Between that, Rinne's deal, and Price's future deal, I am very afraid at what offering a contract to Lehtonen would be like.
I know people don't want to contemplate it but Joe should seriously consider trading Lehtonen at the deadline. He's not going to sign for 1-3 years. He's going to get offered 6 million or more per year on the FA market and if he can bring a top line forward or 1st pairing defender back along with a pick Dallas can find another goaltender to hold the fort till Campbell comes along.
I know people don't want to contemplate it but Joe should seriously consider trading Lehtonen at the deadline. He's not going to sign for 1-3 years. He's going to get offered 6 million or more per year on the FA market and if he can bring a top line forward or 1st pairing defender back along with a pick Dallas can find another goaltender to hold the fort till Campbell comes along.
Been saying this for a while now. I don't think Nieuwendyk has the stones for it.
Been saying this for a while now. I don't think Nieuwendyk has the stones for it.
I'm like 80% in agreement with you about Joe's unwillingness to do that but I wonder just how much of an impression failing to trade Richards early and Sourey at the deadline has had on him. He held pat on both guys when the writing should have been on the wall. He has to be kicking himself for not moving them. Does getting burned by that make Morrow, Ott, Lehtonen and Ryder more available this deadline? Will Gagliardi be supportive or down on that?
The rest of the roster and obviously their play this season will have the most influence but I've got to wonder if they're in that 7th-9th spot this season where it's really tight like usual will make them more willing to trade away players instead of hold still like they have in the past.
I'd rather keep Kari and cross the contract bridge when we come to it. Unless your plan is to completely tank for 1st or 2nd overall we need Kari badly and he's a legitimate option for the future as well, probably our best. Goalies are different than skaters when it comes to deadline deals anyway.
I'd agree. I'd rather give Lehtonen (the proven commodity) a 5-6 year deal and handle the Campbell situation if/when it comes about. There's not even a guarantee Campbell will be as good as Lehtonen, so putting all the eggs in that basket isn't a smart move.
I'd rather keep Kari and cross the contract bridge when we come to it. Unless your plan is to completely tank for 1st or 2nd overall we need Kari badly and he's a legitimate option for the future as well, probably our best. Goalies are different than skaters when it comes to deadline deals anyway.
Your last sentence is true, I agree there. I don't see what holding onto him that late into the season really accomplishes though. The deadline is late enough in the season that we will either be on our way to the bottom of the standings or not - losing Lehtonen for the last 15 or so games of the season likely won't determine that. And if it miraculously gives us a top 2 pick then that's something I can live with.
Decent (but not great) stop gap goaltenders can be found. If he hasn't signed an extension by the deadline I consider him as good as gone. Because of his history I'm also not keen on the idea of signing him to the length of deal he would command on the open market.
I don't think Kari will be as expensive as you guys think. Yes, he has shown great performances and was one of our better players in recent year. BUT, he has no real playoff experiences, hasn't really shown his skills under pressure. Always when I see him, I can see above-average performances, but I never have the feeling, he'd be our game-changer, who we could rely on under pressure, like Rinne/Quick...
I don't even think other teams would like to overpay for him, so dealing him won't get us a great return IMO. I bet he's very happy in Dallas and just wants to continue playing here. 3-4 yr deal, mentor Campbell, no huge money. He doesn't seem to be a guy who'd ask for ridiculous money, but maybe I'm just very, very naive.
Long time, but he'll only be 34 when it's done. If the cap continues to slowly creep upward, you're looking at a very reasonable price for a 2nd line center. Plus it means they'll have the Staal brothers united as #1 and 2 for all their prime years. Not a bad gamble. For a team like Carolina that can't usually attract top talent, I think they've done some good things.
I thought Ribs was a good deal at $5 million on the 2nd line and that was a couple years ago.
Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Marc Crawford has the coaching bug. "Crow" has accepted the head coaching position in Zurich. TSN will miss him,but he belongs on the bench.
Long time, but he'll only be 34 when it's done. If the cap continues to slowly creep upward, you're looking at a very reasonable price for a 2nd line center. Plus it means they'll have the Staal brothers united as #1 and 2 for all their prime years. Not a bad gamble. For a team like Carolina that can't usually attract top talent, I think they've done some good things.
I thought Ribs was a good deal at $5 million on the 2nd line and that was a couple years ago.
I thought that contract was really fair. Does anyone know how much Pittsburgh's reported offer was worth?
With those two down the middle and the young talent they have on the roster currently and in the near future I feel confident to quite confident proclaiming that Carolina will win at least one more Cup during J Staal's new contract.
Good for the Wild, but like I said before free agency, committing to Suter long-term would make me nervous and that's about as long-term as you can get.
Would've been nice if they'd gone/stayed in the East. At least Detroit or Chicago didn't get them.
