Offseason Wheelings and Dealings

[dbr]

Yeah but Suter is substantially better than Kronwall (who the Wings will be paying $6m in three of the next four years, nothing to sneeze at). Basically if you sign a player of Suter's calibre and are faced with the decision of what to do when a player in the organization develops to that level, you have an amazing problem on your hands.

As for what I'd say to Nicklas Kronwall, it would be something along the lines of "you like playing in the playoffs every year, don't you?" I don't think Alex Burrows has spent the last three years sulking after we signed him at $2m and proceeded to give more to guys like Mikael Samuelsson, Mason Raymond and Manny Malhotra..

Besides, the Wings have just a ridiculous amount of cap space - if the ceiling goes up to $69.3m as projected they could give an extra $1m to every unsigned player and still have over $8m in space left!

Anyway, the only players the Red Wings don't have locked up long term that they are likely to have to deal with an issue like this with are Pavel Datsyuk and Val Filppula, the latter is simply not that good a player and the former.. well if anyone deserves that money it's Datsyuk.

Of course, knowing the fucking Red Wings they'll find a way to give Suter $20m in the next two years on a contract with a $5m cap hit, and the league will look the other way on it.

[Per]

Speaking of (Paul McCartney and) the Wings, they have just signed a three year contract with Calle Järnkrok, but plan to let him stay and develop for another year in the SEL. They want him to have two more summers of tough physical workout to gain another 10 kg before joining them in Detroit.

His line mate, Silfverberg, will be playing in Ottawa next season already.
He already wet his feet there with two playoff games this season.

The two of them were a huge part of Brynäs bevoming Swedish champs this winter, and I think both will have a great career in North America, but I think Ottawa got the better one.

[Fred]

Summer speculating

This week, we've been focussing on "Canucks Team Needs." While the team is probably in need of a top-four defenseman, a third line center and a top-six winger, they're also in need of more youth, size and strength this offseason. Last week, we profiled three potential targets – Kyle Beach, Nikolai Kulemin, and Zac Dalpe.


This week, three more players were profiled. Unrealistic targets were not considered, so don’t expect to be reading about Corey Perry or James Neal. Some of the players profiled would be easier to acquire than others, and some of them are further along in their development than others.


Brett Connolly – Tampa Bay Lightning


Connolly is an obvious trade target of the Canucks if they choose to discuss a Roberto Luongo- to-Tampa Bay trade. Connolly is a highly-skilled right wing who was born in Campbell River and played his junior hockey in Prince George. He was the first 16-year-old since Patrick Marleau in 1995-96 to score 30 goals in the WHL, and in his final season with the Cougars he scored 46 goals in only 59 games.


Connolly battled chronic hip issues during his time with the Cougars, and this may have affected his draft stock a bit (he ended up going 6th overall to the Lightning in 2010). In terms of pure skill, many had Connolly up with Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin:


“The Prince George Cougars right winger might be the most skilled player in this year’s draft. ‘Might’ being the operative word because he played just 16 games this season with hip flexor problems. He originally tweaked his hip at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament last summer and came back too soon. It wasn’t long before he injured his other hip because he was overcompensating for the original injury.”


He suited up for 68 games with the Lightning in 2011-12, scoring four goals and adding 11 assists. He played an average of 11:28 per game, and he only fired 94 shots on goal. Connolly’s offensive numbers were underwhelming considering the bulk of his limited minutes were spent with Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis.


Why would the Canucks want him?


Connolly is big (6-2, close to 200 pounds), and highly skilled. He has earned some comparisons to Rick Nash for how he uses his size to protect the puck, and for how well he skates for a big man. He plays the right wing, a position the Canucks have been thin at for quite some time (Todd Bertuzzi was moved from left to right wing, and the same goes for Alex Burrows and Chris Higgins). The only natural right wingers on Vancouver’s roster at the moment are Jannik Hansen, Dale Weise, and Zack Kassian. He could be put on a line with David Booth and Ryan Kesler, two veterans who could do the bulk of the heavy lifting defensively. As previously mentioned, Connolly’s offensive upside is tremendous.


Why would Tampa Bay get rid of him?


The Lightning wouldn’t necessarily want to get rid of Connolly, but he is one of their best trade chips if they want to add a goaltender without disrupting the roster too much. He struggled mightily during December and January, recording zero points in 14 games. They also have some intriguing prospects on the farm that may have leapfrogged Connolly on the depth chart, including Alex Killorn (who played at Harvard with Canucks prospect Patrick McNally), Richard Panik, and Cory Conacher.


Peter Holland – Anaheim Ducks


Holland had a very solid rookie season in the AHL with Syracuse in 2011-12, scoring 23 goals and adding 37 assists in 71 games. He scored 95 goals over his final three OHL seasons in Guelph, and the Ducks used their first pick in 2009 (15th overall) on him. He won AHL Rookie of the Month honors for March, recording 18 points and a plus-12 rating.


Why would the Canucks want him?


Holland is big, but he has been criticized in the past for not using his size enough. He projects as a very good playmaking center, but it is questionable whether or not his defensive game is good enough for him to play in the NHL right now. The Canucks don’t have any big young centers in the organization.


Why would Anaheim get rid of him?


Holland is being groomed as the second line center of the future behind Ryan Getzlaf, but he will also have to compete for that spot with Nick Bonino and Brandon McMillan. Anaheim brought back Saku Koivu for one more season, recognizing that none of their young centers are ready for top six responsibilities. The Ducks have other needs (on the back end and at wing) that the Canucks could fill in a potential win-win trade.


Eric Tangradi – Pittsburgh Penguins


Tangradi has been the power forward of the future for almost five years now in Pittsburgh. He has been given a few shots to stick around with the big club, but he has come up short each time. He is very skilled for a 6-4, 221 pound forward, and he has proven about all he can at the AHL level. In his last 79 AHL games, Tangradi has 33 goals and 64 points. In 2011-12, he spent the bulk of his time with Pittsburgh’s depth forwards.


Why would the Canucks want him?


Tangradi would be a reclamation project for the Canucks. He hasn’t become the scoring winger the Penguins were hoping for, and a fresh start may do him good. He would add some size and offensive upside to the Vancouver roster, much like Zack Kassian (although Tangradi doesn’t have Kassian’s mean streak).


Why would Pittsburgh get rid of him?


For so long Pittsburgh has been hoping for Tangradi to develop into a net presence that they could plug in on the power play and on the wing with either Crosby or Malkin. That didn’t happen, but they did fill that need with the acquisition of James Neal from Dallas. Pittsburgh’s patience with Tangradi may be running thin.

[ESQ]

What he is, is head and shoulders above the other players who will be available in unrestricted free agency. Since the lockout these are the best defensemen to move in UFA:

Chara
Campbell
Bouwmeester

JBo has been a huge disappointment and otherwise there are two guys; Brian Campbell signed a deal that in the first year was 12.5% of the salary cap ceiling, Chara's was 16.8%.

Even if you think Ryan Suter is closer to Brian Campbell than Zdeno Chara, 12.5% of a $69.3m salary cap ceiling is $8.6m.

Given the Wings major need to replace Lidstrom I would bet the bidding on Suter is likely to get to that level - although obviously like Ehrhoff, a retirement contract could skew the cap number downwards considerably.

Thank you for doing the math! To take it further, Chara's percentage of a $69.3 mil cap is $11.64 million.

I'd say Suter is the best UFA defenseman since Chara, but not as much of a franchise player as Chara.

Any team with the cap space will put in a bid on Suter, and he is going to get ridiculous offers if he gets to July 1. Almost half the league has over $20 million in cap space next year, and every team needs a Ryan Suter.

[Canuck-One]

Re: Fred's Post.

Thanks Fred a well thought out and articulated post. I don't have the time to follow the Junior Ranks and posts like yours and others are a real bonus.

[Cornuck]

Looks like Thomas is ready to fuck over the Bruins

He wants to take a year off to be with his family. In the meantime, Boston is stuck with his 5 million cap hit. Unless it's an emergency situation, it looks like he's whining about trade rumours - who knows - and who cares, as long as it hurts the Bruins.

LINK

[Farhan Lalji]

Just a question:

Is it possible for Gillis to send an offer sheet to Tukka Raask is in the neighborhood of 7 million dollars? (we sign Schneider first).

This then forces Boston to match the offer.

If by any chance, Boston lets him go, they are fucked in net. We get Raask, and then trade both Luongo and Schneider.

7 million cap hit would be hideous for Raask.......but hey........we fucked over Boston.

[Strangelove]

Looks like Thomas is ready to fuck over the Bruins

He wants to take a year off to be with his family. In the meantime, Boston is stuck with his 5 million cap hit. Unless it's an emergency situation, it looks like he's whining about trade rumours - who knows - and who cares, as long as it hurts the Bruins.

LINK

I think Boston could trade the rights to Thomas to a low-income team worried reaching the cap-floor next year.

The team acquiring him wouldn't have to pay him but his cap-hit would still count.

(and if he comes back, hey he only earns $3mil in real dollars next year).

[Strangelove]

Just a question:

Is it possible for Gillis to send an offer sheet to Tukka Raask is in the neighborhood of 7 million dollars? (we sign Schneider first).

This then forces Boston to match the offer.

If by any chance, Boston lets him go, they are fucked in net. We get Raask, and then trade both Luongo and Schneider.

7 million cap hit would be hideous for Raask.......but hey........we fucked over Boston.

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaa and if Boston doesn't match, we trade Lou + Raymond to them for Lucic.

Then we trade Schneids to fellow-Northeast-Division Leaves for Gardiner, Schenn, Ashton, and 5th overall.

[Cookie La Rue]

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaa and if Boston doesn't match, we trade Lou + Raymond to them for Lucic.

Then we trade Schneids to fellow-Northeast-Division Leaves for Gardiner, Schenn, Ashton, and 5th overall.

Nooooo just keep Schneider and get Lucic.......

[Topper]

Just a question:

Is it possible for Gillis to send an offer sheet to Tukka Raask is in the neighborhood of 7 million dollars? (we sign Schneider first).

This then forces Boston to match the offer.

If by any chance, Boston lets him go, they are fucked in net. We get Raask, and then trade both Luongo and Schneider.

7 million cap hit would be hideous for Raask.......but hey........we fucked over Boston.

Brilliant GM. The money saved by firing the Chief and his crew, afterall we wouldn't be involved in the draft for another four years, would go a long way to paying Rask.

[clem]

steppin' into the twilight zone

[Farhan Lalji]

Just a question:

Is it possible for Gillis to send an offer sheet to Tukka Raask is in the neighborhood of 7 million dollars? (we sign Schneider first).

This then forces Boston to match the offer.

If by any chance, Boston lets him go, they are fucked in net. We get Raask, and then trade both Luongo and Schneider.

7 million cap hit would be hideous for Raask.......but hey........we fucked over Boston.

Brilliant GM. The money saved by firing the Chief and his crew, afterall we wouldn't be involved in the draft for another four years, would go a long way to paying Rask.

Lol, c'mon Topper. Since when did you become so serious?!

I was obviously kidding around. Strangelove got it.

[Farhan Lalji]

Then we trade Schneids to fellow-Northeast-Division Leaves for Gardiner, Schenn, Ashton, and 5th overall.

Hey Doc,

Speaking of the Leafs, what do you think about Luongo AND Kesler going to Toronto? If the Canucks were to offer both Luongo and Kesler to Toronto, do you think it would give us a chance at landing ALL of Gardiner, Schenn, Connolly, Ashton, and 5th overall?

Keep in mind - I'm not for or against this idea........just thinking out loud.

I honestly don't know where Ashton and Connolly, etc., are in their development, but I'm wondering if a deal like this went down (assuming that both Gillis and Burke were on board), if it could be similar to the Philadelphia/Los Angeles deal last year (i.e. the Mike Richards deal).

[dbr]

Tim Connolly is 31 if that gives you an idea of where he is in his development.