I'd bring back Boyle and Moore. 4th line was good this year and Boyle/Hagelin are a dangerous tandem on the penalty kill
Who cares with Richards is what I say. Knock him, but we did make an ECF, a 2nd round, and a SCF in his 3 years. YES it was not due to him, but we did those things as a team on which he was a leader. That is our best 3 years stretch in nearly 20 years. And the money I also say who cares. He will be gone within 10 days top, and his money goes bye-bye, so no harm no foul. He needs to be gone. He was awful against the Kings. BUT he was our defacto captain and we made the SCF, after making the ECF two years ago, give the guy some credit for his help on those runs.
I think Boyle and Moore will be back. Good 4th line guys with Dorsett. Keep that as our 4th line IMO. Solid stuff. Add size on the wing. Add a better C to take Richards' place. Add a big physical top 4 dman. Away we go.
We really do not need many changes. Please do not change entire team again. Buy out Richards. We can get 1st line center for his money and add one physical D. That is pretty much it. Maybe physical winger. Not sure about Puuliot, maybe instead of him we get an upgrade winger. The cap goes up by 7M, I think it can be done.
I agree 2009, and I think most people feel the same way. We are right there, don't need major changes. Richards out, and a new C replaces him. Add size to the top 4 on D. Add a physical winger and we move forward. We don't need an overhaul, just the couple of tweaks we mentioned. And we can get it done given the cap going up to 70 mill or so, and Richards being gone at 6.67 per for a cap hit.
bottom 6 are fine. need number 1 center to move DS to second line and a pure right wing, not an imposter playing the rw with a left handed shot. need variety on the pp and not 4 left handed guys.
If they don't get Stastny then maybe trade Stepan, Miller and prospect for Thornton if SJ is willing or Kesler. That would also save 3m which could be spent on a Bolland type to be the 2/3. Otherwise if they simply sign Stastny they'll only have 3/4m for a midrange forward or dman. Vrbata didnt have a great year so maybe you can get him for 4m. Just looking at the FA dmen its a weak crop overall other than Niskanen and a few high priced guys. Orpik is the only real big hitter there.
Orpik could be a fit here. Big hitter, physical guy, lots of experience. Could be a good match to complete the top 4 with McD, Girardi, and Staal.
Stastny is going to get way overpaid I think. And last I read the Avs wanted to keep him. While it always makes sense to sign someone without losing anyone over trading away assets for another player, I think a trade makes more sense here. Double so because I don't see Stastny as much of an upgrade over Stepan, and especially not with a cap hit in the 7's for 6 years, which I think no doubt he gets. Thornton, Spezza, and Kesler are all available I think. Somehow put a package together to get one. Deal Miller. Deal other kids we have. We need to focus on the next 2 or 3 seasons I believe. Plus any of those 3 guys help the size issue, while Stastny does not. That is another plus to dealing for one of those guys. Then add Orpik, or someone similar, on D. And a winger who can score 15-20 goals. You do that and re-sign Zucc, Kreider, Brass, and hopefully Pouliot, Moore, and Boyle, and we'll be in excellent shape. We don't need big changes here. Some size added to the top 4 on D. A C upgrade replacing Richards. And a winger with a little size that can score 15-20 goals. Not crazy stuff. Then watch McDonagh, Stepan, Hags, Kreider (I expect 25 + from him next season) all take another step forward next season, and we are all set.
I'll tell you one thing I am excited for, watching McDonagh next season. We all know I am crazy high on him in general, but I think he is ready to take off on O next season as well. He will get a ton of PP time and he will create O. Led the team in playoff scoring. I think he is ready to explode into a top 5 or so dman in the NHL next season maybe just below the Doughty, Subban, Weber grouping. I expect a lot from him.
First off I already know Nashville would never make this trade, But how about Nash and Girardi for Shea Webber and Viktor Stalberg, trims our cap down so we can go after more unrestricted players and it gives us Webber who has a beast of a shot and is a physical menace on the back end. Stalberg would be another big body that could thrive in a more open system like he did in chicago. Its a major move but one that could benefit both teams. Nash isnt a big market player...period.
what i think people are missing is that although Stastny may not be a true #1 he is definately an upgrade over Richards and solitifies the center postion
Yes for sure Al, we agree there. The only issue with Stastny will be his contract. I would say 6 years and a cap hit in the 7's (right now he has a cap hit of 6.6 mill per so he will get more). I don't see anyway it is less than that. Don't think he is worth that, especially considering he isn't a true # 1 as you said. Plus he doesn't add the size we need. BUT on the flip side he is pretty young, 28.5 right now, and would make a very nice C combo with Stepan, think two very solid # 2 C's. Plus we wouldn't have to deal players to get him. So I wouldn't be upset if we signed Stastny, but I would look at dealing for Spezza, Kesler, Thornton first IMO.
Sounds like Stastny is getting closer with the Avs, so a trade might be the only option for upgrading. Thornton and Nash are close so that could be a possibility, unless SJ feels their window is next year. Boyle left so they arent any stronger.
Yeah, the Avs said all along they wanted to keep Stastny, so no surprise. As for SJ, yeah they want to win now, but they also want to mix it up a little due to all their failures in the playoffs year after year. So they are an interesting team to see how they approach this summer. We should be looking at Thornton, Spezza, Kesler. See if we can deal for one of those guys. All add size as well. Would be nice to have them on this team.
