Bob McKenzie listed the Rangers, along with the Blackhawks, Blues, Habs and Ducks as teams that “would love” to get Antoine Vermette. (Nichols on Hockey) McKenzie says that Vermette is “good on faceoffs and can do a little bit of everything.” (Nichols on Hockey) McKenzie thinks that Coyotes GM Don Maloney could hold Vermette until close to the deadline to try and get more than a second round pick and a good prospect for him. (Nichols on Hockey) Vermette, 32, has 11 goals and 19 assists this season and is 55.2% on faceoffs. He is averaging just over 19 minutes per game. He is a UFA at the end of the season and currently has a cap hit of $3.75 million.
Vermette would be a real good fit, but I think he will be tough to get. As McKenzie mentions many teams would be in on him, driving up his price. Maloney may wait until close to the DL, driving up his price. And I still wonder how we fit his cap hit in if all we plan to subtract is Stemp or Glass, whichever player comes out due to Vermette added. Vermette seems trickier to me. Although I guess for a better return Zona could keep some cap hit this season because they are way under the cap, so that is possible. But we'd still have to out-bid a handful of other teams, and get Zona to agree to holding a little cap hit, which most likely means we have to give a little more in the deal. I still think the Leafs, name anyone of 3 or 4 players, are our best fit.
Shows how lost Brooks is as usual. Larry Brooks wonders if JT Miller could be used to acquire Vermette but says that doing so wouldn’t guarantee a long playoff run. (NY Post) Sather would be a moron to deal Miller for Vermette.
Absolutely no way I would deal Miller or give up a 2nd round pick for a rental. Absurd. There will be cheaper options out there that can win a faceoff and chip in a few points.
That's my Vermette point as well. I like him, but he will cost too much IMO. In both prospect/pick return AND cap hit cost. Too many teams will be involved. Maloney will want until closer to the DL, which means we sit and wait for 5 or 6 weeks. Vermette is not that good where we should wait and battle 4 teams for him as the price goes up and up. Focus on the Leafs right now and pounce.
Rather they focus on the Kings and Dwight King. He's what they need on wing. If you look at all the teams that are sellers. Very few have good faceoff guys who can score.
Doubtful to me the Kings sell players. That would be a long road to wait until very close to the trade DL to see what they do. For the moment I am going to focus on teams that stink and we know will be dealing players, otherwise we can speculate all day about any name.
I bet someone gives a late 1st for Vermette to help put them over the top. Boyd Gordon could be another name out there.
St. Louis was a can't miss, difference maker when Sather gave up the first rounders. Vermette as some have said is not. Yet, a team that is strong enough and feels they have a deep farm with several prospects close to the NHL will probably give up a first.
I certainly wouldn't give up a top 20 pick for him but yeah, probably a 25-30 one if im a St.Louis or Chicago. That's where they have the upper hand, plus deeper prospect pools.
McKenzie on Yandle and Vermette: “As far as Yandle goes, I don’t think he’s moving before the deadline. I think Vermette is.” “There’s 5 or 6 teams, including the Habs who would be in on the Vermette.” “Vermette is a guy that so many contending teams are interested in that the price of pick & prospect may escalate.” McKenzie added that Blackhawks, Rangers and Bruins as teams interested in Vermette. I really want Vermette and would be happy to pay the pick/prospect price, but as has been said on here it looks like AZ will be holding out for the highest bidder, as well they should. I dont see it getting higher than a pick and prospect, I just think the first team that parts with a 1st is going to get him. That team can't be us.
Which is why we need to focus elsewhere IMO. Vermette is not THAT good. Battle with 4 or 5 teams. Down to the wire. Pass....
Agree. Maloney can go screw himself. Vermette isn't a difference maker to me for the price you have to pay. Rangers added a guy in D. Moore who gives you everything Vermette does but about 20-30 less points. Rangers pretty much added him for nothing.
Moore is a guy that turns his game up come playoff time. I'll never forget though, game 1 of the SCF, he had a chance to make it 3-0 but whiffed on a pass from St.Louis which he had an empty net
