Wideman as a temporary fill if Suter Jets?
 

Wideman might be available for around 3.5 million - he's a defensive liability (and no Ryan Suter), but he might be the 2nd best UFA defenseman on the market. Do the preds make a play for him as a stopgap if Suter leaves as a UFA?

If\when Suter leaves, we're going to need someone that's far more reliable defensively than Wideman. If our fans got on Zidlicky and continue to astonishingly get on Klein, I can't even imagine the whippings Wideman would take.

Would Gill stay?

This. If Suter does leave I think we're more likely to see the team try to retain Gill's services and count on the growth of Josi and Ellis along with hoping to see Blum get back on track. They might look for another depth defenseman but I don't think they'll try to bring in another top-four guy.

Weber-Klein
Gill-Josi
Ellis-Blum perhaps? Maybe Ellis-Bouillon or something like that.

That is a very weak defense. Outside of Weber, all of those guys struggle with consistency.

Ekholm could make the team next year too.

Agreed, if suts bolts we need to make a move for a solid veteran defenseman. None of the possibly available ufa's are gonna do it IMO.

Although I do agree that weber, Klein, Ellis and Josi are all guaranteed spots next season in Nashville.

If Suter wants to go to Philly, how about we try to get Timonen from them if the price is right...

Or another Philly dman who I believe is UFA, Carle?

I can see Philly and Pittsburgh getting in a huge bidding war for Suter. Hopefully we can get something out of his rights, especially if we add a little.

I'd like to see Timonen back however he's on his last leg. We can not play him as a top paring defenseman but would be a good top 4.

He has a NTC clause but may be willing to waive to go to Nashville. His cap hit is 6.3m but his actual pay is only 3m. Philly needs to shed his cap hit if they plan to add players like Suter or whoever. Kimmo has some trade value but I don't think a lot at this point in his career.

I've been wondering about Carle as well. Is he a top pairing possibility or do we just move Josi up there with Weber and put Carle on the 2nd pairing with Klein?

I'd move Josi up and put Carle on the 2nd pair.

I just have a feeling that Josi is the one who will break the mold and actually improve in his second season rather than suffer the sophomore slump (Blum, Ellis)

Don't write Ellis off just yet as a soph slump, he hasn't started his soph season yet. And I agree, Josi looks poised to stay on track to be a good/great 1st pairing dman.

carle will be overpaid as an UFA. don't count on him, thats not how poile rolls

I think you are correct, except Ellis-Blum. I wouldn't play those two together. One of them with Bouillon, the other is the #7 defenseman. Cube brings the size, hitting and toughness that the other two lack. That is why they wouldn't be good together.

I would love Wideman on the Preds, but not to replace Suter. I don't want him anywhere near the 1st pairing.

Sure he'll bring alot of offense but he's a defensive liability. Even if Shea covers his ass, that handcuffs Shea's offensive ability.

I'd rather stick Klein in that spot over Wideman. I love Kleiner he reminds me of Dan Girardi.

The question I have been wrestling with is this...

If Suter leaves do we need a top pairing defenseman, or a second pairing defenseman who is reliable enough to eat up ~20 minutes per night?

Josi looked good, but so did Blum. Blum could always rebound. Josi could struggle, or he could excel. The gamble is do you need to replace Suter via trade/free agency, or if you need to replace Josi?

It's a very tough call to make. Seems like the easiest solution is to just re-sign Suter :laugh:

The difference is that Josi is a different type of dman than either Blum or Ellis. They are more offensive, Josi is more all around. He is agile, good with the puck, and pretty solid on his D play. I would almost play Josi on the 1st pairing with Weber and find a solid 2nd pairing dman to play with Klein. But we might be able to do that with Hal Gill which would be just fine with me. I'm not sold on bringing Bouillon back. I do think however, as much as most don't agree, that we will bring Hillen back and he should be able to play much more on the 3rd pairing. Atleast until Eckholm is called up. I think we re-sign Gill, or go after Carle preferably. However, all of this is waived off if Suter does stay.

Wideman will be getting more than 4 million, that's what he was making on his last contract.

outside of Suter, he's the best option on the free agent market.

We're not looking to fill Bouillon's spot...we need someone capable of 25 minutes a night. I don't think Josi's ready for that yet, and even if you re-sign Gill, he's surely not, either.

A typical Poile-like acquisition of Jack Hillen won't cut it, if Suter leaves. Carle will be cheaper than Suter (say, 4.5-5 million,) and if you can get him for 3 or so years, I think you have to do it.