Lets scoop a Devil
 

As I see it the Devils are in serious cap troubl. I also think the Kings need to beef up the second line.

Brian Gionta RW 27; Scott Gomez C 26; David Hale D 26 are all Devil Restricted free agents that we could give a qualifying offer. Are any worth the 1st rounders we give up? depends on the offer.

I am not a huge Gionta fan but I do like Gomez and his distribution skills. This is a young, proven point getter that hypothetically would do well with a scorer such as O'Sullivan. As like O'Sullivan he can play Center and RW and can skate. We would possibly loose 3 first rounders unless a deal can be made with Lou where he takes a cheaper Belanger or prospect off our hands.

At 26 he still fits into the rebuild but be competitive theory. Now I would only do this if we had his name on the dotted line for 5 years plus. Add Frolov to this line or a banger like Brown and they could reek havoc.

The problem is we get smurffish up front. Not a big deal. Kopitar and Boyle are on their way. Brown plays 7ft tall, Frolov has good size and Conroy if kept adds grit.

As for Hale, possibly another good addition but he would go cheaper and Lou would probably match.

Just some thoughts to stay competitive yet rebuild. Hell maybe Lou will give us a break on Gomez(draft pick wise if we take Mogilny with him, a lil speed on the wing never hurt and we have the room.)

They have 40M committed to 16 players.

Someone is gonna have to get moved.

Sounds good...Gionta or Gomez would be nice. I'd prefer Gionta...if I'm not mistaken, he was producing even when the Devs were sucking.

Sign Gomez or Gionta to an offer sheet and see if the Devils match or just accept the compensation.

What would the compensation be?

Compensation of signing an RFA in the old CBA...

"OFFER SHEETCOMPENSATION
$660,000 or below - None
Over $660,000 to $1milion - Third Round
Over $1 milionto $2.0 milion - Second Round
Over $2.0 milion to $3.0 milion - First Round and Third Round
Over $3.0 milion to $4.0 milion - First Round, Second Round, and Third Round
Over $4.0 milion to $5.0 milion - Two First Rounds, Second Round, and Third Round
Over $5 milion - Four First Rounds

The dolar amounts set forth in the scale outlined above shall be increased on an annual basis at the same percentage rateof increase as Average League Salary, with the 2006/07 League Year being the first year such increase shall take effect.."

pretty steep

I would guess that Gionta and Gomez would fall under the $2-3 to $3-4M pay range. A 1st, 2nd and 3rd rounder is a lot to give up. Now a 1st and a 3rd might not be so bad for a proven top line player.

When Nashville traded for Steve Sullivan, they gave up two 2nd round picks to Chicago. If only the Kings could add a talented player like that for only draft picks...

and the team must have all of the picks available in the NEXT draft, if they are in a different round.

So, if the Kings were to offer Gomes/Gionta $3.5 million per season (for the sake of this discussion), then the Kings MUST have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the 07 draft to give to the Devils.

If it was over 4 million, the Kings would need the same 1/2/3 in 07, and one more 1st in either 08 or 09 (1st available is given)

No ones going to be signed to a offer sheet.


If the Devils need to make a trade because of the cap then you take advantage of the situation.

When people are forced to do something you get a better price out of it.

One other thing.. Why not wait until arbitration is finished? I would think that at least ONE of the Devils RFA's is going to ask for it. Not only does it open a 2nd buyout period, but some changes in the new CBA re: arbitration are:

1) No "match" clauses for team who walk away from the decision, and
2) The number of walk aways increased. In the old CBA is was no more than 3 in two years, and now it is based on the number of decision in one given season. Teams are allowed to walk from one decision if they are subject to 1 or 2 decisions, walk away from 2 if there are 3 or 4 decisions, walk away from 3 if there are 5 or 6 arbitration decisions, and "so on" <- actual CBA Language.
3) Players are eligible one year earlier.

(at least is what I have gathered from looking at Sec. 12 of the CBA)

if you sign a rfa does that mean you own there rights and they could be a rfa again or are they automatically a ufa when the contract expires?

if they don't meet the requirements for Group III or Group VI, they will still be RFA's at the end of the contract.

Correct...if LL sees that he's going to have to go to arbitration, I imagine he'd trade the rights rather than risk a reward that puts him over the cap.

EBel & 2nd pick

for

Gomez

I wish it was so easy.

A 1st and a 3rd for Gionta wouldn't be bad at all, assuming that he signed for at least a 3-year deal. It's not likely to happen, though, since that's sort of "dirty politics." You can lose friends doing that. Of course, there's always the chance that it could be agreed on by both sides. Maybe LL would be happy to get a 1st and 3rd for a player that may be hard to sign; who knows. Either way, it's probably not going to happen.

It wouldn't be too much more with Lou's back up againts the cap.

That is true. Lombardi and Lamoriello are good friends.

...
 

Gionta is a stud. You think he'd do better or worse in the West?

West is much more wide open, definitely here.

Gomez would FINALLY give us a legitimate number one center that we have lacked since Gretz (F Allison, he doesn't count).

I for one would love to see Gomez here.

Can Gomez play wing?

We already have too many centers.

I don't think so. Someone else would have to learn to play wing, he's too good to remove from that position. I'd put him out there with Frolov and O'Sullivan at his wings, but Frolov's headed out it seems.