I agree with you 100% Prod. This is exactly the blueprint we need to follow. Adding Skjei to the back end helps right away. Look for another swift skater and then you are onto something. And hopefully at least one of Staal/G are gone (I think that happens for sure...if both are back I would be SHOCKED). Nash is the question mark to me...what do they do with him.
Feeling sorry for Boyle is absurd. He acted like a 2 year old. He demanded a no trade clause as a relic. Got overpaid like a relic. Then cried about being treated like crap from Brooks when he played like crap. No sympathy for him at all. Hayes to me is another inconsistent, lazy dumbass. No problem if they deal him. What is more concerning is the crap I'm hearing about Kreider being a problem in the lockerroom. I don't know if this is true. If it is, it's a major problem. Either way, this team is majorly screwed. I said it months ago. Major changes are needed.
who is feeling sorry for him? Im certainly not, I'm only saying he was justified to tell Brooks to go fuck himself. Agree to disagree and we can drop it.
One of the worst things that they've ever done is not even offering a contract to Stralman and signing Boyle instead.
After watching that, Boyle completely embarrassed himself. Everybody knows Brooks is a tool. However, stating he wanted to play McIlrath over him is hardly reason to throw a tantrum. That's pretty much what Brooks did and is this one case, he was correct.
Speaking in general terms, I would like to see something to the extent of packaging Nash with either Hayes or M. Staal with Hayes to free up room. If it is Staal and Hayes then work on moving Nash with a second tier prospect. I would like to buy out G because if I am not mistaken we still have one on the books we can do that too but don't quote me on that. Going by the top of my head. Regarding what we get in return for the above, I am more concerned with cap space and draft picks in return. I don't have any specific players per say I would like to see in return at this time. It would depend upon who are dance partner is. We DO have options. I would also move McD for a boat load because he, single handed, can get us a great return to start the rebuild process. As a whole we did play good hockey when he went down. I know people will say I am crazy because he is our C and he contract is very cap friendly. Well, he is not a true C and his contract is the exact reason why I would move him now while his value is at a peak. Again, these are just generalities and I can go into much more specifics but that would just be playing the guessing game. Think about this, people say Hayes has too much talent to give up on him but have you ever looked in his eyes or his facial expression? He is afraid to do what needs to be done with his size. He looks scared on the ice and it translates into his lazy and soft game. Again, that is just my opinion but I put a lot of stock in body language.
I have no interest in the organization keeping Hayes. He's soft, lazy and is another center on this team that can't win draws.
The only positive I saw in Boyle was the useless hump never got hurt which tends to happen when you're going through the motions giving a half-assed effort. He deserved every sentence of criticism written about him, Dan was signed to be a savior, not an anchor. Good riddance. Now lets send Nash, Girardi and Staal packing and get this team on track!
It's not your fault. Sometimes long paragraphs on boards like this are tough on the eyes. Since it doesn't double space breaking up into paragraphs is usually the way to go.
Well, it should be interesting. Nash basically said he's afraid of getting traded. They all should be. Still shaking my head over Boyle's, two year old tantrum. Very obvious why this team sucked this year. I heard Kreider is a problem in the lockerroom from one person on the WFAN. Could be total garbage. However, I could see that. He's thinned skinned also and plays lazy hockey.
I can assure you Kreider is not a problem in the locker room. He's actually very well liked. The thing with Kreider is that he's a little more of a loner and more cerebral. He's not huge on the social scene. I can see how people might see that as not being a part of the team and thus a problem, but from what I know there are no problems involving or caused by Chris Kreider in that room. That WFAN caller was probably Torts.
Did some sportswriter actually suggest McDonagh could bring back the #1 pick or Hall/Draisatl?Wow. That's some crazy shite.
I still think we actually do have a lot of flexibility in what can be done with this roster. Gorton needs to be creative when trying to move x,y.z. player. Meaning, have a throw in piece or eat SOME of the salary if needed (i.e. Glass type of player) to make it a little more attractive. Hell, this is business, so we need to make the proposal as attractive as possible without performing a Rangers of the past type of deal where we give everything away for chump change and a bag of pucks. Personally, the only person I am not trading or entertaining a trade on is Hank. Let teams make offers on Zucc, on Kreider or even on Big Mac. It is done all the time in other sports to gauge interest on what are assets are worth. Then we counter....oh the art of negotiating...gotta love it!
One creative idea regarding Girardi (again assuming he will waive) is to trade him to a team with their own really bad contract that will be cheaper to buy out. Think of the Horton/Clarkson trade last year. Maybe Florida, an up and coming team but still very cap conscious, will want him in the room with some of these young guys? We take back Bolland and buy him out, which would be cheaper and shorter than the dead money from a Girardi buyout. Bolland may not play again, and has the same cap hit as Girardi. The Panthers at least get a warm body for their 5.5m. Maybe the extended time off will get Girardi back in game shape because he clearly wasn't last year. Just an idea. As we've said, Gorton needs to get creative here.
I saw something today that mentioned this will be the 1st offseason in like 4y that Staal will be able to train under full health for 2-3 months. I actually think despite his age and past injuries that he could turn it around and still perhaps be a pretty good dman. Girardi is the one they need to shed here.
