krsmith17

Custance just wrote an article on The Athletic: "20 players who could move before the deadline" 1. Artemi Panarin, Blue Jackets 2. Matt Duchene, Senators 3. Mark Stone, Senators 4. Kevin Hayes, Rangers 5. Dougie Hamilton, Hurricanes 6. Wayne Simmonds, Flyers 7. Chris Kreider, Rangers 8. Brayden Schenn, Blues 9. Jake Muzzin, Kings 10. Gustav Nyquist, Red Wings: Nyquist has a no-trade and hasn’t been approached yet about waiving it, but it’s still early on that front. Outside of Dylan Larkin, he’s been the Red Wings’ best forward this season, the final year of his contract that comes with a $4.75 million cap hit. He’s a legit top-six forward, who is more playmaker than goal scorer so needs the right players around him to capitalize on his skill set. The problem for Detroit is that Nyquist doesn’t necessarily stand out compared to the other available wingers. “There are a number of pieces (available) that are the equivalent to Nyquist,” said one GM. The Oilers might be a good fit for Nyquist. 11. Jesse Puljujarvi, Oilers 12. Timothy Liljegren, Maple Leafs 13. Micheal Ferland, Hurricanes 14. Mats Zuccarello, Rangers 15. Nino Niederreiter, Wild 16. Jimmy Howard, Red Wings: At first glance, Howard is your traditional rental. Veteran player on an expiring contract from a rebuilding team that will soon be ready to sell. But starting goalies aren’t easy trades to pull off near the deadline. The buyers are buyers because they’re in a playoff spot and likely have been getting good goaltending to get there. Those teams won’t pay a premium for insurance in goal. The Red Wings like Howard. They’d like to bring him back after this season. There isn’t a lot of internal interest in trading him for a third-round pick or whatever a team looking for insurance might pay. So, really, the scenario where a Howard trade is most likely comes only if a contending team loses their starting goalie to injury and is willing to pay a premium (like, say, a first-round pick) to acquire Howard. 17. Andre Burakovsky, Capitals 18. Trevor Daley, Red Wings: Daley is out with a broken foot but should be back in early February, plenty of time to be a target before the trade deadline. He has one year left on his contract that comes at a reasonable $3.16 million cap hit per season, a number that could be sweetened even more with some salary retention. When healthy this season, Daley performed under his standard but that can be attributed, in part, to cycling through partners without a ton of NHL experience. He’s still a great skater with multiple Stanley Cups who would fit seamlessly into any dressing room. A second-round pick and decent prospect probably gets it done. 19. Alec Martinez, Kings 20. Nick Jensen, Red Wings: He might actually be the most appealing of the Red Wings’ rentals. He probably isn’t going to cost a ton but is the kind of player who can play a key part without giving up the farm. “I like him,” said one contending GM. There’s a lot to like. He’s still just 28, he’s a right-handed shot and is a great skater. He’s a rock-solid addition to any team’s bottom pair and the Red Wings haven’t ruled out a contract extension, but The Athletic’s Max Bultman reported last week that there have not been any significant talks yet. Nyquist, Howard, Daley and Jensen are listed as possible trade bait for the Wings. We need to trade Nyquist, even if both sides want to sign an extension. Sign a new contract in the offseason, after we acquire draft pick(s) and / or prospect(s). Howard should be shopped, but depending on the market at the time, he probably won't be dealt before the deadline. Regardless if he's traded or not, I think Howard should be brought back next season. Daley is the one player on this list that I want traded and would not want back next season. Trade him for a mid round pick, retain salary, just get rid of him. Jensen probably should be shopped as well, but he's another player I'd like to see back in Detroit next season. He's a great depth defenseman that can be re-signed relatively cheap. I'm not sure why Edmonton or Toronto would trade Puljujarvi or Liljegren, but I'd inquire on both. Leafs are probably only shopping Liljegren if they can get an established, top pair, right-handed defenseman in his prime though. Something we obviously don't have. Oilers on the other hand, are probably shopping Puljujarvi because that's what they do with their high end wingers (give up on them way too early for way too little). He could probably be had for Ericsson and a 3rd round pick...

Mike McKee was drafted in the 5th round in 2012 as a hulking defenseman, he is now listed at 6'5", 245 lbs. and it appears that Western Michigan University has been trying him as a forward. I've been hoping for him to be converted to forward since he was drafted. I believe this bodes well for McKee, as it should improve his chances in making it to the bigs. He should have a much better chance in making the NHL as a 4th line grinder than as a bottom pair defenseman. I don't know much about McKee other than what I've read but I've heard he is a decent skater with a booming shot and anyone that knows anything about this guy, knows he can fight. He could be exactly what this team has been lacking since the Kocur / McCarty days. Anyone think it is possible he could make this team as a role player / 4th line grinder in the next few years?

This is one of many reasons it would be dumb to offer sheet Pettersson... If Yzerman were to do it, Benning would match, and offer sheet Raymond in a few years when he's eligible.

There isn't anything I've said that isn't an "if" or "maybe"? Well no s***. That's exactly what I'm saying... I'm not the one guaranteeing anything... I've been attacked and threatened because I "think" it's entirely possible, yes even likely, that we're "in the running" for a bottom 5 finish. That is in no way a guarantee... Anyway, I'm done with this.

I do think it's likely. We finished 5th from the bottom last season. I think we've improved marginally. Maybe enough to get us to that 8-10 range. Maybe. I think it's possible that if Yzerman trades Bertuzzi or Vrana, that he considers futures, and if he does want a player back, that player likely won't be as effective as either player traded away. You think if Yzerman trades either of those guys, it'll be as great a return as the Mantha trade? Maybe, but I wouldn't count on it.. I agree that Yzerman is "trying" to ice a competitive team. That doesn't mean we're guaranteed to climb from 27th to 20th. Could we? Sure. Is it likely? I don't think so. We're getting younger, moving in the right direction, but with that comes growing pains. The theme here is that there are a lot of "ifs" and maybes". No "guarantees" like some of you seem to believe. Like any team, any season, a lot can go right / wrong over an 82 game schedule.

Yes, we'll be "in the running" for a top 5 pick. Absof***inglutely. What's your point?

Yup, nice dodge indeed. I don't blame you for not wanting to answer the question... Why would I bet money on something I "think" has a "possibility" of happening? LOL a lot of threats behind that computer screen hey big fella...

Literally no one has said that this team has not improved. The difference is how much some of us believe we have improved. Me: "It's very possibly we could be in the running for a bottom 5 finish again this season"... kip, bark, marc: "ThErE's No WaY tHaT iS pOsSiBlE" "wAnT tO BeT $500?"...

Ok, so you do think we are a "rebuilding team". So explain the point of the above post... Are you saying that actually is what rebuilding teams do? Or that Yzerman was dumb for acquiring Leddy, giving up a pick since we are still a rebuilding team? Or was it just another dumb post by kipwinger that made absolutely no sense?...

This (clear sarcasm) to me indicates that kip doesn't believe we are a "rebuilding team"... "ReAd BeTwEeN tHe LiNeS"...

LOL Is this a joke? I've never (non-sarcastically) said the rebuild is over...

We're absolutely getting closer. I've never said otherwise. I'm just not so naive to think the rebuild is over, or that we're this dramatically improved team, or that there's no way we finish bottom 5 this season... The rebuild is not over. We've improved marginally. Maybe it's enough to get us around 8-10 from the bottom. Maybe Yzerman trades a big player or two, and we once again finish in the bottom 5. We'll see...

Nah. Just thrilled this rebuild is finally behind us...

Now THIS is what teams that have completed a rebuild do...

REBUILD OFFICIALLY COMPLETE!!!

So are you saying the Detroit Red Wings are NOT a rebuilding team? LOL This is exactly why I didn't love the trade initially. Leddy is a solid player, great addition, but I didn't think Yzerman would be turning the corner that quickly. I still don't think he is fully turning the corner just yet, but Leddy signifies that we're getting closer.

Sure, it helps when there's a roster player coming back, but I don't think it's a requirement for Yzerman. If a team is offering up a high end prospect and pick(s), I think he'd be all over it. You think signing a high(er) profile player like Bertuzzi requires the same leg work as a bridge deal for Rasmussen or an extension for Pickard? Not even close. It's very common for a lot of the smaller deals to get done early in the summer, and some of the bigger deals to happen as late as August / September, right before training camp...

What moves so far this off-season have you convinced he's ready to turn the corner? He's made very similar moves so far this off-season as he did last off-season. I loved last off season. You hated it. I love this off-season so far, and apparently you do too. What's the difference? Leddy? That's the only significant upgrade from the outside. I love the Nedeljkovic trade, but I don't see him being a significant upgrade over Bernier (if at all). Suter is a younger, slightly better version of Namestnikov. Oesterle is an older, slightly better version of Merrill. He re-signed Gagner and Staal. Yzerman is still very much committed to this rebuild and next year's draft. He signed more stop-gaps. Where is this 180 you speak of?

No, I don't think he'll "full tank" in any trade, but there is a possibility that he trades one or both in a similar trade to the Tatar / Nyquist trades. You don't think there's a reality where Yzerman could trade one or both for a high end prospect and / or pick(s)? We've consistently been one of the most injured teams every year, pandemic or not. You're assuming for whatever reason this year will be different. That's what's "idiotic"... What does playing more games have to do with anything? We'll get more wins / points because we'll be playing 82 games, rather than 56. That doesn't mean we'll be higher in the standings... lol So? And we won't play good teams outside of our division twice each? You keep talking about "rocket science" and "intelligence", but the points you're attempting to make are completely absurd... Or maybe Bertuzzi is anxious to sign a contract, but Yzerman has been extremely busy with the expansion draft, entry draft, free agency, etc. Have you heard of contract talks between Yzerman and Vrana? What about Hronek? I'm sure they want out too right?

So what about potentially subtracting good players while adding futures? Are we still better without Vrana and Bertuzzi? Not to say both will be moved, but there's a strong chance one or both will be moved before the trade deadline. Ok. So we'll be healthier (no injuries) this season because there's no COVID concerns? Got it. Have you considered that maybe playing Detroit and Columbus every night played a role in them being three of the top five teams in the league last season? No, we won't be playing top teams. Except that we'll still be in a division with Tampa, Florida (two of those top three teams) and Toronto (who has been comparable to Carolina the past several seasons). Yeah, the new division should be a cakewalk... A player filing for arbitration doesn't mean they want out. However, I'm sure Bertuzzi sees the writing on the wall after Athanasiou and Mantha being dealt the past two deadlines. I wish I too could see into the future... Must be nice.

We would have had a top 5 (5th overall) pick this summer if it weren't for the expansion team. How has Yzerman improved this team "considerably"? I would say he has improved the team "marginally". Assuming that we will be a better team next season is assuming that Yzerman isn't going to trade away any of our good young players for futures. I would assume at least one or two of those players will be moved at or before the trade deadline. Staying healthy is a bit of a bold assumption, considering we're consistently one of the highest man games lost to injury teams every season. Ottawa was better last season and will be better next season than Columbus. For every "bad" team we played last year, there will be a "bad" team that will replace them this season. It's not Shane Wright or bust, but we should absolutely be in the running for a top 5 pick next season. What makes you think "Bertuzzi is desperate to get out of Detroit". First I'm hearing of this...

I don't disagree with the value we'd be giving up. Is Pettersson worth $10.25M though? I don't think so. If we can get another top 5 pick next summer, we could potentially get a Pettersson level player, and never have to pay him close to that (relative to percentage of the cap). If we were to offersheet Pettersson at $10.25M. What is Raymond going to want on his next contract? Or Larkin? or Seider? Or whoever else?... Pettersson is not Matthews, but that massive contract is the reason Marner signed his massive contract (overpaid). There's a trickle down effect. I like that we have our captain, and current best player locked in at $6.1M. Yzerman, of all people is going to understand the importance of key players playing at a bit of a hometown discount. You're not getting that with any offersheet.

What makes this obvious to you? We finished 5th from the bottom this past season. Dead last the season before. 4th from the bottom the year before that. The opportunity was there. Do you think we're that much improved after this offseason (so far)? I don't. I think we'll be a bottom 5ish team again this coming season. I like the moves he's made, but they're still a lot of stop-gap type moves. I think after next season we'll be positioned to start climbing the standings. I think we have one more shot at a lottery pick. Whether we win it or not, we'll see. But we'll likely be in the running.

I'm thoroughly enjoying the fantasy banter... IF Yzerman were able to pull off a successful offersheet, I think it would be a bad move at this stage of the rebuild. Fortunately, it's not going to happen. IF Yzerman were able to get this team in position to have a shot at a top pick, it would catapult this rebuild into immediate playoff team. Unfortunately, this isn't likely, but at least there's literally no downside if it were to happen.

Sure. Maybe. The key being this team, this offseason. Not going to happen. I'd much rather draft Wright AND Bedard...