Since the FA period is pretty much over, even if a miracle happens and the team sells in the next five minutes, options are somewhat limited. What would you do to as GM, assuming the checkbook is open again? Who would you pursue? Or would you wait till later in the season/ or next year's FA period to acquire key defensemen?
Since the FA period is pretty much over, even if a miracle happens and the team sells in the next five minutes, options are somewhat limited. What would you do to as GM, assuming the checkbook is open again? Who would you pursue? Or would you wait till later in the season/ or next year's FA period to acquire key defensemen?
How is the FA period over? It really hasn't even started. Once Kovalchuk signs, others will follow suit. The FA crop really isn't that good this year either.
If I were a betting man, I would bet new ownership will take a wait and see approach given the rumblings that the cap will be significantly lowered in the next few years.
They don't want to sign a few players to silly contracts that will handcuff them in two years.
Since the FA period is pretty much over, even if a miracle happens and the team sells in the next five minutes, options are somewhat limited. What would you do to as GM, assuming the checkbook is open again? Who would you pursue? Or would you wait till later in the season/ or next year's FA period to acquire key defensemen?
I think theyd have to explore the trade route. Find players other teams want but cant afford and take advantage of them. I dont really think there are any free agent defensemen that are going to be much of an upgrade right now. Next years crop of potential ufa defensemen isnt exactly great either, so waiting on that isnt going to work.
How is the FA period over? It really hasn't even started. Once Kovalchuk signs, others will follow suit. The FA crop really isn't that good this year either.
If I were a betting man, I would bet new ownership will take a wait and see approach given the rumblings that the cap will be significantly lowered in the next few years.
They don't want to sign a few players to silly contracts that will handcuff them in two years.
hence the "pretty much"
really, who else is left that could be a #1 or 2 dman that we all believe the team needs?
really, who else is left that could be a #1 or 2 dman that we all believe the team needs?
Randy Jones won't be a top pairing dman, but he's good defensively, can add some offense from the blueline and he's still somewhat young and would be pretty cheap. A great pickup for a second pairing defenseman.
Randy Jones won't be a top pairing dman, but he's good defensively, can add some offense from the blueline and he's still somewhat young and would be pretty cheap. A great pickup for a second pairing defenseman.
Haha what? Randy Jones is one of the worst-at-defense defensemen in the entire NHL. Philly fans couldn't wait to get rid of him, Kings fans couldn't wait to get rid of him...
He's adequate. You guys aren't in the market to obtain some $6 million dollar top pairing defenseman. He'll provide you some points and he's servicable. His defensive play isn't near as bad as you want to make it out to be. And he's not nearly the "worst" defensive dman in the league. Good grief.
He's adequate. You guys aren't in the market to obtain some $6 million dollar top pairing defenseman. He'll provide you some points and he's servicable. His defensive play isn't near as bad as you want to make it out to be. And he's not nearly the "worst" defensive dman in the league. Good grief.
We aren't in the market for a $6 million defenseman...because of the ownership situation. In the scenario described in the OP we would most certainly be in the market for a top defenseman. I'm not going to get into how good Randy Jones is, but suffice to say the Stars don't need more "guys" on the backend. We have plenty of depth, and quality depth at that, but the issue is players are getting overexposed. With even just one "top" defenseman, or two defensemen who are better all-around than anyone in our current d-corps, everyone falls nicely into place. Guys like Randy Jones are redundant on this roster in terms of ability to impact a game.
Off the top of my head Grebeshkov is the only free agent defenseman I'd be interested in.
Kim Johnsson may not be a bad option on the cheap, but I don't know how serious his recent concussion was or what people on this board think of him. _______ might be able to provide some insight on him from his Minny days?
Trade is a whole other thing altogether. The type of trades they may make if ownership greenlights a higher budget will probably be slightly different than those we could get right now. In theory they would be pure "hockey trades."
Dennis Grebeshkov he's the best fit for the Stars on the free agent market, maybe even the trade market. He's only 26 and desperately fills the puck moving defenseman role and he's solid defensively. Plus defense coach Charlie Huddy has the best insight on him as he coached him a few years with the Oilers.
Alexandre Picard he's only 25 and a decent puck moving defenseman with a hard shot.
Kim Johnsson is a good defenseman, but he's going to struggle if he returns to hockey next year after his concussion. Not worth the risk at all for the Stars.
Willie Mitchell, well I doubt he'd be interested in signing with a non Stanley Cup Contender but he'd be a upgrade over Skrastins, he is coming off of a concussion.
There are other names available here such as Paul Mara, but I don't think it's even worth considering those options.
On the trade market.
Kaberle PMD that isn't good defensively. Rumors that he doesn't want to leave the Eastern Conference. 1 year at $4.25 million
Kevin Bieksa hard shot, solid defensively and tough to play against. 1 year at $3.5 million age 29
Sheldon Souray injury prone not much else to offer other then a hard shot. Signed for two more seasons at $4.5 million per year($5 million cap hit).
Corey Sarich I have no interest in him.
Maybe Tom Gilbert his name is always brought up in rumors, but he hasn't been dealt it doesn't make much sense for the Oilers to trade him have to wait and see. Right now he's the best option, if, the Oilers would still like to move him. The Stars in the past have shown a lot of interest in him.
Gilbert's contract breakdown $4 million per year cap hit and signed for 4 more years. Gilbert is 27.
10-11 $5.5 million
11-12 $5 million
12-13 $3.5 million
13-14 $3 million
I'm sure there's a few other defenseman available on the trade market, but they probably are of the lesser variety.
Would anyone roll the dice on acquiring Brian Campbell from Chicago if you don't have to give up a lot of assets? He's never struck me as being as defensively bad as a lot of people say he is.
