Trade rumours & armchair pipe dreams 17-18 Sponsored by SKYO

[BladesofSteel]

The landscape would drastically change should Jim acquire Karlsson.

[$lacker]

I think it’s more likely Jimbo circles back on PK. Word out of Nashville is his schtick has already worn thin and they are looking to move him https://www.tsn.ca/radio/montreal-690/p ... -1.1083767.

Jim already had a deal in place once before and it will probably cost him less this time. Signing Tavares would be amazing but as mentioned before I think there are probably 10-15 teams he would sign with first. Will Benning call Kovulchuk and offer a fat 1-2 year deal? Can this draft happen already

[DHA]

The only “now” players ....guys that make an impact right away as in next year have to be free agents. Trading assets for guys that are not peaking with Boeser and EP means your totally screwing the rebuild and wasting Boeser and Ep as prime assets to appease the now fans for a short spike or parlour trick for a year or two. Maybe that makes good sense at the gate/advertising revenue but it won’t build a Stanley Cup contender.

Be patient trade for picks and when you got a real solid base and are starting to peak hopefully a good free agent is there to push you over the top. EP is the centre of our rebuild he’s 19 - think 4/5 years out at least before they could be serious threat. the 7 guy we get this year will be 17/18. Keep packing assets it’s going to pay off.

I’m all in if Jim can fleece someone but let’s not trade a bunch of assets for a now guy for next year, nothing is happening next year...ESPN Power rankings already have us in Jack Hughes territory next Spring.

[micky107]

ESPN power rankings on Oct. 4th, 2017.
http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/2090 ... -favorites
Ya, OK then...

If we can stay relatively healthy,
Upgrade on Gagne. By that I mean his talent level just has not been as good as I'd hoped.
I think Jim had hoped for better as well. He took a chance, that one didn't work, you can't win them all.
We need, for sure, one upgrade on D. But I would be lying if I said I felt the coaching staff is fine.
Maybe Green is OK, jury is still out. His support staff is not great and our defense was coached poorly.
Our five man units working together, I think, were the worst in the league. This is not a new problem.
But this team can make the playoffs next year.

If they want to.

[Island Nucklehead]

Ah who is EK?

Eklund.

Yeah, insert Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver into any/every "rumour" = clicks = Ad $.

Since we can't even speak to him until the end of the month, I'm not sure why we would be on his "visit list" at this point.

A 5 team visit list.....you definitely make a good point about why he would even have one right now.

The only reason I can see this rumour having any kind of foundation under it is if somewhere along the line it was made known that should JT elect to go the route of UFA, his preference would be to play in Canada.

Montreal
Ottawa
Toronto
Winnipeg
Edmonton
Calgary
Vancouver

Winnipeg, aside from being a shitty place to live year round, has a top-6 forward group that is relatively locked up. While they would doubtlessly be thrilled to move one of those guys who they see in the 4-6 position to accommodate Tavares, it's just not a good fit. Especially as it might make it really tough to extend Wheeler and Laine after next season.

Edmonton has McDoofus, RNH, and Draisaitl up front already, there's not really a spot to add yet another top-6 C, especially when you already have a pair that can play top line minutes most places in the league. Edmonton is also a less than desirable city to live in.

5 team list.

Ottawa can't afford to keep Karlsson. Not sure how they're going to afford Tavares. Also, even if they could, does he go to a team that can't afford to surround him with talent?

The Flames have $12-$17M in cap space, so they could technically afford him, but they also only have 15 players signed. So they can't realistically afford him either.

So, down to the "big three" Canadian markets. Toronto is "in" on every UFA, and Montreal's need for a C is well known. I'd say both of those teams have a far better shot of landing Tavares. They're both in better positions to win now (despite the Habs horrific year last year they still have Weber and Price), both have more favorable travel schedules, and both are more historically significant Canadian franchises.

The only way I see Tavares coming here is if we wants max money, has a messiah complex, and loves the rain. There's better options on everything from climate, taxes, team talent, team history, and work-life balance.

[Blob Mckenzie]

ESPN power rankings on Oct. 4th, 2017.
http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/2090 ... -favorites
Ya, OK then...

If we can stay relatively healthy,
Upgrade on Gagne. By that I mean his talent level just has not been as good as I'd hoped.
I think Jim had hoped for better as well. He took a chance, that one didn't work, you can't win them all.
We need, for sure, one upgrade on D. But I would be lying if I said I felt the coaching staff is fine.
Maybe Green is OK, jury is still out. His support staff is not great and our defense was coached poorly.
Our five man units working together, I think, were the worst in the league. This is not a new problem.
But this team can make the playoffs next year.

If they want to.

The problem with the defence isn’t coaching. It’s a lack of talent. I agree they can make the playoffs next year...... in the AHL.

[RoyalDude]

Ah who is EK?

Eklund.

Yeah, insert Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver into any/every "rumour" = clicks = Ad $.

Since we can't even speak to him until the end of the month, I'm not sure why we would be on his "visit list" at this point.

A 5 team visit list.....you definitely make a good point about why he would even have one right now.

The only reason I can see this rumour having any kind of foundation under it is if somewhere along the line it was made known that should JT elect to go the route of UFA, his preference would be to play in Canada.

Montreal
Ottawa
Toronto
Winnipeg
Edmonton
Calgary
Vancouver

Winnipeg, aside from being a shitty place to live year round, has a top-6 forward group that is relatively locked up. While they would doubtlessly be thrilled to move one of those guys who they see in the 4-6 position to accommodate Tavares, it's just not a good fit. Especially as it might make it really tough to extend Wheeler and Laine after next season.

Edmonton has McDoofus, RNH, and Draisaitl up front already, there's not really a spot to add yet another top-6 C, especially when you already have a pair that can play top line minutes most places in the league. Edmonton is also a less than desirable city to live in.

5 team list.

Ottawa can't afford to keep Karlsson. Not sure how they're going to afford Tavares. Also, even if they could, does he go to a team that can't afford to surround him with talent?

The Flames have $12-$17M in cap space, so they could technically afford him, but they also only have 15 players signed. So they can't realistically afford him either.

So, down to the "big three" Canadian markets. Toronto is "in" on every UFA, and Montreal's need for a C is well known. I'd say both of those teams have a far better shot of landing Tavares. They're both in better positions to win now (despite the Habs horrific year last year they still have Weber and Price), both have more favorable travel schedules, and both are more historically significant Canadian franchises.

The only way I see Tavares coming here is if we wants max money, has a messiah complex, and loves the rain. There's better options on everything from climate, taxes, team talent, team history, and work-life balance.

Toronto yes, Montreal no. Weber is a declining asset, turns 33 this summer. Price is trending in the wrong direction, one of the worst prospect pools in the league, Drouin is overrated, Pacioretty wants out. The Habs are in quite an awful state not to mention it’s a Syberian winter off the St Lawrence. Totally not attractive

[Reefer2]

The problem with the defence isn’t coaching. It’s a lack of talent. I agree they can make the playoffs next year...... in the AHL.

And goaltending, half a top 6 forward line and a couple disgruntled pissed off players aka assholes.

But stranger things have happened, look at Vegas.

[Meds]

Ah who is EK?

Eklund.

Yeah, insert Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver into any/every "rumour" = clicks = Ad $.

Since we can't even speak to him until the end of the month, I'm not sure why we would be on his "visit list" at this point.

A 5 team visit list.....you definitely make a good point about why he would even have one right now.

The only reason I can see this rumour having any kind of foundation under it is if somewhere along the line it was made known that should JT elect to go the route of UFA, his preference would be to play in Canada.

Montreal
Ottawa
Toronto
Winnipeg
Edmonton
Calgary
Vancouver

Winnipeg, aside from being a shitty place to live year round, has a top-6 forward group that is relatively locked up. While they would doubtlessly be thrilled to move one of those guys who they see in the 4-6 position to accommodate Tavares, it's just not a good fit. Especially as it might make it really tough to extend Wheeler and Laine after next season.

Edmonton has McDoofus, RNH, and Draisaitl up front already, there's not really a spot to add yet another top-6 C, especially when you already have a pair that can play top line minutes most places in the league. Edmonton is also a less than desirable city to live in.

5 team list.

Ottawa can't afford to keep Karlsson. Not sure how they're going to afford Tavares. Also, even if they could, does he go to a team that can't afford to surround him with talent?

The Flames have $12-$17M in cap space, so they could technically afford him, but they also only have 15 players signed. So they can't realistically afford him either.

So, down to the "big three" Canadian markets. Toronto is "in" on every UFA, and Montreal's need for a C is well known. I'd say both of those teams have a far better shot of landing Tavares. They're both in better positions to win now (despite the Habs horrific year last year they still have Weber and Price), both have more favorable travel schedules, and both are more historically significant Canadian franchises.

The only way I see Tavares coming here is if we wants max money, has a messiah complex, and loves the rain. There's better options on everything from climate, taxes, team talent, team history, and work-life balance.

For starters, you missed the entire point of my post.

Secondly, of the list of cities I posted, Vancouver is fat and away the best in terms of climate and geographic locale. Every market in Canada is going to have a crappy work-life balance for a guy like him.....which goes back to the original point about him perhaps wanting to play in Canada.

[vic]

5 team list.

Flames and Leafs don't have cap space. He's going to get 10 per at least and neither of those teams have the space...

Ottawa owners are cheap, so really if it is Canada it comes down to Mon and Van - 2 teams.

[Island Nucklehead]

For starters, you missed the entire point of my post.

Secondly, of the list of cities I posted, Vancouver is fat and away the best in terms of climate and geographic locale. Every market in Canada is going to have a crappy work-life balance for a guy like him.....which goes back to the original point about him perhaps wanting to play in Canada.

No I didn't. Your 5 team list makes no sense. If this is JT's list, he doesn't care who Winnipeg or Edmonton has to move out to bring him on board. Maybe he wants to play with McDavid (is this why the Oilers are scrambling to dump Lucic?), or sees Winnipeg as a cup winner in the next year or two. Their cap issues are for them to figure out, and you know they would if Tavares came to them and said "I want in".

Now, If you're just looking at possible destinations given financial constraints, which is where it appears you were taking your argument (GM/Franchise POV), then in addition to Edmonton and Winnipeg you can strike Ottawa and Calgary from your list.

Vancouver always has one of the worst travel schedules (in both miles and time zones) in the league. That's the work-life balance I'm speaking of, not the "OMG your a superstar" fan attention. Montreal takes the train to play games against Toronto and Ottawa. Family/friends can drive to road games. You could be up to send the kids to school after playing on the road the night before. When the money is the same, these details matter. As to the climate, sure. Vancouver is a nice city in winter (certainly nicer than the prairies), but some people hate the rain more than they hate the snow (keep in mind Tavares is from Mississauga). If Tavares cared about climate, he'd go south. If he cared about Canada, he'd stay in the east. I figure both those categories are far lower on his list than things like winning. Also, keep in mind the management/ownership shitshow he's preparing to leave. With all the negative press being spilled about the Canucks ownership/management group recently (not even getting into whether its justified or not, just that it's out there), gotta think that may factor into his thinking.

Anyways, just like an Eklund rumour is designed to attract clicks, another reason for Tavares to include the Canucks on his "list" would be driving up the bidding war amongst the teams he'd actually consider playing for.

[ESQ]

If Thornton isn't returning to San Jose, they have the cap space and everything else to lure Tavares.

Being on Tavares' list is a bit like being nominated for an Oscar - it's nice, but doesn't really mean fuck all unless you win.

I think it's conceivable we're on his short list, but we'd have to do something to stand out - like offer substantially more money than anyone else.

Could do max for one year ($15-16 mil) , then extend for 8 years at a McDaniel number, and we might get lucky.

[Hockey Widow]

I was thinking of SJS too. He would be a good fit there.

I haven’t heard he will only look at Canadian teams. I know in an interview he once said it would be great to play in a Canadian city but that doesn’t translate into I’ll only look at a Canadian market if I hit FA.

There are a lot of teams that he would look good on and that could afford him.

[Richardstroker69]

I was thinking of SJS too. He would be a good fit there.

I haven’t heard he will only look at Canadian teams. I know in an interview he once said it would be great to play in a Canadian city but that doesn’t translate into I’ll only look at a Canadian market if I hit FA.

There are a lot of teams that he would look good on and that could afford him.

I figure sjs and vegas. Both teams are close to cup aspirations (vegas more so). Both warm, both have cap space, Vegas has crazy low taxes.

[micky107]

Just that news on Juolevi this morning, changes everything for me.
I was a proponent for hanging on to our cap space and waiting.
Not now: To me, this is a hint and not a subtle one!
I do not want to try for Karlsson. That will strip all our cash AND too much else. He has a year left!!!!
Throe the bank at John Carlson.
I thought he was just a guy that flourished on a team with a lot of scorers so he got many of his points because of them.
Having watched every game in the Caps last two series, that is not the case. He is really good at all aspects of the game.
A good guy, to be sure.
I'd even let him have some input into the way our defense structures it's self for games.