moore. But they represent those who I would loose in order to preserve the defense. Along with Poulilot.

 

[True Blue]

Agree to disagree then.

Agreed. Actually, if I was to move anyone from the defense, it would be Girardi.

 

[Beacon]

1. Buy-out Brad.
2. Trade Nash for another Brassard (but with better faceoff skills), saving us $4.5 million, which we can use to give raises to Stralman, Pouliot and Boyle or Moore.
3. Re-sign our RFAs.


* Once either McIlrath or Allen prove themselves ready for the NHL, we can trade away Klein to improve our forward corps.

======================

This would be basically the same team, but with more depth as Miller and Fast will be NHL-ready next season.

 

[I Am Chariot]

1. Buy-out Brad.
2. Trade Nash for another Brassard (but with better faceoff skills), saving us $4.5 million, which we can use to give raises to Stralman, Pouliot and Boyle or Moore.
3. Re-sign our RFAs.


* Once either McIlrath or Allen prove themselves ready for the NHL, we can trade away Klein to improve our forward corps.




======================

This would be basically the same team, but with more depth as Miller and Fast will be NHL-ready next season.

Thats going to win us the cup. We got to the finals because we finally had the = of 2 elite forwards in Nash MSL and Richards. Restocking from the bottom 6 and the farm is not going to be the next move. That's crazy. This team is still built arounf Lundqvist and he will be another year older.

WIN NOW

Nash, Richards gone and MSL alone 1st round exit. No way those role players pick up the slack of an elite player, even if he is soft and streaky...perhaps even concussed.

Buy out Richards and find the right deal for a top 6 replacement.

I like the Ryan O Reilly rumor. Not sure what it would take but Slats is a good trader...

 

[aufheben]

1. Buy-out Brad.
2. Trade Nash for another Brassard (but with better faceoff skills), saving us $4.5 million, which we can use to give raises to Stralman, Pouliot and Boyle or Moore.
3. Re-sign our RFAs.


* Once either McIlrath or Allen prove themselves ready for the NHL, we can trade away Klein to improve our forward corps.

======================

This would be basically the same team, but with more depth as Miller and Fast will be NHL-ready next season.

This is exactly what I hope for, even though trading Nash is very unlikely/unrealistic.

 

[GordonGecko]

This is exactly what I hope for, even though trading Nash is very unlikely/unrealistic.

yeah, who's going to take on that contract for so little production?

at best we would be swapping reclamation projects

 

[aufheben]

yeah, who's going to take on that contract for so little production?

at best we would be swapping reclamation projects

Even if we found someone interested, he still has the NMC. Plus his enormous cap hit...it's just totally unrealistic. Even if we retained half his cap hit, say the player we replace him with makes $3-4M, it leaves us in pretty much the same situation.

 

[Ail]

No, my point has always been to sign Staal to a top-pair defenseman money. I like Brassard and Moore. But they represent those who I would loose in order to preserve the defense. Along with Poulilot.

I don't think you can tie up 15 mil + a year in half of your defense. That's without retaining Stralman who was better than both Staal and Girardi most of the postseason. Depth wins chamionships. Locking up the top4 D and sacrificing some of the best bottom 6 depth the team has had in years is a big risk. Pouliot - Brass - Zucc was the most consistent line all year. You're okay with letting 2/3s of that walk without a plan? Moore and Boyle were crucial in the dot for key faceoffs and penalty killing. Boyle wants to leave, you would let Moore go too?

For someone who was talking about deficiencies and problems with this roster you sure are willing to create a bunch more.

 

[Ail]

Even if we found someone interested, he still has the NMC. Plus his enormous cap hit...it's just totally unrealistic. Even if we retained half his cap hit, say the player we replace him with makes $3-4M, it leaves us in pretty much the same situation.

Not to mention you no longer have a 30 goal scorer who is a dominant force 5 on 5 and plays the PK even when he isn't scoring.

 

[True Blue]

For someone who was talking about deficiencies and problems with this roster you sure are willing to create a bunch more.

No the way that I see it. Defense wins. And I would rather strengthen it. Size is necessary, which means some favorites not returning. Or return the exact same team, which will be entertaining. The problem is that team will not beat a team like the Bruins or the Kings.