This is going to be a rough summer for UFA forwards.
Aside from Parise, Semin and maybe Radulov (if he comes over), there aren't a lot of elite forwards available. That, coupled with the fact that players like Grabovski and Ruutu signed crazy extensions, means that everyone is going to get overpaid worse than last summer.
Guys like Kostitsyn, Parenteau, Hudler, Jones, etc. could get 5-6 million/year this summer (comparable to Cole and Leino getting 4.5-5 million/year last summer).
This is going to be a rough summer for UFA forwards.
Aside from Parise, Semin and maybe Radulov (if he comes over), there aren't a lot of elite forwards available. That, coupled with the fact that players like Grabovski and Ruutu signed crazy extensions, means that everyone is going to get overpaid worse than last summer.
Guys like Kostitsyn, Parenteau, Hudler, Jones, etc. could get 5-6 million/year this summer (comparable to Cole and Leino getting 4.5-5 million/year last summer).
Um, not only is Radulov still under contract with NSH, if he comes over this year to play the year out he is RFA this summer.
__________________
2012 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS LA KINGS!!! GO JETS GO!
IF Radulov does decide to return to the NHL (Nashville) next season, I can honestly see Poile trying to move him for some assests in the form of DP's/prospects.
With regards to Parise, ownership is an issue in the swamp, so I can see Parise moving a short distant up the turnpike to the big apple, or maybe even wearing the winged-wheel on his new jersey. The only question then would be, what # would he wear, because Mr.Hockey will be the last #9 in Red Wing history.
Quality UFA's are not in abundance this year, and Chevy does have some very important re-signings to take care of and a few options down in the "A", so I doubt he strays too far into the UFA waters "this" summer.
IMO, GST is our 4th line. And Burmi needs to stay with skilled linemates on the 2nd line. He's had some consistency issues, but he's not a checker and will not be one for his career. Unless he works himself off the 2nd line, I think he needs to stay there in order to take the next step.
Technically yes, GST is are our 4th line. Burmi has shown a physical game at times which I wish he would do more of! He is lacking consistency in the playmaking aspect and sometimes gets outmuscled on the boards.
I don't see anyone wanting to pick up Antropov especially with his price tag. But I don't see him in our future after his contract expires either.
Players I'd like to dump; Stapleton, Miettenen, Antropov, Jones.
On the edge: Fehr, this injury is certainly taking a toll on his confidence and I was really hoping that the organization would of put him in St. Johns for a conditioning stint. He's putting way too much pressure on himself to play Pro immediately after that type of surgery/rehab. Plus missing training camp, lack of minutes and the like doesn't make things better.
Our only two good lines are Ladd-Little-Wheeler, and Glass-Slater-Thorburn for what roles they have to do.
We really need to look at our 2nd line and our 4th line.
1: Ladd-Little-Wheeler
2: Kane-[insert player]-Wellwood
3: Glass-Slater-Thorburn
4: [insert player]-Burmistrov-[insert player]
I'd be wanting someone like Jarret Stoll on center for 2nd line but with consistency.
Obviously filling these roles with younger players. Maybe someone like Marc Pouliot and maybe Jeremy Colliton on the 4th line but at a consistency standpoint. If we were to go free agency way, didn't get a good look at all the people available for the right price tag. I'd like our guys in St. Johns to develop more before making any big moves up to the NHL level. Eventually I'd like Burmi to move up the lines but he has been inconsistent.
Thoughts?
I certainly don't put burmi on the fourth line. You might as well condemn him to mediocrity for the rest of his career if were going to start playing a kid with that much potential, that young, for 8 minutes a game.
I think he goes on the second like Huffer said, unless he plays himself off it.
As for stoll, that's a decent pickup, and on paper i think having Antro and Stoll as your third line lets roll some prospects up there to see who fits- 2 nice vets to help keep them on track.
I certainly don't put burmi on the fourth line. You might as well condemn him to mediocrity for the rest of his career if were going to start playing a kid with that much potential, that young, for 8 minutes a game.
I think he goes on the second like Huffer said, unless he plays himself off it.
As for stoll, that's a decent pickup, and on paper i think having Antro and Stoll as your third line lets roll some prospects up there to see who fits- 2 nice vets to help keep them on track.
I also think signing Stoll would be good for the team. I like the way he plays; he never lets the opposing team have an easy night. Plus he's a great faceoff guy. I have also thought about him centering a line with Antropov on the wing. That would be quite the physically intimidating line right from the get-go.
I certainly don't put burmi on the fourth line. You might as well condemn him to mediocrity for the rest of his career if were going to start playing a kid with that much potential, that young, for 8 minutes a game.
I think he goes on the second like Huffer said, unless he plays himself off it.
As for stoll, that's a decent pickup, and on paper i think having Antro and Stoll as your third line lets roll some prospects up there to see who fits- 2 nice vets to help keep them on track.
Don't get me wrong, Burmi has the potential to be a Datsyuk. But we don't have a skilled vet to help him out. All our guys are young and or average with some being above average when bringing their "A" game but not elite. He has already been on the rollercoaster of minutes, not to mention injuries and a concussion. I'm just saying Kane is a shoot first guy and has physical to his game and don't expect Wellwood to get physical and he is a pass first guy. We need someone beefier in that line, and that's why I think Stoll would be a perfect fit there.
Don't get me wrong, Burmi has the potential to be a Datsyuk. But we don't have a skilled vet to help him out. All our guys are young and or average with some being above average when bringing their "A" game but not elite.
Potential to be the best player in the league? Come on man. Burmistrov has the potential to be a good player.. but lets not be silly here.
Technically yes, GST is are our 4th line. Burmi has shown a physical game at times which I wish he would do more of! He is lacking consistency in the playmaking aspect and sometimes gets outmuscled on the boards.
Don't get me wrong, Burmi has the potential to be a Datsyuk. But we don't have a skilled vet to help him out. All our guys are young and or average with some being above average when bringing their "A" game but not elite. He has already been on the rollercoaster of minutes, not to mention injuries and a concussion. I'm just saying Kane is a shoot first guy and has physical to his game and don't expect Wellwood to get physical and he is a pass first guy. We need someone beefier in that line, and that's why I think Stoll would be a perfect fit there.
I actually think Wellwood would be a good player for Burmistrov to learn from. Burmistrov clearly has a higher compete level than Wellwood and better skating, but they're both smaller guys with unreal hands. Burmistrov could learn a lot about managing the puck from Wellwood since Wellwood, unlike Kane or Burmi, keeps the play going by distributing the puck rather than trying to win one-on-one battles. I'd be fine with Burmistrov spending a year on the third line if he at least had good linemates like Wellwood.
I also think signing Stoll would be good for the team. I like the way he plays; he never lets the opposing team have an easy night. Plus he's a great faceoff guy. I have also thought about him centering a line with Antropov on the wing. That would be quite the physically intimidating line right from the get-go.
Urgh, Stoll does not play like that at all. He is very vanilla player. He wins faceoffs and has a big shot. That is it. Stoll does not hit, is average in the corners at best, ok at shot blocking, ok at best at PK, has no creativity, very little offense sense, very little defensive sense, SOMETIMES competes hard, but I haven't seen it in years in LA. Do NOT want at all. Antropov is a much better option at C. So is Paul Gaustad/Chris Kelly or a whole slew of other players. Pass.
Potential to be the best player in the league? Come on man. Burmistrov has the potential to be a good player.. but lets not be silly here.
He's only 20 years old, already has dangled and undressed players. Datsyuk (age 20) had a moderately productive first year in the NHL with 35 pts. Datsyuk is now 31.
Burmi had 20 pts in his first season as a 19 year old. Not to mention he didn't have a stacked team like Datsyuk did in Detroit.
Keyword was potential. Whether he gets there is a different story. In 7 years time we'll see where Burmi stacks up.
I don't consider Datsyuk to be the best in the league, he's one of the elite for sure.
I don't know if Burmistrov has Datsyuk-like potential as that is some very hefty comparisons, but I will confidently say at just 20 years of age he certainly has all of the tools and potential, so if/when he can put it all together, who knows. If Burmistrov was a Detroit Red Wing, people would certainly buy this comparison, I think, fairly or unfairly. We're really not going to know for a little while yet.
He's only 20 years old, already has dangled and undressed players. Datsyuk (age 20) had a moderately productive first year in the NHL with 35 pts. Datsyuk is now 31.
Burmi had 20 pts in his first season as a 19 year old. Not to mention he didn't have a stacked team like Datsyuk did in Detroit.
Keyword was potential. Whether he gets there is a different story.
I don't consider Datsyuk to be the best in the league, he's one of the elite for sure.
He may have a late development curve like pavel but that tends to be the exception and not the rule. I like Burmistrov but he really hasn't shown nearly enough offensively for that comparison. He is already well behind the top players of his draft class offensively and if anything the gap has grown wider this year. As of right now he looks to be tracking as a potential two/way 2nd line center or winger. He has a lot of improving to do before I consider putting him in the elite category.
He may have a late development curve like pavel but that tends to be the exception and not the rule. I like Burmistrov but he really hasn't shown nearly enough offensively for that comparison. He is already well behind the top players of his draft class offensively and if anything the gap has grown wider this year. As of right now he looks to be tracking as a potential two/way 2nd line center or winger. He has a lot of improving to do before I consider putting him in the elite category.
That isn't really fair to say. Two of those guys (Hall and Seguin) were 1A and 1B and the other (Skinner) was given much more of an opportunity to succeed last season.
Niederreiter, Connolly, and Johansen are all having worse seasons than Burmistrov and were all drafted higher than him. The only other forwards that were drafted in the 1st round and have played in the NHL so far are Hall, Seguin, and Skinner.
Supposedly Ducks' prospect Justin Schultz is considering using the NCAA loophole to become a UFA on July 1st. He's their top D prospect and possibly the reason they felt comfortable dealing Jake Gardiner to the Leafs last year.
Hopefully Chevy is among the interested teams that offers him a contract.
Supposedly Ducks' prospect Justin Schultz is considering using the NCAA loophole to become a UFA on July 1st. He's their top D prospect and possibly the reason they felt comfortable dealing Jake Gardiner to the Leafs last year.
Hopefully Chevy is among the interested teams that offers him a contract.
A guy like this hits UFA and he will get a rookie max offer from literally 30 NHL teams. Considering WPG's top 6 D is set so he will not make the team and Winnipeg is far from the most desirable location, I can guarantee he won't be coming here/
That isn't really fair to say. Two of those guys (Hall and Seguin) were 1A and 1B and the other (Skinner) was given much more of an opportunity to succeed last season.
Niederreiter, Connolly, and Johansen are all having worse seasons than Burmistrov and were all drafted higher than him. The only other forwards that were drafted in the 1st round and have played in the NHL so far are Hall, Seguin, and Skinner.
Yet the Datsyuk ones are fair? Hey as I said I like Burmistrov but he isn't tracking as an elite player like some others in his draft class so far. The light bulb may switch on and he may put it together and turn into a dominant force in this league but he has yet to show it. He has a really good set of tools but he lacks hockey sense, all too often his flashy puck skills take him out of position and negate scoring chances. He tends to make things much harder in the offensive zone then he needs to. He has shown some sign of improvement over the year but it has been slow in coming. I'll be happy if he proves me wrong and turns into an elite player, but I just don't see it.
I'd also like to state that just because I don't see him as an elite player doesn't mean I don't think he will be a valuable piece of the puzzle. I think he'll be 20 to 25 goal scorer, 55 point player who contributes just as much if not more away from the puck and on the pk. These kinds of players often play big roles on championship teams. I'm quite happy to have him as part of the team moving forward.
Yet the Datsyuk ones are fair? Hey as I said I like Burmistrov but he isn't tracking as an elite player like some others in his draft class so far. The light bulb may switch on and he may put it together and turn into a dominant force in this league but he has yet to show it. He has a really good set of tools but he lacks hockey sense, all too often his flashy puck skills take him out of position and negate scoring chances. He tends to make things much harder in the offensive zone then he needs to. He has shown some sign of improvement over the year but it has been slow in coming. I'll be happy if he proves me wrong and turns into an elite player, but I just don't see it.
I'd also like to state that just because I don't see him as an elite player doesn't mean I don't think he will be a valuable piece of the puzzle. I think he'll be 20 to 25 goal scorer, 55 point player who contributes just as much if not more away from the puck and on the pk. These kinds of players often play big roles on championship teams. I'm quite happy to have him as part of the team moving forward.
I never said the Datsyuk ones were fair. Also, just to let you know the Evander Kane of this year (3rd season) is gigantic leaps and bounds better than the one last season (2nd season). I think we should give Burmi, currently in his second year, a year or two more before we start to say what type of player he will be for better or worse.
I never said the Datsyuk ones were fair. Also, just to let you know the Evander Kane of this year (3rd season) is gigantic leaps and bounds better than the one last season (2nd season). I think we should give Burmi, currently in his second year, a year or two more before we start to say what type of player he will be for better or worse.
I never said the Datsyuk ones were fair. Also, just to let you know the Evander Kane of this year (3rd season) is gigantic leaps and bounds better than the one last season (2nd season). I think we should give Burmi, currently in his second year, a year or two more before we start to say what type of player he will be for better or worse.
I completely agree with you, i think burmi has the potential to be a datsyuk TYPE player(probably not the same calibre, but same mold) but its still to early to say for sure
Supposedly Ducks' prospect Justin Schultz is considering using the NCAA loophole to become a UFA on July 1st. He's their top D prospect and possibly the reason they felt comfortable dealing Jake Gardiner to the Leafs last year.
Hopefully Chevy is among the interested teams that offers him a contract.
Holy crap. If that's true, whoever lands him is lucky as hell. That kid is legit.
They may try and deal him ala Erixon if that's the case though.
As I listed in the other thread, my realistic targets are:
Jiri Hudler
Brad Boyes - Garbage, terrible with the Blues last season and worse with the Sabres. Super soft and fell off a cliff this year (17 points)
Andrei Kostitsyn
Jay McClement
Jordin Tootoo
Johan Hedberg - I guess, but he will be 40...
Antero Nittymaki - Waived by the Sharks and the whole league passed him over, doesn't sound appealing
Short list, but I think all of the above would consider signing in Winnipeg, and would be productive as well.
It's gonna be a quiet summer. Why does everyone love Boyes so much? He's soft and has lost his scoring touch. Blues fans used to call him a "finesse player without the finesse." His 43 goal season was a looooong time ago.
You don't see a need for a guy who can fight, imtimidate the opponent and be a pest while stilln scoring 30-40 points? Better option than Thorburn at least.
