GDT: UFA Frenzy 2024 - We're ALL Gonna Die

[Blueline Bomber]

First offseason since 2018 we have to hope for some breaks, good health, guys overperforming, good PDO luck, a prospect or two breaking through.

I'm pretty sure Tulsky strongly implied that last one in his press conference.



Also, I know it's been busy for Tulsky, and its an important time of year, but looking at that picture, the guy needs to take like...two weeks off. He looks like he hasn't slept since April.

 

[sabremike]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1807929047038501060

 

[Blueline Bomber]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1807929047038501060

He's lifting the Cup on July 1st...for the Piletrs? Or the Ellers? In the middle of what must be a world-ending heatwave, as the crowd's faces are melting.

 

[HisIceness]

He's lifting the Cup on July 1st...for the Piletrs? Or the Ellers? In the middle of what must be a world-ending heatwave, as the crowd's faces are melting.

Best I can figure is the season gets delayed and the Finals do in fact end on July 1st

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Best I can figure is the season gets delayed and the Finals do in fact end on July 1st

Well yeah, the Finals are delayed. According to Google, skin melts at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Why they even continued to have the playoffs in those conditions is beyond me. Typical "Anything for a buck" NHL

 

[mikeyfan]

Question would a gamble on Kailer Yamamoto be worth it say 2 years 2 to 2.5 per year?

 

[User13452]

Question would a gamble on Kailer Yamamoto be worth it say 2 years 2 to 2.5 per year?

Not really no he’s not a top 6 forward. If you’re gonna gamble on someone maybe try and get Atkinson for cheap on a 1 year deal.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

No.

 

[mikeyfan]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1807929047038501060

He’ll be injured and will miss the playoffs. Lol

 

[Leafshater67]

Question would a gamble on Kailer Yamamoto be worth it say 2 years 2 to 2.5 per year?

No.

Not good enough for the top 6 and too small and soft for the bottom 6 and probably the league at this point I’d say.

Maybe on a bottom feeder, he could get some minutes and produce but he’s a liability out there and that isn’t going to change unfortunately. He’s 153 pounds in a game where the average guy is 200+.

 

[Lempo]

7.75 for Lindholm

This kind of whirled past. Bruins take Lindholm for 7 x $7.75M.

 

[CandyCanes]

He’ll be injured and will miss the playoffs. Lol

Throwback to the million concussions he had early into his career. Where the whole hockey world thought he was one hit away from being brain dead. Hoping Skinner finally gets to play in the playoffs, still a fan of his.

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

I hate this off-season. I fu^king loathe it.

 

[Identity404]

I'm pretty sure Tulsky strongly implied that last one in his press conference.

Not exactly sure where these guys that are close to the NHL are stepping in?

We signed a lot of bottom 6 forwards. I guess they may be hoping at least one of them takes a top 6 role?

Morrow won’t be more than an injury call up this year, but maybe they are penciling him at Burns spot next year?

 

[CanesFanBudMan]

Based on ETs interview it seems to me like they are hoping to have 1 or 2 of FUS, Nadeau, or Blake settle into a middle 6 role by the end of the year. They will probably be a bubble team this year. They could have spent yesterday and likely had another 2nd round exit at the expense of the future.

Plan should be to come into another mini window with Nikishin, Morrow, and a couple forwards all contributing well on ELCs. Would also have the cash to go after a big talent next offseason when burns and orlov come off the books.

 

[TheBigLetowski]

Based on ETs interview it seems to me like they are hoping to have 1 or 2 of FUS, Nadeau, or Blake settle into a middle 6 role by the end of the year. They will probably be a bubble team this year. They could have spent yesterday and likely had another 2nd round exit at the expense of the future.

Plan should be to come into another mini window with Nikishin, Morrow, and a couple forwards all contributing well on ELCs. Would also have the cash to go after a big talent next offseason when burns and orlov come off the books.

Huge amount of money available next offseason, right?

 

[DaveG]

Huge amount of money available next offseason, right?

22.75 or so not factoring in cap increases.

backup goalie
whatever Kuzy ends up being position wise
RD1
LD2
RW 3

to replace

could easily go out and splurge on a C to take the 2C role or bump Aho to that spot, fill LD2 with Boom's ELC, and have room for signing a decent RD/PP specialist. Meh C class if Drai re-signs though, and just flat out BAD D class if Hedman re-signs, both of which I expect.

 

[WreckingCrew]

Based on ETs interview it seems to me like they are hoping to have 1 or 2 of FUS, Nadeau, or Blake settle into a middle 6 role by the end of the year. They will probably be a bubble team this year. They could have spent yesterday and likely had another 2nd round exit at the expense of the future.

Plan should be to come into another mini window with Nikishin, Morrow, and a couple forwards all contributing well on ELCs. Would also have the cash to go after a big talent next offseason when burns and orlov come off the books.

My guess is they want one of FUS, Nadeau, Blake, or even Suzuki to start in a 3rd/4th line role with some of the newer guys and give them a chance to "grab" a spot or even force their way up the lineup like Jarvy did. I see Lemiuex & Robinson as the likely "extras", but it also feels like we have too many bottom-six guys for there to be a spot? Maybe we package Necas + Drury for a better top 6 guy and then KK/Kuzy are default 2C/4C. Or maybe they wise-up and put Staal as 4C with a rookie + Nookie and have KK/Kuzy as 2/3C? There have to be other moves, the roster as constructed is too convoluted and incomplete and unclear.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I'm probably in the minority, but I'm a bit excited about the upcoming season. They certainly may take a step back and it will likely be a bit of a reset, not denying that; but for the last 3-4 years, they've pretty much been a regular season machine with little drama and few open roster spots. Sure, an injury here or there, a rough patch here or there, but I always expected this team to be good and to be in the playoffs and they just kept churning out 110+ point seasons.

For the next two seasons, we'll likely see some young guys with high skill crack the line-up. Other than Slavin, we don't have any 29/30 year olds with high dollar long term deals, which is going to provide us a lot of flexibility going forward.

I'm excited to see how it all plays out. Maybe they'll crash and burn. Maybe Rod's system is a bit player agnostic and they'll still be good. Maybe they'll be younger, faster and more exciting to watch. Maybe they'll struggle early and start to come together. Maybe they'll never put it together and miss the playoffs.

Either way, it's going to be interesting to see it play out.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Not exactly sure where these guys that are close to the NHL are stepping in?

We signed a lot of bottom 6 forwards. I guess they may be hoping at least one of them takes a top 6 role?

Morrow won’t be more than an injury call up this year, but maybe they are penciling him at Burns spot next year?

I suspect there will be trades. Necas, IMO, is still likely moved. KK may also be moved.

As far as Morrow, there will be injuries, no question about that. How long he sticks will be determined by how well he plays when called up.

 

[Borsig]

Tulsky tempering expectations

 

[CanesFanBudMan]

On a different note. Very fun how the oilers are all penciling in Skinner next to McDavid. He’s maybe the only player in the league who’s production drops playing with 97

 

[CanesUltimate11]

I suspect there will be trades. Necas, IMO, is still likely moved. KK may also be moved.

As far as Morrow, there will be injuries, no question about that. How long he sticks will be determined by how well he plays when called up.

If they are leaning towards a bit of "reset" year then I'd be tempted to go to Necas with a 1 year prove it contract and tell him that he'll start as the #2 center and it's time to put up or shut up.

And throw in a clause to the contract that tells him to report to Rod's front door on August 1st to get ready for the season.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

On a different note. Very fun how the oilers are all penciling in Skinner next to McDavid. He’s maybe the only player in the league who’s production drops playing with 97

I don't know. Skinner has a great knack for finding open spaces in the offensive zone and knows how to bury the puck. McDavid has the ability to create tons of open space for others and get them the puck. Hyman creates havoc in front of the net.

McDavid, Hyman and RNH are decent enough defensively as well to cover for Skinner's poor defense.

I won't predict how it will go, but I won't be surprised if he does end up on McDavid's line and flourishes.

 

[Justicebork]

I'm probably in the minority, but I'm a bit excited about the upcoming season. They certainly may take a step back and it will likely be a bit of a reset, not denying that; but for the last 3-4 years, they've pretty much been a regular season machine with little drama and few open roster spots. Sure, an injury here or there, a rough patch here or there, but I always expected this team to be good and to be in the playoffs and they just kept churning out 110+ point seasons.

For the next two seasons, we'll likely see some young guys with high skill crack the line-up. Other than Slavin, we don't have any 29/30 year olds with high dollar long term deals, which is going to provide us a lot of flexibility going forward.

I'm excited to see how it all plays out. Maybe they'll crash and burn. Maybe Rod's system is a bit player agnostic and they'll still be good. Maybe they'll be younger, faster and more exciting to watch. Maybe they'll struggle early and start to come together. Maybe they'll never put it together and miss the playoffs.

Either way, it's going to be interesting to see it play out.

It is going to be a fascinating year for sure, and a great test of the "always competitive" philosophy's viability when the inevitable cap shuffle/value resets have to occur. I think all the kids should and will start in Chicago, if any of them are PPG players in the AHL, they won't be there for long.

I see us as the San Antonio Spurs of the NHL - Aho isn't as dominate as Tim Duncan so we don't have a title yet, but the metaphor still tracks. That team - not a sexy destination at all - made the playoffs 18 times in a row by locking in a young core, signing players around them who fit a system, and recycling personnel when cap issues came up. The main difference is that the Spurs' system evolved over time to fit the age and in situ skill set of their core. Time will tell if we make such adjustments to support our core as it ages. (and to keep up with/stay ahead of an evolving NHL).

The Spurs also drafted as well as we do.

This would make Necas our Kawhi Leonard, I suppose.

We have improved our cap flexibility which is essential to "always competitive." Makes it easy to reset/add complimentary pieces/recycle draft capital - which is really important in such a system.