krsmith17

When retaining salary, it's referring to both salary and cap hit.

What would it take to trade for Puljujarvi?

Yeah, I think he would be a reach at 6. Good looking prospect, but a tier below the guys in our range in my opinion. If we traded back, maaaybe... but even then, there would likely be better players available, assuming we wouldn't trade out of the top 10...

That's just a list of players that are bought out most often in the Armchair GM feature. Buying out Abdelkader at this point would be dumb. It's not going to happen. At least not for the next 2-3 years... And even then, trading him, and retaining a portion of his cap hit would make more sense in 2-3 years time.

Holland was great at RFA contracts.

Skinner will no get $9M. If he does, Botterill should be fired. Skinner's contract has absolutely nothing to do with Mantha and Athanasiou's upcoming contracts. Again, RFA and UFA. Apples and Oranges. Larkin signed a team friendly deal. Yzerman needs to make sure he does exactly what Holland was so good at doing, and get these guys locked up to team friendly deals. I'll bet anything that Mantha and Athanasiou's next contracts will not exceed $6.1M.

We won't. RFA vs UFA. Huge difference. I expect Mantha and Athanasiou to put up roughly 55-65 points each this coming season, and both to sign extensions in the $4.5-5.5M range, depending on term.

"they have enough young d-men..."? What the f*** does that even mean? It will when Hall signs back in Edmonton to play on McDavid's wing...

He said that Karlsson is in a "steep injury induced decline", which I guess is what you disagree with, but he also said "any longer than 4 years", which would lead me to believe that he doesn't think that steep decline will take effect for another few seasons. I tend to agree. Sure, it's possible that he plays at this current level for another 5+ seasons, but I highly doubt it. The injuries that Karlsson has suffered over the past couple seasons, I would expect to have lingering effects. I do believe that whoever signs Karlsson this summer will regret it in a few seasons, assuming they don't win a Cup in that time... I hope Yzerman stays far away...

I don't think anyone really thinks that Karlsson's game is going to dramatically decline in the next few seasons, but the question is, will Karlsson's game dramatically decline in 3+ years from now? I tend to think it will... We're not going to be Cup contenders in the next few seasons, and Karlsson alone doesn't change that. I think he would be a great signing for a team that is a piece or two away, but a terrible signing for a team that is rebuilding and several pieces away (Detroit). Do. Not. Want.

You can rot in HELL!...

I like Turris a LOT more than Nielsen now, but what about in another 2-3 years from now? Maybe we can make that trade and move Nielsen in another trade. I'd be okay with that. I just wouldn't want both Nielsen and Turris with Veleno on the verge of making the team in the next year.

I'd be more interested to see where they had Zadina and Veleno ranked... I would think Zadina would have been 3 or 4 on their list, and I wouldn't be surprised if Veleno would have been top 10 or so on their list... He was on mine... Yeah, that's what I heard as well. He was who I was hoping for at 6, until Zadina slipped. I still would have been okay with Bouchard there, but more than okay with Zadina as well... Meh. I'd take Turris if they were trying to dump him, but he wouldn't be a player I'd give up a ton for... Even after seeing the chemistry he had with Mantha at the WC. Another 5 years at $6M for a 30-35 year old, good for 40-50 points... seems like another Nielsen type player. We need less Nielsen, not more. But hey, if they'd trade him for Nielsen and a pick, I'd do it... That obviously wouldn't get it done, and defeats the purpose of trading him in the first place, with only $750K in cap savings... So, no thanks...

I just think trade backs (within just a few spots) often work out. The Mantha + Bertuzzi > Mueller trade and the Cholowski + Hronek > Chychrun trade have worked out great for us. Granted, it's probably easier to find a trade partner in the latter half of the first round, than it is in the top 10. For that reason though, trading back from 6th to say 8th or 9th (if there is a team looking to move up) should garner more of a return than trading from 18th to 20th or even 16th to 20th. I'd definitely consider it, depending what players were on the board at the time, and what the team was offering in return... I actually think there's a strong chance Podkolzin will be available at 6. I personally wouldn't take him there, but wouldn't hate it if we did...

That would be nice, but a 1st round pick AND Taylor Raddysh may be a bit steep...

No. One of Turcotte, Zegras or maybe Caufield for me.

Old news, and apparently fake news...

I'd consider it if a player I don't really want also goes in the top 5, and there are still 3 or 4 players I really like on the board. But the furthest I would trade back would be 2-3 spots, and it would have to be a considerable offer, like a late 1st / early 2nd round pick...

Are you suggesting that Yzerman should offer sheet Laine? That would be a HUGE mistake, just like it would be to offer sheet Marner or Point... Or maybe you're suggesting that Yzerman should sign Karlsson to a long-term, huge money contract? That would also be a HUGE mistake in my opinion, but I realize I'm in the minority on that one... Yzerman has preached patience, and rightfully so. We have a lot of really good pieces. We're going to continue to get some really good pieces. No need in rushing things... "Trust the process"...

Another guy that is too early to take at 6 and likely won't be around at 35... If he is though, I'd consider him there for sure. I'm not too keen on Podkolzin, but this has nothing to do with why I personally wouldn't take him at 6. Anyone you take beyond the top 3-5 are almost guaranteed to be minimum a year away from the NHL, some longer. Two years is nothing. Not to mention he will be developing in a professional league against men for those two years, not in juniors against kids like most of the other draft eligible prospects... Any reason you don't want Zegras? He wouldn't be my first choice, but I'd be thrilled to add a player like him to the pipeline at 6th overall... For me, it's Byram, Cozens, Turcotte, Zegras, trade back, in that order. It's a very real possibility that my three faves will be gone at 6, and Zegras will be my BPA.

Veleno is going to be an absolute stud.

We need ALL the 1st's...

Or this guy... Or this guy... If anyone knows me, they know I don't really want another goaltender either... But everything about this kid screams special talent...

Spencer Knight... 6th overall is probably way too early to take him... Theres no way he's still available at 35th overall... Goaltending is not a major need with Larsson, Eliasson and Petruzzelli in the system... But part of me really wants to trade up to 20 to get this kid... OR... Dylan Cozens!!!