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Where should we upgrade our roster?

dumbdick

dumbdick

Galactic Defender
May 31, 2008
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I feel like staios has done a pretty good job giving us a balanced squad. We don't have obvious holes in our lineup but definitely some areas where we could benefit from an upgrade.

What do you see as the weakest points on our roster, RELATIVE TO THE PLAYER'S SLOTTING?

(I really like Jensen, for example, but I don't think he's an ideal choice for 1RD).
 
We need a top pairing RD (Zub should be 2nd pair imo), and top line winger. I think those two pieces would make this team a legit contender, but easier said than done.

Then just rework the 4th line a bit.
 
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Jensen had a very good year, but he’ll be 35 at the start of next year and is 1 year away from UFA.

If you could upgrade on him, you 100% do it.

Problem is, RD are probably the hardest thing to find, so it’d be very hard to do.

Maybe if the Isles get a new GM who wants to do a San Jose style rebuild… you could go after a guy like Pulock. But we don’t really have assets to trade.

Realistically, I think the summer will be more focused on depth (in the bottom 6 and AHL) vs NHL upgrades.
 
In order of priority:

- Top line winger to replace and improve on Giroux. Someone who is fast and has a great shot. Ideally: Ehlers?
- Top 4 RD to bump down Jensen to the third pairing, as I expect decline due to age. Someone who can clear the net and is a reliable passer. Ideally could shoot too... Ideally? People have mentioned Perbix.
- 4th line C and PK specialist. Someone who is good on the draw. Ideally: Pageau?
- replacement for Cousins, unless Cousins himself can be brought back. A pest or someone who can handle the tough guy role.
- vet goalie depth in the AHL, someone like our old friend Hellberg

We can't sign or fit all of those guys under our cap, but allow me to dream:

Brady - Stu - Ehlers
Zetterlund - Cozens - Batherson
Greig - Pinto - Amadio
Cousins - Pageau - Perron
depth: MacEwen, Crookshank

Sanderson - Zub
Chabot - Perbix
Kleven - Jensen
depth: Matinpalo, Sebrango, Yak

Ullmark
Merilainen
depth: Hellberg, Sogaard
 
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Well the top 4 RD will probably come in the form of Yakemchuk.

A top 6 right winger to replace Giroux and a solid fourth line centre.

I like Stutzle-Cozens-Pinto down the middle.

But ideally we need a real superstar either at centre or winger. We won't become contenders without a Kucherov, Mackinnon or Barkov type player. Maybe too much to ask.
 
I would give Jensen another year.

He's been playing hurt for weeks and is still more effective than Travis Hamonic.

Not to mention, Chabot has his best season in years because of his partner. After waiting seemingly eons for someone who actually works with Chabot, we're going to turf him after a single season?

I get that he's older, but I think there's a lot of recency bias here. There's a reason he had the highest plus/minus on the team.
 
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1. Let 37/38 years old Claude Giroux go and grab a real 1st liner that plays with speed and is a threat to score.

Nick Jensen (4.05M x 1 yr) + Buffalo's 2026 2nd round pick for Jack Quinn (RFA)

Buffalo needs a veteran RD like Jensen to stabilize their backend and take the next step. Jensen would have a similar effect on Dahlin/Power/Byram as he did on Chabot.

In Quinn, Ottawa gets an emerging 1st line talent with explosive potential that Buffalo might struggle to keep, based on both cap hit and roster spot (beside him, Thompson, Peterka, Tuch, Benson and Kulich are all vying for four top 6 W spots). Ottawa immediately extends him for 5.5M x 7 years.

2. Sign Nick Perbix in FA for 4.5M x 5 years (OR pry Whitecloud out of Vegas for a pick).

This allows Yakemchuk to get acclimated to the pro game in the AHL.

3. David Perron (4M x 1 year) to whichever team that's not on his 15 teams list for future considerations.

With a single year left on his deal, a bubble team would see value in adding an experienced veteran like Perron for free.

4. Extend Zetterlund (3.75M x 3 years), Gaudette (2M x 2 years), Cousins (1.25M x 1 year), Kleven (4.25M x 6 years), Matinpalo (2M x 4 years) and Gilbert (1M x 1 year).

5. Let Anton Forsberg go and graduate Leevi Merilainen (1M x 2 years).

6. Forfeit the 2025 1st round pick, revamp the scouting department with a focus on speed + skill and start with a completely clean slate at the 2026 draft.

2025-2026 opening roster:

Tkachuk (8.2M) - Stützle (8.35M) - Quinn (5.5M)
Zetterlund (3.75M) - Cozens (7.1M) - Batherson (4.975M)
Greig (3.25M) - Pinto (3.75M) - Amadio (2.6M)
Cousins (1.5M) - Gaudette (2M) - MacEwan (775K)
Reinhardt (900K) / Crookshank (900K)
Total: 51.65M

Sanderson (8.05M) - Zub (4.6M)
Chabot (8M) - Perbix (4.5M)
Kleven (4.25M) - Matinpalo (2M)
Gilbert (1M)
Total: 32.4M

Ullmark (8.25M)
Merilainen (1M)
Total: 9.25M​

Cap hit: 93.3M + 1.875M (dead cap) = 95.157M

Notable prospects: Carter Yakemchuk, Stephen Halliday, Mads Sogaard, Tyler Boucher, Matthew Andonovski, Blake Montgomery, Maxence Guennette, Donovan Sebrango
 
dumbdick said:
I feel like staios has done a pretty good job giving us a balanced squad. We don't have obvious holes in our lineup but definitely some areas where we could benefit from an upgrade.

What do you see as the weakest points on our roster, RELATIVE TO THE PLAYER'S SLOTTING?

(I really like Jensen, for example, but I don't think he's an ideal choice for 1RD).
Click to expand...
Jensen isn't the 1RD. Zub is. Sanderson - Zub is a top Pairing I am very happy with.

Chabot - Jenson is also fine second pairing when everyone is healthy. They had great chemistry together early on when Jensen was healthy.

If we could get a better 2 pairing RD (ideally physical) and bump Jenson to the 3rd that would be amazing. The idea of Jenson being able to move to playing with Sanderson or Chabot in case of injury would be amazing depth.

Now this is easier said then done considering the availability of this type of player.
 
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We need a top 6 winger that can score and a bottom 6 forward who's good on the PK and dot. Could also use a top 4RD but that's a hard position fill.

Get rid of Perron or Giroux. Both of them are slotted too high. I'd prefer to keep Giroux and move Perron for anything to have capspace.

Taking a gamble on someone like Kuzmenko, Course, or Mangiapane might be worth it as those guys could fit within our cap.

If CBJ doesn't bring back Fabbro, sign him. Kleven and Fabbro would be a great 3rd pairing.
 
Puikiou said:
1. Let 37/38 years old Claude Giroux go and grab a real 1st liner that plays with speed and is a threat to score.

Nick Jensen (4.05M x 1 yr) + Buffalo's 2026 2nd round pick for Jack Quinn (RFA)

Buffalo needs a veteran RD like Jensen to stabilize their backend and take the next step. Jensen would have a similar effect on Dahlin/Power/Byram as he did on Chabot.

In Quinn, Ottawa gets an emerging 1st line talent with explosive potential that Buffalo might struggle to keep, based on both cap hit and roster spot (beside him, Thompson, Peterka, Tuch, Benson and Kulich are all vying for four top 6 W spots). Ottawa immediately extends him for 5.5M x 7 years.

2. Sign Nick Perbix in FA for 4.5M x 5 years (OR pry Whitecloud out of Vegas for a pick).

This allows Yakemchuk to get acclimated to the pro game in the AHL.

3. David Perron (4M x 1 year) to whichever team that's not on his 15 teams list for future considerations.

With a single year left on his deal, a bubble team would see value in adding an experienced veteran like Perron for free.

4. Extend Zetterlund (3.75M x 3 years), Gaudette (2M x 2 years), Cousins (1.25M x 1 year), Kleven (4.25M x 6 years), Matinpalo (2M x 4 years) and Gilbert (1M x 1 year).

5. Let Anton Forsberg go and graduate Leevi Merilainen (1M x 2 years).

6. Forfeit the 2025 1st round pick, revamp the scouting department with a focus on speed + skill and start with a completely clean slate at the 2026 draft.

2025-2026 opening roster:

Tkachuk (8.2M) - Stützle (8.35M) - Quinn (5.5M)
Zetterlund (3.75M) - Cozens (7.1M) - Batherson (4.975M)
Greig (3.25M) - Pinto (3.75M) - Amadio (2.6M)
Cousins (1.5M) - Gaudette (2M) - MacEwan (775K)
Reinhardt (900K) / Crookshank (900K)
Total: 51.65M

Sanderson (8.05M) - Zub (4.6M)
Chabot (8M) - Perbix (4.5M)
Kleven (4.25M) - Matinpalo (2M)
Gilbert (1M)
Total: 32.4M

Ullmark (8.25M)
Merilainen (1M)
Total: 9.25M​

Cap hit: 93.3M + 1.875M (dead cap) = 95.157M

Notable prospects: Carter Yakemchuk, Stephen Halliday, Mads Sogaard, Tyler Boucher, Matthew Andonovski, Blake Montgomery, Maxence Guennette, Donovan Sebrango
Click to expand...

Yikes!
 
Let's wait until the playoffs are over. There are a lot of minor holes, but the guys we have still have some time to show us what they can do.
 
PlayOn said:
We need a top pairing RD (Zub should be 2nd pair imo), and top line winger. I think those two pieces would make this team a legit contender, but easier said than done.

Then just rework the 4th line a bit.
Click to expand...
I think a 1st line winger that can score (goals) would be ideal. Ideally a shooter that can bury his chances.

Jensen still has another year. So, yes he’ll need to be replaced, but they still have another year to work on that.

Like you said though, that isn’t going to be easy.
 
we need more speed on the team, cant bring that in all at once but should target a forward that can slot into the top 9 and add that speed element

i would keep giroux and perron as we need veteran experience on the team. I was an advocate of giroux getting 4.5 million for quite a bit this year but his play has dropped. If he wants too much replace him for a veteran player

add someone that can play LD and RD and do it well to insulate the team

4C that is a pker if we can work it in

Tkachuk-Stutzle-Zetterlund
Forward-Cozens-Batherson
Greig-Pinto-Giroux/Perron
Giroux/Perron-Forward-Amadio

Defense run it back.

For that Dman role I would want to target someone like Calvin De Haan. Solid numbers, got screwed around with the rangers, should come under 1 million and can actually insulate if Matinpalo's play drops or there are injuries.

For that 4C role its been discussed a bit but Mavrik Bourque is who i would want. Unless the Isles want to retain half on Pageau.

The issue with the forwards available in UFA is that there is no middle of the line forward available. Someone like Palmeri would be a solid target if we can make it work cap wise. But we may have to take a lottery ticket/reclamation project. We are still missing physicality on defense but its hard to see where that would fit in exactly.

Tkachuk-Stutzle-Zetterlund
Palmieri-Cozens-Batherson
Greig-Pinto-Giroux/Perron
Giroux/Perron-Bourque-Amadio

Sanderson-Zub
Chabot-Jensen
Kleven-Matinpalo
CDH

Ullmark
Leevi

Not exciting changes but that forward core looks good
 
Batherson for Jack Quinn/Peterka

Sign Nelson.

Sign Appleton, re-sign Cousins and Gaudette(I feel he will be back)

The D should remain status quo. Jensen is 34. That's not old at all. After 35 I get the concern. Chabot also will be better next year so it will be easier on Jensen, and they are the 2nd pair.

The concern is Zub's health. That's the main thing.

But priority should be to get bigger, more talented and stronger upfront.

Tkachuk-Stutzle-Quinn
Zetterlund-Nelson-Cozens
Greig-Pinto-Amadio
Cousins-Appleton-Gaudette
 
I'm big on signing Nick Perbix, a UFA RD that can play top 4 minutes.

I don't know that it is an option, but Nik Ehlers would be a great addition to the top 6. Some injury history, but man he's good when he's healthy. Would mean shipping Zetterlund out (and potentially more).

Giroux should be a late season addition, if he's open to it. Let the guy rest for a few months before signing him - he'd be a helluva deadline type acquisition.

Look for some speed and toughness on that 4th line to keep teams honest in the regular season.
 
Blotto71 said:
I'm big on signing Nick Perbix, a UFA RD that can play top 4 minutes.

I don't know that it is an option, but Nik Ehlers would be a great addition to the top 6. Some injury history, but man he's good when he's healthy. Would mean shipping Zetterlund out (and potentially more).

Giroux should be a late season addition, if he's open to it. Let the guy rest for a few months before signing him - he'd be a helluva deadline type acquisition.

Look for some speed and toughness on that 4th line to keep teams honest in the regular season.
Click to expand...

Yea, I would love Ehlers, but the injury history a bit much for me. Especially the style of hockey we play. We are similar to WPG.

I'd look at moving Batherson for someone better fit for this team like Quinn or Peterka. Someone who can score about 60 points but play a more complete game and handle body better.

Then I'd utilize the cap for someone proven, veteran, big and can score. Nelson.
 
Green said we don't really have enough PKers and we need to get more involved next year. I think he meant to sign/trade for them, but he made it seem like they just needed to teach them to PK, which they could have done already.

Ideally Giroux is not one of your main PKers at his age.
 
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