Offseason Wheelings and Dealings

[tantalum]

I'm starting to think that Strangelove was that guy who called in on 1040 the other day with tears streaming down his face threatening that "IF. MASONRAYMOND! IS IN A CANUCK UNIFORM NEXT SEASON!!! I...WILLNEVER!!! WATCH...ANOTHER GAME....AGAIN!!!! I'M SERIOUS!!!

It was either him or Tantalum

Tant doesn't have long distance, only nation wide.

Whatever. If the canucks didn't happen to have Higgins and Hansen surpassing Raymond on the depth chart the past 12-18 months he'd have a fit on the team. If he gets his game together he might yet have a fit on the team by winning a head to head battle with one of those two. I have nothing against Mason Raymond despite what RD wants to believe. RD seems to think my criticisms of Raymond last season had to do with some sort of hate I had for the guy. But that's only because he doesn't want to admit that behind Malhotra, for the bulk of the year Raymond was the worst full time forward on the team. If Raymond decides to return to his 25 goal, 50 point form by using his speed to drive to the net each and every shift he's welcome on any team. If that does happen I want it to happen on the canucks as a $2 mil 25 goal scoring, PKer is a very nice asset. Unfortunately, that player hasn't been seen for more than a couple weeks the last two seasons.

If Mason Raymond is a canuck next season then it's because he has presumably earned that spot. No problem with that at all. I don't want to see guys getting undeserved icetime this next season. That extends to Malhotra or Weise and even Kesler.

[Topper]

To put Raymond's arbitration in context, Darren Helm (9g, 17a, 26pts, 68gms) just signed for $8.5mil/4yrs. A hair better than $2.1mil per.

[Fred]

To put Raymond's arbitration in context, Darren Helm (9g, 17a, 26pts, 68gms) just signed for $8.5mil/4yrs. A hair better than $2.1mil per.

I'm sure both you and I know stats shown are not why they signed Helm. He's Malhotra type piece, good face off, fore check , shut down type player

[dbr]

Josh Harding signed an extension with the Wild, a three year deal.

Here are your UFA goaltenders with more than 20 starts last year, as of this morning: Jonas Gustavsson (36), Dwayne Rolosson (31), Al Montoya (26), Scott Clemmensen (25), Johan Hedberg (23), Marty Biron (20).

Four of those guys (Rolosson, Montoya, Gustavsson, Biron) had save percentages under .910.

[mpp]

Harding staying put with the Wild makes me think the market for Luongo gets worse. No way Minny will go with Harding-Backstrom-Hackett. Well, technically they might, but Hackett is ready for NHL. I suspect they will try to move Backstrom and his $6M next year ASAP.

[Aaronp18]

Harding staying put with the Wild makes me think the market for Luongo gets worse. No way Minny will go with Harding-Backstrom-Hackett. Well, technically they might, but Hackett is ready for NHL. I suspect they will try to move Backstrom and his $6M next year ASAP.

I don't think the Wild can rely on Backstrom for a couple reasons. His hip/groin injuries are adding up quickly and his deal is done at the end on next year.

If the Wild can't count on him long term it doesn't exactly inspire confidence in potential suitors.

I think the market for Luo/Schneids is very different that that for Backstrom, if he's available. Backstrom would be a short term solution IMO whereas the Canucks tenders would be more suitable for teams looking for longer term stability.

[Jovocop]

Harding staying put with the Wild makes me think the market for Luongo gets worse. No way Minny will go with Harding-Backstrom-Hackett. Well, technically they might, but Hackett is ready for NHL. I suspect they will try to move Backstrom and his $6M next year ASAP.

Backstrom, 34 y.o., $6m cap hit, UFA in 2013

Regular Season: 327GP 160W 109L 42OT 26SO .918SV% 2.42GAA
Playoffs: 11GP 3W 8L 0SO .911SV%, 2.55GAA

Luongo, 33 y.o., $5.33m cap hit, 9 years left

Regular Season: 727GP 339W 283L 33T 50OT 60SO .919SV% 2.52GAA
Playoffs: 61GP 32W 29L 5SO .916SV%, 2.53GAA

Luongo is younger and has a lot more experience (both in regular season and playoffs) than Backstrom. Also, his contract is signed for another 9 years with a lower cap hit. Backstrom could very well be Giguere v2. Can Burke afford to gamble once again?

[mpp]

I don't think the Wild can rely on Backstrom for a couple reasons. His hip/groin injuries are adding up quickly and his deal is done at the end on next year.

If the Wild can't count on him long term it doesn't exactly inspire confidence in potential suitors.

I think the market for Luo/Schneids is very different that that for Backstrom, if he's available. Backstrom would be a short term solution IMO whereas the Canucks tenders would be more suitable for teams looking for longer term stability.

Backstrom is one year older than Luo, just one year... As for the contract, remember that some people, especially from Toronto tend to believe Luongo's contract is appalling and not tradeable (BS of course). That is why I'd think Backstrom's one year at 6M could be attractive, at least on paper. The price tag would be nicer than Luongo's too.

That said, I just asked Russo on Twitter and his response was this:

hackett was always playing in houston next year; been writing that for weeks; if they lost harding, they were signing a backup

In my opinion, this is a mistake by our division rival, but... why feel sorry for them? Hackett is for real and duo of him and Harding would most likely suffice. Backstrom could help them bolster their joke of offense... again, not our problem.

Luongo is younger and has a lot more experience (both in regular season and playoffs) than Backstrom. Also, his contract is signed for another 9 years with a lower cap hit. Backstrom could very well be Giguere v2. Can Burke afford to gamble once again?

I wasn't thinking of Toronto per se; in this particular case much depends on what BB thinks of Reimer and Scrivens and one year of Backstrom could help him sort it out. On the other hand, this could be BB's last year in Toronto, so he better makes a splash. And goalie splash = Luongo, of course. If I were him and to pick, I'd go for Luo. Then again, is the will-trade-for-goalie market down to Toronto by now?

[Aaronp18]

Backstrom is one year older than Luo, just one year... As for the contract, remember that some people, especially from Toronto tend to believe Luongo's contract is appalling and not tradeable (BS of course). That is why I'd think Backstrom's one year at 6M could be attractive, at least on paper. The price tag would be nicer than Luongo's too.

I didn't say anything about their age, I know they are only a year apart, but Backstrom's injuries are most definitely a concern. Even in the short term.

I don't think the Wild get much in the way of offensive help right now, like I said I think the markets for Luo and Backstrom are very different. I think teams looking to take a run this year may look at Backstrom and even then it may not even be until the deadline. I see him moved for picks and prospects.

No team is going to send integral pieces when they don't know if Backstrom will re-sign long term or if he will stay healthy, it's not worth the risk.

Gillis is looking for, and should get, a hockey trade. Something that could be beneficial in the short and long term for both teams.

[CorranHorn]

Word is that Garrison would ideally like to stay in Florida based on the minutes he's getting with Campbell, as well as the top powerplay minutes. He is open to coming home tho.

[Blob Mckenzie]

Gilbert Brule might be an interesting option at centre. The Coyotes aren't bringing him back.

[RoyalDude]

Gilbert Brule might be an interesting option at centre. The Coyotes aren't bringing him back.

Blobby, why does everyone want to fill this team with journeymen? There are reasons why these guys can't hold a job with a team for very long. This might be the Luke Schenn syndrome, because they were drafted high must mean they are good. Like Higgins, Brule falls in that Mike Sillinger Journeyman Hockey Player category.

[tantalum]

Must be a blue moon...I agree with RD yet again.

The journeymen by and large are easy to come by. Gillis needs to be focusing on an additional game breaker or two (preferably one up front and one on the blueline).

Now that doesn't mean I want to rid the roster of guys like Higgins. Those guys are useful. They can provide grit, speed, heart and push. But there are limits to how many of those guys you need.

[herb]

Like Higgins, Brule falls in that Mike Sillinger Journeyman Hockey Player category.

How you cannot like Chris Higgins is beyond me.

He is one of the hardest working players on the team. He is on a very friendly contract. He can play either wing, on any line, both PK and PP. He crashes and bangs and plays the dirt areas (unlike your boi MayRay). He has played through injuries, including a broken foot during the 2011 playoff run. He has scored at about a 20 goal, 25 assist pace which is exactly what he is asked to do as a 2nd line winger.

Frankly, we could use another player like Higgins, and I for one would be ecstatic if Hansen becomes the player Higgins is.

For the record, Gilbert Brule has a lot of work ahead of him if he is going to stay in the NHL nevermind be as successful as Chris Higgins has been.

Also for the record, pass on Brule.

[wienerdog]

There's a thread on HF stating that the NYR are shopping Dubinsky hard. According to the rumors, they're trying to clear cap space to take a run at some of the big fish and that he might be able to be acquired fairly cheap. If true, one has to think that the Rags would want to send him West.

BD has 3 years remaining on a deal that puts him at a $4.2M cap hit, and can play both centre and left-wing. Good along the boards, and tenacious as hell. Points-wise, he had an off-year last season with 34. He had 54 in the year previous while scoring 24 goals.

Definitely a bit rich for our blood, but he could be the game-breaker type that Tant is talking about. Hmmm...

Dubinsky instead of Booth, anyone?