Vancouver. They have about $55 million commited to only 13 players next year, they need to move Luongo, a defenceman or both.
I was thinking Edler but I'd settle for Hamhuis and Garrisson as well, depending on the price.
Edler is a free agent after this season and Hamhuis ad Garisson are signed long term.
They just signed Garrison this season. He hasn't even played a game for them yet. He's not going anywhere. Hamhuis signed last off season. Again, not going anywhere. As for Edler, the price would be quite steep.
Not a lot of time to get a feel for young players, rookies or chemistry, so the team will try to stay as cohesive as possible in terms of last year and also using vets over rookies where possible. Teams with the most change in the offseason will likely struggle more, given the coaching (or lack there of) and implenting systems will be so hard. Not only with a short camp, but minimal practices all year given games every other night. Coaches and GM's know the team needs to hit the ground running and be fast out of the gate.
As such, I think guys like Stone, Ceci, ZBad and Da Costa may not even be at camp, and if they are, it will be for experience, not with hopes of making the team. But I doubt Ceci gets an invite, and Stone too. Even guys like Da Costa, Zibanejad and Hoffman might not get invited, given the depth of veteran forwards. All will be told they will likely see time with the team before year's end. But with Daugavins, Regin, JOB and a few other vets in the mix, the Sens are already 14 deep or so. Silverberg I expect will get a long look in the top 6, as will Latendresse, although perhaps not as long if he doesn't produce. Besides the other top 4 front line forwards (Alf, Milan, Spezz and Turris) that leaves Smith, Neil, Greening, Condra along with JOB, Regin and Daugavins as the 13 forwards the team keeps when the season breaks.
They want guys like Stone, Da Costa, Zbad, Hoffman, Pageau, Dzu, Grant and the rest of the future forwards to get bigger ice time in Bingo, as all need work on their games.
On D, I think Benoit is in for sure given his experience. I think Borowiecki will have the inside edge over Wiercioch given his style of play and the fact the Sens won't really need Wierioch on the PP. But all three of these guys may start the year with the team until Lundin is back. Not a lot of depth there, though.
Lehner will stay in Bingo, and Bishop will be the back-up until injuries or poor performance makes it necessary to bring Lehner up. This is the stone cold reality of the contracts and two-way deals. If Anderson and Bishop play decent and stay healthy, he may not make an appearance with the Sens (a big if, though). As such, it wouldn't shock me to see Lehner get called up if the others are struggling late in the year, and they just keep three goalies at the pro level (can't send Bishop down) and ride Lehner for a spell. It's the kind of move Murray has done before.
They just signed Garrison this season. He hasn't even played a game for them yet. He's not going anywhere. Hamhuis signed last off season. Again, not going anywhere. As for Edler, the price would be quite steep.
Well they are going to have to dump someone this maybe a great opportunity for the sens to get great value. If they can get Edler the sens have the prospects to make a deal like that happen. He is the perfect parner for Karlsson and is still quite young.
They just signed Garrison this season. He hasn't even played a game for them yet. He's not going anywhere. Hamhuis signed last off season. Again, not going anywhere. As for Edler, the price would be quite steep.
So we can't go after players signed to long term deals and we can't go after an upcoming free agent either? If the Canucks need cap relief they will move somebody and I don't see them moving the Sedins or Kesler. A defenceman would be the next best choice.
We have plenty of prospects and 3 NHL ready goalies to trade for a defenceman, something we need desperately unless we want to rely on Wiercoch and Boro this year.
Another team that needs cap relief is the Habs, but noone would trade for Gomez , the Habs would just waive him.Right now the front runners for a trade to happen are probably Vancouver, Ottawa and the Leafs who need a goalie badly.
So we can't go after players signed to long term deals and we can't go after an upcoming free agent either? If the Canucks need cap relief they will move somebody and I don't see them moving the Sedins or Kesler. A defenceman would be the next best choice.
We have plenty of prospects and 3 NHL ready goalies to trade for a defenceman, something we need desperately unless we want to rely on Wiercoch and Boro this year.
Another team that needs cap relief is the Habs, but noone would trade for Gomez , the Habs would just waive him.Right now the front runners for a trade to happen are probably Vancouver, Ottawa and the Leafs who need a goalie badly.
I never said we couldn't go after Garrison and Hamhuis, just that is was unlikely they would be traded. Also, I never said we couldn't go after Edler, just that the price would be high. Perhaps Murray pays that price to get him. Who knows? Also, there are other teams we can talk trade with, not just Vancouver.
Do they have 2 guys named Schultz, or do you expect him to play on the first and second pairings?
Two different players. Justin was the Ducks prospect turned UFA, Nick was Minnesota's longest serving player (second ever draft pick, actually), traded to Edmonton at the last trade deadline for Tom Gilbert.
Two different players. Justin was the Ducks prospect turned UFA, Nick was Minnesota's longest serving player (second ever draft pick, actually), traded to Edmonton at the last trade deadline for Tom Gilbert.
Ahh, that's right. Ok, I will go to the box and feel shame now.
Funny, but the Rangers (and teams toward the end of the year) started noticing that Karlsson passed to his D partner a lot, or tries a little squeeze rush. As the Rangers demonstrated, it's entirely possible to neutralize him for extended periods. As mediocre as Kuba was, he could also move the puck. Methot is...blech. I'm expecting a bit of a regression from this book but that's fine as they're not on the cusp of contending. With the new draft rules it might be worth doing a semi-tank if we're not in the mix come early March and just load up on more prospects for that time when we are able to contend...
Interesting perspective.
The way I see it is quite different. In fact, I'd say that the Rangers had no luck in containing Karlsson at all.
Sure he only had the one goal, but that was because Lundqvist was standing on his head and nobody could score on him.
He had 31 shots that got through in that series. Next best was Spezza with 21.
He played the most of any of our players, with 25:21 TOI/G. He finished the series with an even plus/minus.
You can say the Rangers contained him, but you'd be wrong.
The only D-man Vancouver is likely willing to trade is Ballard. Way overpaid for his role on that team, though he could likely slot into Ottawa's top 4 pretty easily.
The only D-man Vancouver is likely willing to trade is Ballard. Way overpaid for his role on that team, though he could likely slot into Ottawa's top 4 pretty easily.
I don't doubt that Vancouver will try to shop him, but I hope Ottawa stays away from him. He still has 2 more years left at 4.2 million after this one. He didn't exactly have a strong season last year either. I think we could do better.
And with this years draft of studs I'd welcome it with open arms
In all seriousness our D is pretty thin after our top pairing. We need to acquire a #3-4 defenseman if we even want to compete. Then there are all the grumblings with the Pens being after Gonchar. Who would they give us in return? A D for a D? A D prospect?
Our forwards are pretty solid. My wishful thinking is that we end up with the 30 goal capable version of Latendresse. But I'd be satisfied with a 20-25 goal season (48/50 game equivalent of course). So at best 17-18ish at worst 14-15? If my math is correct.
