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It's sounding like the most important goal was cap space before the free agent market opened. So Yzerman trades Purcell (who was a buyout target for Tampa) rather than buying him out because he's older and would be a 2/3 buyout. Now he has Gagner, who I guess they weren't terribly interested in. Then instead of buying out Gagner (which would only be 1/3 buyout because of his young age), Yzerman trades him while retaining salary equivalent to a buyout, but gets a 6th rounder for his troubles. I'm not super familiar with Tampa but aren't they neck deep in good young forwards? So they don't have much of a need for Gagner and Yzerman is trying to clear space immediately.

This is what they should wear IMO.

Personally I find it far more impressive to not have to sell off guys at bargain prices, that you signed in the first place just to free up cash to do it all over again with different guys. Probably making a push for Boyle and Iginla.

This is the real NHL not NHL x GM mode.

Taking the wait and see approach with Alfredsson can be nothing but positive for us in my opinion. This way we can still go out and try to sign other UFA's while Alfie determines whether or not his body can handle the grind of another full season. I would be more than happy to have Alfie back for another season at around 2 million, and assuming we don't go out and sign a boat load of players, we should have no problem re-uping Alfie for another season. I'm ok with Jurco starting the season in Grand Rapids because we all know within the first few weeks he will be up due to the inevitable injuries that will occur. Wings_Toledo - I'm just curious what you and others think our RFA's will get on their new contracts because I believe we have more than enough to sign all of our RFA's, and a top UFA (Niskanen) as well as have plenty of room left to sign Alfredsson. I can see DeKeyser getting around the 1.5M range, Tatar getting around the same and Sheahan around 1M.

Lol. LGW is the only place where every free agent is going to get 6 million per year, and the starting point for every trade is Mantha + 1st. Christian Ehrhoff will not get 6 million dollars. Not happening.

I would think Stevie could get more than a 6th round pick for Gagner. He's only 24 and has a $3.2 million dollar cap hit over the next two seasons. Good job freeing up cap space, but bad asset management IMO.

i would rather have salo than Jovanovski

I'm just hoping we get one or the other. A top 4 defenseman with offensive skills that will cost us nothing off the roster is just what the doctor ordered. An upgrade on the backend will make our forwards that much more productive and can only help Smith and DeKeyser. Can't it be July 1st right now?

Only if they can find a player who has a brain and doesn't constantly run out of position to make a hit.

That's what I was thinking. If it's between Boyle and Gilbert, I'm probably more interested in Gilbert. Niskanen scares me a little because he's going to require such a huge commitment in term and salary.

He was their #4 and they have cap issues.

I guess I just don't underestimate Bowman anymore. Every year we think there will be cap trouble, and they respond by letting low or mid tier players go and replace them with cheaper guys. Kane and Toews asked for 12 with no intention of getting 12. They are just raising the ceiling for superstars. They'll get around 10.Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2 Also, I disagree that Buffalo has a strong core. Myers isn't that good and he's on the block. They have some good draft picks but that hasn't helped Edmonton, so I don't hold out hope for that strategy.Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

Nobody asks this much in a trade. Ever. Either your source is pulling your leg or he made this up. Edmonton didn't even ask that much for Gretzky. So, since I have a feeling you're going to get all bent out of shape about my post I'll make some fun of it. I'll donate money to a charity of your choice if either of the following happens. 1. Keith Yandle gets traded to any team for a package consisting of their top four young forwards, all of whom project as top sixers. Nevermind the first round pick, we already know that didn't happen. 2. Matt Niskanen signs with Detroit for 7 years, 6 million per.

No way this is true. No one would pay that much for Myers. Myers is a project. Never lived up to potential and has struggled mightily to be even a decent defenseman. There are much better options. Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

Axel Holmstrom says: https://twitter.com/axelholma/status/483249847844470785 I like this kid already.

Wow.....

Niskanen. I also had a really weird dreams last night that we got Niskanen and then traded Smith, Tatar, and Kindl to Buffalo for Myers. Gave Pulks Tats' spot and ran a D of Kronner Myers DK Niskanen E bestkid I don't really think that's too unrealistic.

He has two good years left at a minimum.

BOTH!

I think you should make this a four or five way poll and add in Dan Boyle, Tom Gilbert, Stephane Robidas, etc. That might be more illuminating. As it is, I had to pick between two guys who are better than every other defenseman on our team aside from Kronwall.

I only got 15 right, and spent like 7 minutes trying to figure out how to spell Robitaille

Pretty sure Wisniewski said it. Not sure about Jovo. In any case, what they said was true. Kenny is cheap.

Uh oh, please no Kenny!

And Trotz is thinking "sure NOW you a-holes go out and get talent."