I really hope we re-sign Garrison. If not, or even if so, please get me Suter. I know Santos loves him.
Still think Parise would be an excellent fit here. We need some game breaking ability, and I don't want to force that onto Huberdeau from the start. Let's make their friendship count and sign Suter and Parise together.
In terms of our FA's - I'm not sure how I feel about Samuelsson. When I watched him, he seemed slow and painful most of the time, but he still put up points. I could take him or leave him. I'd welcome Barch back on a fourth line/healthy scratch role. Pass on Sturm, Clemmensen, and maybe Madden (I know he had a great playoff). Depends how much Madden feels he has left.
Wolski I don't need. I'd bring back Versteeg, but wouldn't overpay him. Kulikov should get a decent contract despite his horrendous playoff. Ellerby should be re-signed to a reasonable contract for insurance.
- Sammy (there just isn't room for him)
- Sturm (we have enough 4th liners already)
- Madden (too old to keep up with a full season schedule)
- Clemmensen
- Wolski (needless to say)
- Ellerby (if G52 stays, if G52 leaves then he's staying)
- Bradley (sorry dude nothing personal, Barch is just better)
- Santorelli (traded or bought out)
Now that the season is over. Its time to dissect our players and how we can improve this summer.
Take a quick look at our teams cap. These are our UFA's this summer:
Mikael Samuelsson-2,500,000
Marco Sturm-2,250,000
Krys Barch-835,000
John Madden-600,000
Jason Garrison-675,000
Scott Clemmensen-1,200,000
Our RFA's Include
Wojtek Wolski-3,800,000
Kris Versteeg-3,083,000
Dmitry Kulikov-1,325,000
Keaton Ellerby-787,500
Just from our list of UFA's we have close to 7.2 million coming off the books.
Who should we resign? What does this team need? What Players should we go after this summer? Thoughts in General?
Offense, Offense, Offense.
Re-sign Garrison, Versteeg, Kulikov.. If we can get Samuelsson & Barch for the right price then re-sign them as well. Go after Parise even though I hate his guts at the moment... I think next year we see both Huberdeau & Markstrom make the team next year as well.
I hope these people stay:
Samuelsson (Great on the PP, imo he had a pretty good season here)
Garrison (Do I even need to write why?)
Versteeg & Kulikov will probably get resigned too
Barch (Pretty good this season, played with a lot of heart)
The rest I can't see staying, would love to see Madden play another season but I don't think theres any room for him sadly. I think he played well in the playoffs and was pretty good overall.
I'm not sure what FA's there are this year other than Parise, does anyone have a good website where you can see who's going to be a UFA/RFA?
Resign if the price is right
Marco Sturm-2,250,000
bye bye
Krys Barch-835,000
take him or leave him. hes a dime a dozen
John Madden-600,000
thanks for the veteran leadership but goodbye
Jason Garrison-675,000
wouldnt give him a dime over 3.5. let someone else overpay
Scott Clemmensen-1,200,000
thanks for the solid backup goaltending, time for the future
Our RFA's Include
Wojtek Wolski-3,800,000
only if he takes the min and is willing to be the 13th forward
Kris Versteeg-3,083,000
long term deal
Dmitry Kulikov-1,325,000
long term deal
Keaton Ellerby-787,500
love the guy as the 7th defenseman, but with strachan signed to a 1 way contract, hes probably going to look elsewhere for a job in someones top 6. could end up staying if garrison walks
Also don't see smithson, santorelli, or bradley being brought back. This team has to many depth guys as it is. It is time to replace some of those depth 3rd liners with top 6 goal scorers and slide everyone else down a slot. We won't take the next step without doing that. Ideally this is what I would like to see next year. This team needs its version of James Neal.
FA thoughts, Need to find offense. That should be the only goal of this offseason, to find guys who will put the puck in the net. If it becomes a bidding war for Garrison, I would much rather them let him walk and take a run at Suter. While it goes against what I just posted about offense, you can never have to many stud D-men and I would take Suter at 7.5 mill over Garrison at 4.5 any day. Don't see them backing up the brinks truck for Parise, but there has to be some options out there.
I'm curious... If Florida could get Luongo for scraps, would Florida acquire him?
Basically, if all the teams on "the Luongo list" are offering scraps, my contention is that Florida is the team most likely to get him for scraps (if Florida wants him, and assuming that Florida is on Lui's List)... With scrap offers across the board, Gillis and Tallon being BFF trade partners, and with Luongo's history and connection in Florida, it's the most likely place assuming scrap return no matter where Gillis looks, IMO... If any GM is going to get a steal, I think Gillis would hand that steal to your GM...
I realize Florida doesn't need Luongo... I also feel that Florida wouldn't put in a significant offer for Luongo... but would Florida put in a scraps offer for Luongo? Is there room for Luongo on your team - if you could basically get him for next to nothing?
Oh, if Luongo going to your team, you could probably pencil in Sami Salo as a 6th dman as well (if you want him)...
I'm curious... If Florida could get Luongo for scraps, would Florida acquire him?
Basically, if all the teams on "the Luongo list" are offering scraps, my contention is that Florida is the team most likely to get him for scraps (if Florida wants him, and assuming that Florida is on Lui's List)... With scrap offers across the board, Gillis and Tallon being BFF trade partners, and with Luongo's history and connection in Florida, it's the most likely place assuming scrap return no matter where Gillis looks, IMO... If any GM is going to get a steal, I think Gillis would hand that steal to your GM...
I realize Florida doesn't need Luongo... I also feel that Florida wouldn't put in a significant offer for Luongo... but would Florida put in a scraps offer for Luongo? Is there room for Luongo on your team - if you could basically get him for next to nothing?
Oh, if Luongo going to your team, you could probably pencil in Sami Salo as a 6th dman as well (if you want him)...
There's nothing I would give for Luongo, not even a 7th round pick. He's more harm than good and he hasn't exactly humbled himself in Vancouver. Tallon looks for a certain type of player and Luongo is far from it. Look at Chicago and look at this team and you'll see what I mean.
I honestly believe if the dream came true and we signed the American bash bros (Parise and Suter) we'd be an instant Cup contender, especially as guys like Hubs, Markstrom and Bjugstad come up. We'd get that extra offensive boost from Parise. We'd have one of the best D-cores in the league (Campbell, Suter, Guds, Kuli top 4 - wow!). Theo is great and Markstrom would be ready to take over soon.
There's nothing I would give for Luongo, not even a 7th round pick. He's more harm than good and he hasn't exactly humbled himself in Vancouver. Tallon looks for a certain type of player and Luongo is far from it. Look at Chicago and look at this team and you'll see what I mean.
Ha, if getting a scrap return, I guess I have to hope that Tampa Bay offers scraps for Luongo then, to block Toronto from getting him for scraps
Ha, if getting a scrap return, I guess I have to hope that Tampa Bay offers scraps for Luongo then, to block Toronto from getting him for scraps
The thing is though, Tampa and Vancouver make perfect trading partners in this. Tampa has offense which you need, Vancouver has the goalie they need. It's just a matter of how much Tampa is willing to give up. I can't see Toronto being a better trade partner.
Besides, having Luongo here will only stifle Markstrom's chance to shine, something that Schneider had to deal with. He needs a place where he's the unquestioned #1. (I also wouldn't mind beating up on him 6 times a year )
The thing is though, Tampa and Vancouver make perfect trading partners in this. Tampa has offense which you need, Vancouver has the goalie they need. It's just a matter of how much Tampa is willing to give up. I can't see Toronto being a better trade partner.
Besides, having Luongo here will only stifle Markstrom's chance to shine, something that Schneider had to deal with. He needs a place where he's the unquestioned #1. (I also wouldn't mind beating up on him 6 times a year )
Honestly, if getting a scrap return, I'd just view it as if Luongo was an UFA and left... I just don't want to see Toronto get him for scraps... Like you say though, Tampa's a good fit for the "**** block"...
I don't see us tendering an offer to Wolski, who is an expensive shootout specialist at $3.8 million.
Santorelli, Jovonovski, and Upshall will be difficult if not impossible to move for cap space.
Sturm is a goner, as his role is suitably filled by a number of players.
As is Samuelsson, who isn't getting any younger and will carry a pricetag too expensive for 35-40 points.
As is Madden. Good 4th line guy and great defensively, but there just doesn't seem to be room for many of our current UFA's.
Garrison is an unfortunate cap casualty, as Kulikov and especially Versteeg are due for healthy raises. But if we find a way to unload Santo/Jovo/Upshall it's a whole new ballgame, as they say.
Waiting in the wings at forward as callups are Howden, Shore, and Bjugstad if he desides to forego the rest of collegiate career.
Defensive callups are Robak and Petrovic.
With the three inflated salaries mentioned above, plus the raises due to Versteeg and Kulikov, we'll be surprisingly close to the cap.
As far im concerned we have one first line player that will make our team next year in huberdeau. Im sorry flash weiss steeg are nothing more than 2nd liners. I think our goal this summer is to acquire another first line player in either parise, semin, or via trade one of anahiem's players or san joses or the like.
also does anyone expect us to make the playoffs next season with our same line up? No i dont think so. This year was an exceptionally bad year for everyone in the conference. We played sub par hockey largely since the beginning of december. We need more talent especially offensively if we are to make the playoffs and win a division this following year.
As far im concerned we have one first line player that will make our team next year in huberdeau. Im sorry flash weiss steeg are nothing more than 2nd liners. I think our goal this summer is to acquire another first line player in either parise, semin, or via trade one of anahiem's players or san joses or the like.
We need to build a first line this summer
I agree. I don't feel we've improved if Steeger/Weiss/Flash is still our 1st line come next season. I'd like Parise or Semin but not sure we'd get either.
Would hope to see Barch, Kuli, & Garry back (maybe even Wolski). Wouldn't lose any sleep if the rest didn't return.
also does anyone expect us to make the playoffs next season with our same line up? No i dont think so. This year was an exceptionally bad year for everyone in the conference. We played sub par hockey largely since the beginning of december. We need more talent especially offensively if we are to make the playoffs and win a division this following year.
You're depressing !
You were the one making a post on Main Board about how we were down and you didn't even wait until the end of game 7.
Not saying you are wrong, but yeah...
I'd rather keep our GREAT defensive unit intact or even improve on it, before trying to get a whole first-line.
We have it !
You'll have to wait for Huberdeau, Bjugstad and others... Patience !
