Well, the first move has been made. I don't like giving up 1st or 2nd round picks. However, I'm quite sure they can get those picks back and more with some moves. I'm not sure if Gorton will go out and get a 2nd line center. Seems to me with this move that he could sign Strome now. I wonder if Fast in back in the fold but I doubt it. Lias is really a key now. I've said he will be an upgraded Fast. People forgot that even last year when he was a disaster he still won about 47% of his draws. He plays all the time right in front of the other teams net. His game is made for the post season. I hope he comes back more mature and that thickheaded dipshit Quinn uses him. The fact we haven't heard anything about DeAngelo's contract is probably a good indicator he might go for a 2nd line center. One OTG a poster was talking about Domi rumors. I don't know. He's 25, wins under 50% of his draws. I don't see giving up much more than Buchnevich and a prospect like Jones for him. He's a RFA and probably will ask for over 5 million. I want Dvorak if they can get him. It's hard to predict what JD and Gorton will do because they have unlimited resources to make deals. The farm was rating number 1 by one guy. Probably by multiple places. They have players like TDA, Strome and Buchnevich that teams will probably have great interest in. I was hoping he could trade Staal. Didn't see the deal happening for a 2nd though. Most of our fans are delusional enough to think this paves the way for Miller. Miller is not ready and it would be a big mistake to not give him at least one full year at Hartford. He was under a terrible coaching staff at Wisconsin. He needs more time. Hajek is ready to take Staal's spot.
Thinking a Hank buyout comes next, saves the team 3 mill more this upcoming season (with a 1.5 mill penalty against next seasons cap). So overall they would have saved 8.7 mill with the Hank and Staal moves. Re-sign the RFA's, add a LD to pair with Trouba, and add a C. Do that with Lafreniere coming in, and away we go.
They'll re-sign him I think. Doubt it is a long term deal, but he'll be back for at least one if not two years (a one year deal would take him to UFA status next summer).
Assuming Fast ship has sailed, i think we're looking at a Lemieux /Howden/Barron 4th line this year. If Howden can start emerging that would go a long way. I'm not that big on Lemieux but as a bottom line guy that's his niche. Could see him not lasting more than another year here too. I think they bring DiGiseuppe back as a fill-in, extra call-up type. I just don't see it working out with Andersson but maybe somehow it does.
Andersson is a lock for this teams future unless they get an offer they can't refuse. DiGiseuppe blows. They could have traded Andersson many times. The fact they didn't speaks of Gorton and JD blaming Quinn for some of what happened. To me, Quinn is more likely to go than Andersson. If he can't get this team to play better defense than he's history. Can't fucking wait to see Lafreniere. Still can't believe he is ours.
I could see them signing a cheap 3rd pair dman or maybe a good 4th liner if they think Barron isn't quite ready. Maybe a prospect like Richards or Khodorenko surprises.
I think trying desperately to do a staal deal with hank. Maybe Ottawa takes a pick or 2 to reach their ceiling and then buys out hank so he gets paid, and then can either find a team to take him or retire. Can’t wait to see what other moves gorton and jd have up their sleeves and of course the draft coming shortly
I have heard rumors of that as well mel, but I think it would take the 22nd pick to get it done. Personally I do it to save the full 8.5 mill, combined with already saving the full 5.7 of Staal. We'd still have the # 1 pick, and we'd be flush with cap space, and save the 1.5 mill penalty next season. Then you bury 1 mill of Smith in the minors, and away we go.
If Hank won't take a trade they have to buy him out, I don't mind Smith being the last of the 3 anchormen since he's the lightest. I would love to see Tony D, replaced with Piatrangalo with some of that new found money.
They should sign DA to a bridge deal and figure it out as Miller/Lundkvist come ready. This probably isn't a deep run playoff team next year anyway, so they could always deal DA if he's not making a ton, even next season. Definately need to dump Smith before the season, or to Hartford.
They could make a deep run if they add a player like Hanifin and a better second center. Lafreniere is an fn beast built for the playoffs.
I think they will add a LD to play with Trouba, and a C. Not sure if it will be a 2nd line C or a guy like Cirelli or Wennberg, but I think they'll add a C for sure. If they can find a solid LD to pair with Trouba, this team could be very good next season. LD/Trouba Lindgren/Fox Hajek/DeAngelo Upfront Ziban, Panarin, Kreider, Buch, Strome, Lafreniere, Kakko, Lemieux, Howden, Chytil, C they add, kid. That is a very nice group of forwards. Shesterkin and Georgiev in goal. Really good team.
Don’t count out miller making the team at LD out of camp or shortly thereafter. I think his game is better suited for the pros as opposed to college
They won't rush Miller. Remember, he hasn't been playing defense that long. Kakko will be very interesting next year. He was so much stronger on his skates the last 15 games. Also, a key reason they need to dump that moron Buchnevich. You have to take Quinn's toys away like Fast and Buchnevich. I think maybe JD and Gorton were not happy how Quinn kept putting Fast on scoring lines while never pushing Kakko for one of the top two lines.
It would very much surprise me if a solid LD isn't added to pair with Trouba. I actually think adding a LD is more of a lock at this point than adding a C is (even though I fully expect both to happen). As for Fast, he has to go. Given the makeup of the team, and the kids we have that can play a 4th line role, Fast is a player I don't think we can afford in the upper 2's or 3's per season. And I think Miller starts the season in the AHL for sure. We'll see if/when he gets called up, but barring some amazing performance in camp, and even then no lock, I think he gets the seasoning he needs by starting down below.
I didn’t wa t them to win . McD did shit here and won nothing. He’ll, he might have cost them a SC when he injured Hank and Zuccarello. Weasled his way on a powerhouse team