I've been thinking about this for a while. Something has to happen with Froggett; either he gets more ice time to figure out what he really has, or Newlove comes in. I've liked Froggett's potential since they drafted him and it's been a waiting game. He should have been around last season instead of Michelone (no disrespect to him), but here we are.
That said, they need an 05 or 06 D who is back next season. The higher in the depth charts, the better. Who's available, though? Guys like Cam Allen, Konnor Smith (04), Andrew Gibson in the West would be ideal, but none are around next season and you'd have to move Abraham (I'd imagine) to get Smith. Do you go after a Parekh? He's not likely in the NHL next season. Josh Glavin? Bronson Ride? I'm not really sure right now.
I’m on board for a 2 year D Man. Sure, next year is the year to go, I think 90% of us on here agree with that. Greentree/Spellacy/Christoforo senior year, Belchetz, Lemeuix, Garden, Hicks with a full year under their belt. Costanzo’s OA year. It all lines up.
The part that gets tricky, is Saginaw has no picks to move, and they’re good, but once teams ramp up at the deadline, they’ll likely finish middle of the pack where they are now, if not lower. Soo is pretty much in a sell spot as well.
So the opportunity this year, is the wide open west. Our closest two competitors almost HAVE to sell. The other two teams are trailing us by 5 games, 20 games in.
Zayne Parekh would cost an arm and a leg. Average sized. Point and a half a game player. Rough, gritty, smart… dirty at times. Windsor would love him. Plus he’s got deep playoff run experience and a memorial cup.
He’d be enough for Saginaw to restock the cupboards some and provide us with that two year D Man (yes, he’s an 06, my concerns with Greentree and Spellacy moving… well those have decreased each game lately… plus I see D men in a different category with a longer path to the show).
I think Parekh would have to be the only add due to his cost. However. We have Frogget, Newlove and Windbiel. Only one of them can backup Costanzo this year. Only one of them can backup Costanzo next year. Trade bait in the offseason, to acquire the picks needed for the 25-26 deadline.
Those are my armchair GM moves for the night, and it’s crazy enough to get us a West Division title back to back years. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about. I’ve won the Stanley cup the last 9 seasons in NHL franchise mode.
I didn't include Mews on purpose; that's not happening, which I respect. Heck, I'm not even sold that Saginaw would deal Parekh to Windsor. That would be... Nesbitt, Manzo, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 5th? I'm not sure that's enough.
Deal.