The Columbus Dispatch: Umberger wants out (Dispatch link post #276)

[EspenK]

I mean, Portzline says he's asking out. It's a trade demand. What's debatable is whether it's justifiable.

I can't blame him. But I hope he realizes that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. He's not a top 6er on a contending team.



I think the team leaked this news. Probably to increase the urgency of Umberger to leave and expand his trade list.

I tend to agree. I think they want freedom to trade him ASAP and to whomever wants him

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

Unfortunately, with this request being broadcast to the entire league, I think the value goes down a little bit.

I the real estate world, this tends to start a bit of a bidding war to generate interest.

As of June 15th, its open season for 19 teams who may have an interest in him. There will be some salary retained if he is traded. I think the question may be how much salary is retained and at what point does a buyout come into play? Retained salary in a trade counts against the cap. A compliance buyout does not count against the cap and frees up money to acquire the right players if those types of players aren't available in trade.

 

[Mayor Bee]

Well then this all leads to the question. What is umbys trade value

To me, it depends on what else is available. There are a couple of pending UFAs who might draw interest from around the league. Is it possible that a combination of Umberger and one of them for something would be doable? Several teams would have to love the chance to jump the market and get Nikitin; if the team has moved on from him, why not package his UFA rights with Umberger and pick up something that way?

 

[Mayor Bee]

Unfortunately, with this request being broadcast to the entire league, I think the value goes down a little bit.

JK channeling XGMSH?

I don't think so. And if it does hurt his value, it would be more around the idea that a player on an improving team wants out. It's not like with Nash, where the idea of Columbus as a wasteland was being actively spread by the hockey media. In two years with basically the same roster, this team has gone to emerging contenders and media darlings, and suddenly a guy who's been there for the whole time wants out.

Been there for the first playoff appearance, been there for the slide under Hitchcock, been there under Arniel, been there for 30th in the league, been there for missing out due to the tiebreaker, been there for the second appearance...why?

 

[CBJWerenski8]

You guys are seriously low balling Umberger. He had a good season, just fell out of favor with the coach.

We will not have to retain salary, someone will take a chance on him.

 

[shotvalley]

Is there a chance that Umby heads to the KHL or Euro-leagues?

 

[Fred Glover]

You guys are seriously low balling Umberger. He had a good season, just fell out of favor with the coach.

We will not have to retain salary, someone will take a chance on him.

I tend to agree. In the summer, when teams remake rosters, they have the flexibiliy to take on/shed salary

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Is there a chance that Umby heads to the KHL or Euro-leagues?

Uh no. He's an effective 2nd/3rd line tweener in the NHL.

 

[Tulipunaruusu*]

Been there for the first playoff appearance, been there for the slide under Hitchcock, been there under Arniel, been there for 30th in the league, been there for missing out due to the tiebreaker, been there for the second appearance...why?

3.75-4.6 million reasons come into my mind... With diminishing role you ain't gonna like just fading away (during a very long season) if you think that you could do more. It's about you (well not Pormestari Mehiläinen exactly but...). Team success in the end is just bonus if you ain't where you want to be personally.

Carolina got off Tuomo Ruutu's contract quite easily (traded to New Jersey Devils for Loktionov and conditional third round draft pick) in the end without retaining any salary. Ruutu got slightly bigger cap hit (4.75) and only one year less left on his contract than Umberger with far greater consern on his ability to remain healthy for the couple remaining contract seasons. 5+11 in 57 games for Hurricanes prior trade...

 

[thebus2288*]

Uh no. He's an effective 2nd/3rd line tweener in the NHL.

MAYBE a 3rd/4th line tweener. He'd be a 4th line guy on probably 20 teams in the league.

 

[TheOllieC]

Carolina got off Tuomo Ruutu's contract quite easily (traded to New Jersey Devils for Loktionov and conditional third round draft pick) in the end without retaining any salary. Ruutu got slightly bigger cap hit (4.75) and only one year less left on his contract than Umberger with far greater consern on his ability to remain healthy for the couple remaining contract seasons. 5+11 in 57 games for Hurricanes prior trade...

Canes had to retain 900k. I'm not too upset at it though. Ruutu was worthless.

I don't see CBJ having to retain much if at all.

 

[SuperGenius]

From the article.

Umberger, who was a healthy scratch in four late-season games, requested the trade, the sources said. He declined to comment when reached by The Dispatch on Friday. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen, reached at the world championships in Belarus, also declined to comment.

Ok. I saw the various parts about mutual agreement more than the tidbit about him requesting it. Interesting.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

MAYBE a 3rd/4th line tweener. He'd be a 4th line guy on probably 20 teams in the league.

Name them.

 

[CBJRzeznik]

MAYBE a 3rd/4th line tweener. He'd be a 4th line guy on probably 20 teams in the league.

I recognize RJ's value is down and everyone knows he is overpaid but 4th line on 20 teams...Exaggerating a bit here maybe? How many teams have legitimate 20 goal scorers on their 4th line? He isn't a top six forward any longer but will be a nice veteran role player for a team, likely as a 3rd line staple who can move up to 2nd line duty when needed. There are teams (think Buffalo, Florida, EDM) who have cap space and need veteran leadership that would value him. The return to CBJ will be negligible at best other than having the opening in the lineup and the cap space for younger talent to fill.

 

[MoeBartoli]

MAYBE a 3rd/4th line tweener. He'd be a 4th line guy on probably 20 teams in the league.

That's insane. Show me the teams that have an 18-20 goal scorer on the 4th line. There's not a flood with two such players on those 3rd line. RJ holds some value and it's his contract that's the deterrent. He can be a plus for some teams.

 

[CBJRzeznik]

That's insane. Show me the teams that have an 18-20 goal scorer on the 4th line. There's not a flood with two such players on those 3rd line. RJ holds some value and it's his contract that's the deterrent. He can be a plus for some teams.

Amen Moe...Not sure if the poster with the 20 team delusion was trolling or just ignorant

 

[Robert]

Is Columbus going to compliance buy out Umberger next summer or should they? Umberger has still 3 years left of his contract (caphit 4.6 mil per year).

Not reading 100 posts I'd say the CBJ have nothing to gain buying out RJ.... 5 million is a drop in the NHL buckets... keep him, he's an OSU guy and veteran... The Jackets have more problems than RJ, as in scoring forwards and solid goal tending.

 

[jackets4life]

The argument that RJ is a 4th line player is in no way supported by fact. Looking at goals this season, RJ is tied for 111th out of 583 total forwards that skated in the league this season. Even when you wean that figure down to around 500, he looks very good considering he sat out 8 games this year. Now, is he worth $4.5M to a team looking to add to it's 2nd/3rd line scoring/grit? I think so, especially when you consider his #'s on the powerplay down in front of the net. I don't think this is going to be as difficult a trade to make as some are making it out to be.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

You guys are seriously low balling Umberger. He had a good season, just fell out of favor with the coach.

We will not have to retain salary, someone will take a chance on him.

I would love to place an even money bet on this.

I'm with you that some desperate GM will take a chance on him. After an amnesty buyout. A one year contract at a bargain basement price would seem about right. Scott Gomez signed for $900,000 on a one year after Montreal amnestied him. Umberger will probably do a little better than that. I'm thinking $1.2-1.5 million.

 

[Robert]

The argument that RJ is a 4th line player is in no way supported by fact. Looking at goals this season, RJ is tied for 111th out of 583 total forwards that skated in the league this season. Even when you wean that figure down to around 500, he looks very good considering he sat out 8 games this year. Now, is he worth $4.5M to a team looking to add to it's 2nd/3rd line scoring/grit? I think so, especially when you consider his #'s on the powerplay down in front of the net. I don't think this is going to be as difficult a trade to make as some are making it out to be.

I've said for the last 3 years he's a third liner... and a damn good one, but not much more. We can't dump RJ, he's not a great player but man, he's a warrior.

 

[Crede777]

He is only on the 4th line if your team is trying to phase him out or is trying to roll 4 solid lines.

Otherwise he's a slightly overpaid, aging 3rd liner.

If he wants out, the return would have to not be worse than keeping him. Meaning it has to be cheaper or as part of a package for a good player. Taking on a worse contract shouldn't be even considered.

This is the kind of trade where a return of Frattin + 2nd + 3rd would be OK.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

RJU is no longer a 20 goal producer. His numbers this year which have been posted about ad nauseum (by me) clearly show that his 18 goal production was driven by a fluky PP productivity and an inordinate amount of ice time with Johansen and Foligno on the first line. He's likely a 12-15 goal producer who'll require around 2 minutes of PP time per game to even have a chance to reach those paltry numbers.

He was last in even strength 5 vs 5 point production per 60 minutes of ice time on the CBJ the past two seasons. Well, he beat Boll out in the lockout shortened season. He's not even been a 3rd liner on the CBJ the past two seasons in terms of even strength point production.

He's not fast enough nor physical enough to play the role that most teams look for in a 4th line player.

It's nice for him that people here are loyal. That loyalty will not get an NHL team to pay him $4.6 million per year for the next 3 years to be a team's most unproductive even strength player.

I would like to know what team(s) people think have a roster spot for RJU at $4.6 million per year.

 

[Samkow]

Umberger's decreased role coincided pretty heavily with our rise out of the CoLOLumbus era. I think there's a bit of corrolation there.

To paraphrase something I saw on the Twitter, this guy sticks around for 5 bad years but then asks out when times are good because of a reduced role? This divorce can't happen fast enough.

 

[Robert]

Umberger's decreased role coincided pretty heavily with our rise out of the CoLOLumbus era. I think there's a bit of corrolation there.

To paraphrase something I said on the Twitter, this guy sticks around for 5 bad years but then asks out when times are good because of a reduced role? This divorce can't happen fast enough.

Great divorce in emotion but the CBJ can't trade him (salary) and there is no logical ($) reason to buy him out... he stays.

 

[MoeBartoli]

Umberger's decreased role coincided pretty heavily with our rise out of the CoLOLumbus era. I think there's a bit of corrolation there.

To paraphrase something I said on the Twitter, this guy sticks around for 5 bad years but then asks out when times are good because of a reduced role? This divorce can't happen fast enough.

There's a difference between a reduced role and a press box view. H is a proud man who wants to play. When it's decided a stiff like Tropp will play ahead of you, it's clear you are not wanted. So why would he ask for a trade when the team is debating busting you out or trading you? If you have read any of my past posts, it's clear I have not been the biggest RJ fan. But I respect him as a gamer and past contributor and am amazed at some of the comments. Actually his request opens the door for him to be traded to a variety of teams, a pathway that did not exist previously.