Nashville is looking for a top 6 forward. Kreider clearly isn't fitting in here now. Jones has tremendous speed as well. He's having a tough season. He's right handed. He's a perfect complement for McDonagh. Nashville has all the depth in the world on defense. That frees the Rangers up to move 2 of the following 3. Boyle, Girardi and Klein along with exploring deals for Yandle. I have no issues dealing Kreider for Jones because they can use Yandle to get a forward back to replace him. I go back to Yandle and Stepan in a Johansen deal. Team needs to get bigger and more talented.
From what I hear they may be more likely to deal Weber than young full of potential Jones. I would also think we may need to give up more than just Kreider at this point.
All the reports are that the Preds shot down Jones for Johanssen. Why would they then turn around and deal him for Kreider who "has nothing in the toolbox, is a dumbazzzz, has the hockey iq of a grapefruit." In my opinion right side D is a log jam and not where we need to be adding. There are bigger holes than that, such as top 6 right winger who can help with offensive zone time. We are thin at top 6 forwards. Kreider, as bad as he's been, would leave yet another hole up front with nobody to fill it
FORWARDS...that is what we need. I 100% agree with Prod. We have 7 dmen as it is. We need to deal a dman and add a forward I believe. At this point who knows though. I think the thing we all agree on is we need to shake something up...that's for sure.
Here's some food for thought...I'd really like to know Nash's goal differential playing on the left vs. the right last year. He started on the right, and got off to an incredible pace. His production diminished fairly significantly about the halfway mark of the season, which is right around when AV put him on the left with Zucc and Brass. While it's true that was our best line, it certainly wasn't the best line for Rick Nash who is supposed to be our best player. If I recall correctly he played the right most of his time in Columbus. I've never really liked Nash with those two. They need a Pouliot type, someone who loves going below the line and playing the wall. Maybe we should actually be looking for another LEFT wing, to get Nash back on the right where he's enjoyed his most success. Not making excuses for him, but the goal should be to put all players in a position to maximize their talent. Say 71's dream comes true and we can get an Andrew Ladd, a pure left winger who can play the boards. Could you put that player with Brass and Zucc? Ladd/someone similar (JVR??)-Brass-Zucc Miller-Stepan-Nash Kreider-Lindberg-Hayes freaking Glass-Moore-Fast I think that might give us some better balance through the line up.
I don't like Nash with them either because I want balance on the lines. Maybe try Miller with those two. Play Stepan with Kreider and Nash (never really tried that). Start the 3rd line with Hayes and Lindberg, and honestly I may give Etem a chance with them (or Fast since AV is a big fan). Then Stalberg or Glass/Moore/Fast would be my 4th line. Miller/Brass/Zucc Kreider/Step/Nash Lindberg/Hayes/Fast or Etem Stalberg or Glass/Moore/Fast or Etem
How are you getting that Ladd or JVR (no shot) type without subtracting any forwards Prod? Staal being dealt plus picks/prospects? Can we all get together and pray for Staal to waive his NTC and for somehow someway AV to realize Glass is awful and get rid of him....
If we were to get Jones (pipe dream) it'd free up Yandle to get a forward for, so getting a D doesn't prevent us from getting a F.
If Nashville turned down Johansen for Jones than the GM should be fired immediately. I don't believe that for a second. Nashville is going nowhere with their forwards.
This is spot on. Johansen is a stud so if that trade got turned down, that GM is an idiot of epic proportions. And after Forsberg their best forward this year is Ribeiro the reclamation project. That's not going to get them anywhere in the playoffs.
I'll try to find the more recent article I read, but I've seen that the Preds and Jackets had extensive conversations about RyJo and the Preds would not part with Josi, Weber or Jones. "As Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman posited last week, "(Poile is) specifically being asked about his top three (defensemen): Seth Jones, Roman Josi and Shea Weber. He doesn't want to do that. But, in this big game of poker, who’s willing to wait the longest? And, if Poile doesn't bend, can he get what he needs? There seems to be hesitancy on the part of Poile to deconstruct the team's defense, telling me as such last week by saying that he has "no interest" in doing so. But these rumors and questions will persist until something happens, if it ever does." http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/30-thoughts-can-predators-win-without-bold-move/
I don't see them trading Jones. Young, still pretty cheap, a ton of potential. I don't see them dealing him...especially not for Kreider right now. I read last week they would maybe look to deal Weber before Jones...makes sense from a cap POV.
Preds forwards are simply atrocious. I can't see anybody taking the 7.8 cap hit for another 8 years for Weber no matter how good he is now. Hey if it was me. I'd trade the players in this order Yandle Staal Nash Boyle Kreider That's what I'd do. However, other than Yandle and Nash, I don't see a great return with the other 2. To me, you may have to get back 2-3 young players or prospects in a Yandle deal, maybe another 1 or 2 in a Nash deal before you can make a major move for a Johansen or Jones. I've basically had it with Kreider. He's dumb. That being said. He's exactly the kind of guy other teams drool over and think they will fix in their system and will turn into a star. So, it really doesn't matter what we think of him. GM's don't care. They all think they can fix and turn other teams players into stars. It's called ego. GM's and coaches have tons of it. The only thing I do know is that this team freakin sucks and not a few but major changes are needed immediately. I didn't think so a few weeks ago. I thought one big trade and a minor one would do it. Things are much worse than I thought. I like Miller. He's a keeper. Hayes, won't lose sleep over him leaving.
I take Boyle off the list. Who cares about him, he isn't waiving his NTC from what I saw, and his value is minimal. So he doesn't count. Trade him or not...doesn't make much of a difference IMO. I would deal Staal # 1 by far. Only deal Yandle if we absolutely cannot deal Staal. I would then look at Hayes before Kreider. Then Kreider. Staal Hayes Kreider That's my list. Yandle gets added if Staal refuses to waive his NTC. Nash...I would deal, but at that cap hit I am just not sure the value we could get back would equal his talent. He would be a deal only if we are saying we're done and let's try and recoup a couple of picks/prospects and open up cap space, although in the NHL today we'd have to take some money back on the cap to move Nash. I also agree on Miller. I like him and would keep him. Right now he is my # 1 amongst the Hayes, Kreider, Miller trio. Not sure we need major changes. I think you start by dealing a dman for a proven forward that can score. Then see where things go until the trade DL on Feb 29th.
I actually think Ladd is going to be a hot commodity at a fairly low cap hit and ufa for a team with a deeper prospect pool and more tradeable assets on their nhl team. The Isles or someone like Dallas could end up with him. Who do we have to use, Kevin Hayes and a 2nd?
Sadly, he's right. They overpay constantly. Look what they gave up for St. Louis when he told his team the only place he would go was NY. In a way, part of that deal saved the organization because Callahan absolutely sucks for the money he's getting paid.
That has been the case in the past but we haven't seen a gorton trade yet so hopefully that changes going forward