sagacity7

So now that Matt Duchene is available for free agency, is it worth signing him for a short term low ball deal and move Lindholm to RW this year? Just a thought.

I have a feeling Lindholm is saying to Conroy, “Show me we are going to try and win a Cup before I sign.” Meaning who are you bringing in so I will want to play here for the next 7-8 years. We will see what transpires…

They’re probably asking Chucky, Benny and Lomberg who they should target. You never know…

The thing is he doesn’t have much of a deep team around him. He could be better defensively for sure if he had more to work with. A bit of a project and could be another MacInnis type. Not sure if he has a cannon for a shot but could be a surprise nonetheless. If we end up with 2 or 3 firsts this year, I would be inclined to take a flyer on him with 1or 2 defensively responsible picks as well. When a guy possesses superior offensive talent as kind of a lone wolf on his team it could be something special.

That would end the drama, not sure what the return would be. I agree though. You can’t let the cancer stick around and it’s time to move on from discontent. Hopefully this doesn’t grow into an Ottawa situation from a few years ago. That was more owner issues but still that may be part of the problem here too. Better to deal the players elsewhere and try to maximize the return for those not wanting to stay. You can’t just give them a “time out” for bad behaviour.

What do you all think about Lukas Dragicevic? Seems like a dark horse but what an exciting young player! If we got a lower first rounder in a trade for an outgoing player I feel he would be an interesting pick up.

So if we lose a few players who want out what free agent signings would Conroy be looking at? Carcone? Drouin - his value may never be lower? Would Philips be willing to sign here on a one way deal? O’Reilly perhaps?

Backlund at the deadline and Toffoli now would be best unless there’s a team that really wants Backlund and offers you a first now. Both guys would net a first rounder in the lower quarter of the draft as it is right now. Maybe you could get a young 3rd liner who’s not moving up the roster with their current team instead of a first.

Yes and maybe that helps keep Lindholm? I was always liked Savard. Another true #1 C.

Lots of older players with big contracts

What if those players with term WANT to be here? Much of the success of teams is built on trust and WANTING to play with each other and for each other. Just saying.

A few balls up in the air certainly.

And Darren Pang. 5’4”!! Not that he was exceptional but was a starter for a while.

https://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-rumors-june-21-2023/ So I guess potential trades for Hanifin, Backlund and Toffoli are in the works? We will soon see… selling high in these guys? This draft could be very interesting and I wonder what these 3 would return? Maybe some roster players as well?

Perhaps wanting some change…

Doesn’t have to be a full rebuild. You can move some players for key draft picks in a deep draft and sign some UFA’s to replace them for 2 or 3 years until the draftees are ready. As an example, you said you can make a hockey trade for guys like Konecny or similar who’ve got 2 years left on their current deal or even get some players, like a C, who can’t move up the ladder because there is no room for them on their current rosters. Full rebuild isn’t going to happen with this ownership, but you could get some good prospects in a deep draft for good asset management. That’s all I’m saying. It’s actually upgrading your team long term and staying the same or better short term. I doubt Toffoli or Backlund improve over last year.

Ok. So from what you’re saying Hanifin could fetch a first and 2 seconds with help from adding Vladar and also getting the equivalent of a 3rd or 4th round pick. Lindholm would get more or less the same I suppose. Perhaps a bit better. Backlund and Toffoli potentially could each get a first either now or at TDL if we aren’t competitive enough to make the playoffs. Could they get more for a whole season? Tanev and Zadorov could fetch a 2nd or a late first at TDL. Kylington is a wild card as he was out last year. Due to age and potential value I believe you keep Lindholm, Zadorov. Toffoli, Backlund and Hanifin are each going to fetch good returns and we have 2 older players who had pretty much career years and 1 who doesn’t want to play here. Tanev will play most likely 60 games because he’s broken sometimes and Kylington you don’t know. To me it seems you would maximize the return for Backlund, Toffoli, Hanifin and Tanev for 2 players who had career years, 1 who doesn’t want to be here and one who you will only get 3/4 of his value. This could potentially get 3 firsts, 3 seconds, and maybe 1 or 2 lesser roster players or prospects. Why not move those players and try to package some of those picks to move up in the draft or get a top 6 forward and steady d man. It may be gutting part of the team but asset management is key here. You can sign some other UFA’s to replace as well and save lots of cap space. As good as these guys are they are replaceable and hanging on to them may not be the wisest thing long term. Just some random thoughts.

What is the actual trade value of our pending UFA’s in a year from now? Lindholm, Backlund, Toffoli, Tanev, Hanifin, Zadorov and Kylington.

Thanks for this. Interesting to see how each player is analyzed. For forwards, you can’t teach hockey sense or play making skills so if Cristall or Perrault is available at 16 it would be good. Most young players legs don’t develop until their early 20’s so skating can be worked on. Willander looks ok for defender. Another Hanifin? Doubt Reinbacher is available by then. I wonder if the draft will see a run on centers or defensemen so we can sneak a good player due to the fear of missing out by other teams.

True. Bennett wanted out, Gaudreau wouldn’t come back. Tkachuk. You could even say Monahan was shown the door by moving him down the lineup and asking him to play a different role - ruining his overall value. Treliving could have moved him then rather than let him cost us a first round pick if they knew he wasn’t good enough for top line minutes any more. It was a destruction of asset management which started here and the players no longer bought in to the shenanigans after a couple of years. No trust or confidence in the coach anymore. At the end even the GM wasn’t being listened to by the coach. I can see why Treliving wouldn’t come back. It became a mess of misusing players and not allowing them to play where their strengths are. The mistreatment may have even been more so in the locker room. We will never know. Sutter likes his whipping boys. He used to even say Iginla was good “when he was moving his feet”. My way or the highway for players never goes well for a coach. He’s not paid $80 million big ones. You can be hard on a player as a coach - no problem, most players can handle it. When you mess with everything about the team though, many will not want to be there. It becomes a hostile environment and like the rest of us, would you stay in a job where you aren’t happy or would you look for another opportunity?

Technically yes. I believe there is a deal that could work here. Boston has been after Hanifin since he was drafted and may be willing to cough up assets to fit under the cap. Boston may have trouble signing Trent Fredric so I could see a hockey deal here. Hanifin for Fredric and Carlo? Hanifin and Mangiapane for Hall, Fredric, and Carlo? How about Debrusk for Hanifin?

Are you suggesting Taylor Hall is coming back as part of a deal?

The Pittsburgh deal isn’t too bad. Joseph could play right away and the 14th is a good pick. Would it work cap wise for Pittsburgh? I think they would be all over this. I thought this as well about Graves if Hanifin was moved. You might get a LATE second or maybe a 3rd for Vladar. I believe we got a second for Reto Berra years ago but a 3rd is probably more accurate. Philly may be interested if they bought out Petersen. Would you turn around and move the 14th from Pittsburgh or our 16th with Vladar and a second for Konecny? I remember someone saying he lives here.

I could actually see this potentially working but Lafreniere’s cap hit isn’t too bad so maybe NY would rather move someone else. If he turns out like Bennett would we complain?

What’s interesting here is that Florida did not respond immediately to the TKachuk hit. Vegas responded right away to the Eichel hit and waited for an opportunity to give it back. Series over now? Vegas in 5 games me thinks. I know it’s not over til it’s over, however…