Bobby James

Nazzy (4) Petey (5) Bert (3) Hamhuis (2) Bieska (1) Miller (2) If it is all prime players Petey is the best center in franchise history imo. You get prime sniper Naslund to finish and a stud of a power forward in Bert. On D, two dudes that can defend but also move the puck up the ice well. Bieska brings that extra toughness to the lineup (Bert too). That team has scoring, pushback and solid D. Goaltending is okay, should hold up.

This is a good point. The Caps only got what 2-3 more years to try and win another cup before Ovi is finally done and they start the rebuild. So yeah Wilson likely won't be worth 6.5 million when he hits his mid 30s, but I could totally see him getting the C next and holding that role for 4-5 years as they rebuild. Not the worst choice as a captain. He will thrive as a protector for the younger guys that will be coming up. In terms of production when he falls off it'll be at a time where they don't actually need to win.

Yeah makes sense Columbus is looking to move a Dman. They definitely need a top 6 forward who can score. Their team is in a weird place with some great players in their window and a bunch of excellent prospects. I could maybe see something around Garland being moved there. Perhaps: To VAN: Peeke To COL: Garland Rathbone They get a 2nd/3rd line winger that produces decently along with an offensive D prospect. Canucks get kinda an unknown guy here with a little term. Not great in the stats area while in Columbus, but they also are terrible and I think they played him a ton against other teams best.

Man the Devils are looking so good. What a team and everyone is getting signed to term at a good price. As they shed the odd player they are replaced with a stud of a prospect lol Also let's be honest it is more likely Luke Hughes nails it as opposed to being a bust. Looks at that family so far, both brothers have succeeded in the NHL and by all accounts Luke is very skilled too, but also happens to be the biggest of the 3.

Always an option for sure, but I think Ottawa wants to make the playoffs next season. If they are in the hunt I wouldn't be surprised if they keep him

I think the cost might be a bit high to get him. We have lots of great prospects, but I don't think management wants to trade them at this time. We'll need good players on cheap contracts in a couple years when the OEL buyout is worse and our team is trying to be a regular playoff contender. Maybe Beau (50%) retained + 1st could get it done. I don't think they'd love the deal, but they get a potentially solid 1st round pick and a middle 6 winger at 2 million and they were going to lose Pesce anyway. As others said I think there will be better offers on the table for him (1st + a solid prospect). I'm sure if we wanna give up Hoglander or Podz along with a high pick then they'd agree much quicker lol

Yeah I'd do this trade all day. We get another C which we really need who can play 3C and should easily be able to move into the top 6 when needed. Calgary gets a scoring winger with some term which is actually the thing I think they would value the most here. They likely wouldn't do this straight up if both players only had 1 year left, but with Backlund leaving after this year (and being older) and Garland locked in for a bit more I could see it happening.

Yeah I think it'll end up being something like Hughes Cole Soucy Hronek (x) Meyers x = battle for spot between young guys. Main options likely - Rathbone, Brise, Hirose. Irwin is your #7 If Meyers gets moved then perhaps Juulsen goes for that last RD spot. Also a chance if enough cap moves we go for something like Dumba on a 1 year or even give Bear a 1 year deal after he heals up. Better then last year maybe, mainly due to more defensive dman brought in. Everything pretty much rides on Hughes being stellar again and Hronek living up to the hype. Soucy will be given a bigger role to see if he can manage it. Cole should be fine with Hughes, he's played with all sorts of great Dmen before. Bottom pair is unknown, but kinda exciting and I'm hoping more young guys go for those spots.

Great story. I'm so in for a Brock comeback. He seems like an awesome dude and I love his mindset right now. Hoping for a huge year for the kid, 30 goals and talks starting about a contract renewal

These players were always going to sign big contracts because the storyline for the NHL for a few years now is "The cap is going to get a big increase". We're at the point where most people are saying the first jump up will be next season and agents are definitely planning it as though that is set in stone (makes sense from their position). I believe that 13.5 could be the number or around that. I know that fanbase desperately wants their stars to all take a discount to help the club. However, Matthews at 13.5 makes sense in terms of where the league will be soon. He is probably one of, if not the best goal scorer in the league (McDavid is likely the best at everything offensively, but for arguments sake...) and I think most big younger stars who are expiring in 1-3 years are preparing for big increases on their next deal. McDavid will set a new ceiling I imagine and if his contract is around 14-15 million at that time, well it starts making more sense for Mathews to be around 13. I don't believe at all in the 3 year term. That is crazy to pay that type of price and not even have the guy locked up long term. I think it'll be 6-8 years for sure, leaning towards the full 8. For fun, if it is 3 years he is asking for and at that price, then honestly I think he wants out or is at least extremely concerned/uncertain about that team performing in the future. That seems like a tactic to get your team to dump you without saying it out loud and pissing people off. Now all that being said don't get me wrong. That is so much money for a team really in need of cap. I would happily keep Petey over him at 1C at a cheaper price. It would be a dream to re-sign Petey at something around 10 mil x 8 years. If everyone starts signing these big contracts first though, it's gonna get tough.

Yeah I get what you're saying. Just feels like where does Fabbro play for us? Don't think he is a top pair partner for Hughes, Hronek is our 2nd pair RD. I could see him on the bottom pair which would be great, but Meyers can't be here if so. Yup fair enough. I get the re-tool part, but they also have key players in a win-now situation with O'Riley, Forsberg, Josi and Saros. Which makes me think they can't wait too long before they push again for the playoffs or their key guys will be too old. I do think Beau could make sense, he is young, but not a rookie. Has a history with Trotz (which could be good) and provides some solid all around play.

This will be so key for Miller going forward. He can't have that lazy bad attitude we saw last year at times or the atrocious moments of defensive play. He looked much better under the new coach and far more dialed in. It is unlikely he gets traded now, so this is our 2C going forward and he needs to be a strong all over the ice. I'm fine with some attitude and grit, reminds me of Kesler, but the play has to match. I don't think he'll ever be a star in his own end, but he can at least be solid, responsible and physical. His main skills can remain his bread and butter, playmaking and the power play.

I'd trade Garland or Beau to Nashville for a pick anytime. Clears some cap for us (Garland in particular) and Nashville has the money and needs offense if they aren't planning a rebuild. But they do have a bunch of players in their last year, so they will need to make sure they have cap space for next offseason to resign their important guys.

Yeah hey you could be right and maybe it is completely lopsided in value. But the Jeannot trade to me seemed to be universally looked at as a bad and very strange overpay. Obviously if he rips it up then that GM will be rightly hailed as a brilliant talent evaluator, but so far it hasn't happened and it still looks to be a pretty big overpay. Wilson signed that deal 5 years ago and has 1 year left I believe. Yes you're right they took a bit of a gamble on him at the time, but since they he has had 50 points once, 2 x 40 point seasons and scored over 20 goals 3 of the 5 years and last year had 13 goals in 33 games. His biggest issue has been staying healthy otherwise all those numbers go up. I just don't feel like Anderson is as good. Anyway yeah I still may be evaluating this all wrong. Toughness is a hard one gauge and maybe Anderson is a physical monster out there which would count for a lot.

Anderson is an interesting player. I've seen him dominate a shift or even most of a game before. But then I won't hear anything about him for months or I'll check his stats after a period of time passes and it is super average. Like his last 3 seasons: gp g a pts pim +/- 2020-21 Montreal Canadiens NHL 52 17 7 24 38 -10 22 5 1 6 12 2021-22 Montreal Canadiens NHL 69 19 13 32 65 -25 -- -- -- -- -- 2022-23 Montreal Canadiens NHL 69 21 11 32 72 -8 -- -- -- -- -- 24 points, 32 and 32 isn't really that impressive. I have heard he is very physical, but at 5.5 million I sure hope so cause he doesn't bring enough offense for that price. So I don't think a trade like Garland for Anderson or Boeser for Anderson is that far off. Maybe we'd have to add, but it can't be that much based on what I'm seeing here.

I'm excited for him and hope he has a great year and resigns a good deal in Van for a long time. BUT...it is pretty weird Detroit traded him. Like they clearly are making moves to start being more competitive (looks at their free agency this offseason) and take a forward step. Moving a supposed #2 Dman who is 25 from your team seems to go against the rest of the Wings plan

Yes I agree lots of holes, but this season (on top of improving over the past couple) our goal should be development. Hopefully at least a few young guys start taking steps forward this year and maybe over time those holes will start to fill.

His size is not concerning to me at all imo. He has a great motor, puck skills and strength. He needs to focus on his defensive game so he has more flexibility to play throughout the lineup if needed and he needs to improve his finishing. That could come with working on his shot as well as getting in games and being more comfortable out there to read the play.

Definitely not interested for Van. Thankfully we don't need more offensive dmen at this time and based on his advance stats he defensive game is quite weak. I'm sure he'll get 1-2 million for 1 year somewhere. Maybe Chicago or a contender will take a flyer on him. I wonder if Boston feels the culture there is strong enough to keep him in line.

I think Garland is the better option to move. Beau is up after this year and I doubt he gets a raise (at least not in Van unless his season is amazing). Garland is locked in for a few more years, so it'll help to clear that cap space for the next couple years

It is a fair question, but no for the Canucks doing it. We have too many wingers and not enough cap space to pay this guy 3-4 million. I am a little surprised that other teams don't do this more. Like Arizona or Chicago, give up a draft pick and you can snag a potentially elite winger.

I'd be willing to try it out if there is interest on the player's end. However my expectations are low he can play 3C. I think he would have already if so, but based on NY and last year in Van looks mainly to be a middle 6 winger. We do need a 3C. Unlikely we'll be able to sign one at this point in free agency, so hopefully someone already in the organization steps up and goes for it. Could be any of Bluger (most likely for this season, will at least get a big opportunity to lock in at 3C) Joshua (coach likes him and has good size) Aman (I know he had a hot and cold season, but is young and could develop more for sure still) Studnicka Linus Karlsson (really impressive season in Abby, likely there again but don't wanna count him out) Raty (unlikely, needs more develop and to improve their skating) Might be a position we're weak in that we'll have to try and live with this season.

When you're coach tells you to chill a bit more in the offseason that must really speak to the physical shape Podz is in right now and the work being done. If he makes the big club next year that is great, but I'm fine with him being our top winger in Abby too if needed. I'd want to see him rack up points. Good on him and congrats to his wife and him on the baby! Also I love Hoglander and hope he makes the team next year.

Man I'd love to get K'andre on our team. Big, good skater and can play in both ends. I wonder if there could be a trade for him eventually if NYR can't get the cap freed up in time for him. Unfortunately, in two years we have the biggest chunk of the OEL penalty in effect, so would be hard for us too.

I had literally never paid any attention to him while in Detroit and he didn't play much in Van last season. What do you like the most about Hronek? What does he bring?