Kobayashi Maru

It’s a good point and Toronto likely needs to sweeten it to make it work. We’ll see where it all goes.

Zaitsev is a decent age on a decent contract if he gets 30-35 point each year. Certainly possible and could be a big add. Really wish there was 2-3 years left on the contact and not 5. i really want to add a top 4 d under 25 this year even at a high cost. Still set on Ristolainen so adding him and Zaitsev would be an improvement. This is not bad going into next year: Edler Ristolainen Hughes Tryamkin Joulevi Zaitsev Stetcher

I would certainly do that and a Toronto might too once they realize the actual value of Zaitsev (with his contract) is close to zero.

It’s likely a savvy move but I don’t personally feel good about it. I am thinking with my feelings and not my judgement however.

They are likely kicking themselves after trading M Granlund so let’s just trade them M Granlund for Zucker. Everyone wins.

Roslovic would be a decent pickup but not for Joulevi. We are sleeping on the stability Joulevi will provide is on D as early as next year.

Not likely but do you think Karlsson would consider a 2-3 year 14m per year Sundin like contract. Typically players want the security for the unforeseen but everyone is different. We can ride some entry levels in that window to compensate.

We have the space and we should prioritize Panarin and work to make it happen. Zucker is a no go for me so you just work down the FA list at your next targets (Dzingel, Lee, Eberle etc) and add a top prospect via the draft. We do need 1-2 quality FAs to augment the rebuild.

Yeah that is immediate hang up territory. To me Boeser is relatively untouchable but for the sake of argument do you trade him for Zucker AND their 12th overall (Broberg, Newhook etc). I still wouldn’t but that would be more like it.

Exactly and his breakout wasn’t sustainable. He is also 3 years away from the start of the decline most likely.

Contract and player are fine, but I think we are all balking at the costs that are reported. I would take him on waivers all the way up to a 2nd round pick, but not much above.

And people complaining over Nylander not being a playoff performer but want Zucker for all of our assets? At least Nylander has a change of continually improving and still has a 1st line ceiling. Has JB ever done something that was highly rumoured? Not that I can recall. These are all smokescreens for something different,.

When you put it that way I have high expectations for Baertschi. Zucker for scraps or move on. I would pay a 2nd + Hutton tops and even then I would debate it significantly. If we are packaging DiPietro + Hutton plus a first next year then give me Trouba, Ristolainen etc. Get something we need as a pillar rather than a middling winger. This thread is driving me crazy and scaring me all at the same time.

I would have had interest if they were trading Niederreiter or Granlund as that feel like a better fit but certainly not Zucker at the prices they are suggesting. There are 5-10 FA wingers (Dzingel, Eberle etc) that do the same and are in the same age range. May cost 1-1.5 million more but no assets

Agreed that would be the max I go. We can get the same in free agency around the same age. Fake news!

Definitely would take on the 1 year remaining ones but I would rather push our cap ceiling with Panarin or Karlsson. Taking on a Lucic for a second for example limits our ability to make our team better with elite talent. Now if we strike out completely on those FAs then it may make sense as a backup plan.

Good summary. With his actual amount being that low and a higher cap for 1 year his value is likely neutral. Pure giveaway with nothing added nothing taken back.

Last year was a write off but I bet he’ll be a regular 60 point player. We could use that. As he matures I bet he will be more grounded. Typically with offensive players you will get some swagger/attitude and that’s not the worst thing unless it’s targetted within the team which I doubt will happen. I saw the double flamingo vid too but are there several of them or just one that went viral on here. Don’t want a team of all Nylanders but I think he would make us better.

Looking at all the RFAs this year I think we will see several offer sheets throughout the year. Kapanen would be a great target but a risk that TO just matches. Puljujarvi is a similar boat for less but Edmonton may just take the pick. Either way this should be an exciting off season.

Yeah we would just keep Marleau and if we weren’t trending to the playoffs we flip him at the deadline.

Agreed that we should keep 10 and it would be great to get another to take Sieder. Our 2nd ++ likely

Other than the second tier D men, it feels like it may come down to: Podkolzin Caufield Krebs They each have their pros and cons but if those were the options who do you take? To me I’d be willing to take the risk and go Podkolzin.

This is actually a pretty good fit for both. Personally don’t want to give up Virtanen so I’d look for a substitute (Lind, Gadjovich, Lockwood plus maybe a pick) but fair value. To be honest I think Nylander is a good target overall. Helps Toronto out with cap too. Fir it all the talk of Nylander being a regular season performer, we need that too to make the playoffs. Players progress from being regular season performers to playoff performers once they get a sense of it. I think we all forget that Nylander is young.

Definitely want to avoid anchor contracts but we need to show improvement for the sanity of the team psyche. Myers I like but concerned that will be an anchor. The others fit the age group of the rebuild so it should only aid in our improvement. Puljujarvi is just a lotto ticket and much higher potential than a 2nd rounder in my opinion. Either way Panarin and Karlsson put us in the equation now and the progressive drop to 2nd and 3rd options just aid in the progression but put us in the equation +1/2 years later.

I think you push for Panarin and Karlsson because it is highly unlikely both will sign here. Hopefully you get one. If Karlsson doesn’t sign: 1. Trade for Trouba or 2. Trade for Ristolainen or 3 Sign Myers If Panarin doesn’t sign: 1. Sign Dzingel or 2. Sign Ferland or 3. Offer sheet Puljujarvi for 3 over 3 (2nd round pick)