Stepan elects salary arbitration

And that's where we 100% disagree Lundy. Agree to disagree on that one. I can say a team is better or worse. That is what this whole offseason is about. Go look at what the reporters do, that is their job in the offseason. And they all say they are both better and we are worse.

So 100% you can say it.

Now what you should be saying is yeah the BJ's and the Caps look better, but we need to play the games to see how it actually goes down. And there we 10000000000% agree. You don't play games on paper, you play them on the ice. So we agree it still needs to be proven for sure on the ice.

But the reality is the Caps and BJ's have gotten better this summer. We have gotten worse this summer. That's the way it is today. When they start playing games we'll see if it holds true on the ice.

It is also funny to see you say you cannot say if we are better or worse, then go on to say I don't think Saad will do well in CBJ. I do think Oshie makes the Caps better (I guess Williams doesn't count). I 100% respect your Ranger colored glasses on that opinion, but 99% of objective people who cover the sport believe those teams are better and we are worse. Maybe that won't prove to be true on the ice, but based on the moves this summer that is a logical statement to make today IMO.

 

Well said Prod. For a month now I have been saying we need a top 6 R shot. That isn't over the top or saying we are F'd. I think we are all on the same page now Mess....

 

Thanks, and that's why I get frustrated when they dont address what to me, and many others, is a weakness right now. It doesnt have to be what I proposed, but something along those lines is what they should be doing. Perhaps my frustration comes across as doom and gloom, and if that's the case I apologize. But when there's a reasonable way to improve the team and the front office sits on their hands and says "na we're good the way we are", it gets me fired up.

 

I don't like him, but at this point Semin is a guy I would take a look at for cheap. He does have a lot of what we need, and for 1.5 mill or so, why not take the chance. That is why I think the Ducks getting Stewart for 1.7 is a steal. I would have done that in a second...he would have been a good add at that #.

 

Nobody's mentioning my Tlusty as a winger plan. I agree Semin might be worth a year as a reclamation project if it's less than 3m.

 

I also agree with you Mess that Step's situation is holding us hostage at the moment. I get it, but I stand by what I said no way I give him more than 6.5 tops, and it would have to be a 5 or 6 year deal at that #.

If he wants more I respect his right to ask for it, but I would deal him. He is not a 7 mill player. Here are the forwards who make 6.8 or more per season:

Perry, Getzlaf, Krejci, Bergeron (6.875), ROR starting next season (joke), Staal, Kane, Toews, Spezza, Datsyuk, Kopitar (6.8), Parise, Nash, Ryan, Giroux, Malkin, Crosby, Kessel, Tarasenko, Stastny, Stamkos, Sedin's, Ovie.

So 24 forwards with a cap hit of 6.8 or more. On this list who is Stepan better than?

ROR for sure. Maybe Stastny, but Stas has 78, 71, and 79 point seasons AND has scored 20 goals 6 times. Step has 21 goals once and never scored even 58 points in a season. Senko just had 37 goals and 73 points. Spezza has 62 and 66 points the past two seasons, Step never more than 57 in a season. Maybe Ryan, although he is a 4 time 30 goal scorer.

So ROR, which we all know was a crazy contract and Ryan. Spezza looking forward I rather have Step, but Spezza has had seasons the past two years Step never has.

Now I know this isn't 100% apples to apples due to timing and UFA status, but the point is to me Step is not a 7 mill player. 6.5 is pushing it, but I would bite that bullet on a 5 or 6 year deal. Anything more than that I would deal him.

 

I wouldn't go more than 1.5 +/- on Semin...3 mill is way too much. Stewart just signed for 1.7 mill, why would I need to give Semin more. 1.5 take it or leave it is what I would offer him.

 

Tlusty wouldnt be bad, but hes another left shot who (i dont believe) has much experience playing his off wing. Id really like to get a righty in here, Fast is the only right handed winger we have. Boyes and Semin are the two guys left I'd look at after Stewart and Williams signed

 

Boyes had 14 goals this past season, not terrible. I think I would actually rather have Semin because I think you are looking for upside and lightning in a bottle at this point, and I believe Semin has more upside than Boyes to maybe score 20 + if he is mentally right. Plus he is a PP shooter, which we need badly.

 

I agree Mess...that is how I would play it also. If it came down to it settle at 6/39 which is a 6.5 AAV.

 

Semin has size, he's 6'2 210 but of course he doesn't use it (see the Staal fight). I'm warming up to the use is signing him because he was once a consistent 30+ goal scorer. However, he was horrible last season

 

don't let the door hit you in the Azz on your way out, this kid has an extrememly high opinion of himself, guess it works for some

maybe if you played the game consistently you mite be worth it, key word is consistent!

 

Semin is a piece of crap. Want nothing to do with him. He's a lazy dog and his teammates hate him. You don't bring a disease like that on your team.

 

Id like to see him play on a team that doesnt have a lazy, immature Russian as a captain before passing final judgment. Ovechkin in those days was a complete enabler to his behavior, and we could do a lot worse for 1 year, 1.5m.

 

I agree, maybe on a two way contract so we can dump him if he doesn't work out. Guy could put up 30 if he has something to prove....

I'm surprised that there isn't more talk abut him going to the KHL though...

 

He's in his 30's now. Has a ton of NHL experience, played well at times in the playoffs. If he can't buck up and act like a professional then no team should sign him... He's a goal scorer so he wouldn't be a risk at a 1-year deal