LeftWinger

Discuss:

I've got a strange feeling about Ras. Considering my opinion when he was selected, I even surprise myself with it. Also, look at Pope and how long it took him to earn a deal. I'm not giving up on these kids yet. Maybe we should go back to 2014 draft thread and talk about how they're doing.

...and everyone was so excited when these players were drafted. Is Holland going to have a similar draft? With basically 4 1sts he shouldn't, but can he screw it up? We'll see...

Being a good start means, "we're sending you AA and a 1st for sure, what else is it going to take in addition?" Then the negotiating begins. They'd be getting AA and a 1st in addition to other assets. That's just the "start." Its a good starting point.

True!

Really? Thanks. That is why I said it would be a "good start." Why don't you try and add something to the conversation instead of just trolling and trying to talk down to people?

I guess we should be talking OEL and Karlsson in this thread instead of the 2018 one. The question is, could we afford BOTH via UFA come July 2019. Well, right now (before our RFA re-signs THIS summer) we are showing $35M available for 2019-2020. That is BEFORE the cap raises this summer (some say upwards of $83M.) It may go up a bit more come next summer too. If we could get Larkin and Mantha re-signed (this summer) for a nice bridge deal (lets say $4M) and instead of signing average UFA fillers and just brought up some kids on ELC's, we could possibly offer OEL and Karlsson upwards of $10M per season. I am thinking that AA is dealt at this draft, although I am a big fan, I don't think Holland is going to fool around with him this summer. He has to get people sign that want nothing less than to be here and make this franchise great again. Mantha, Larkin, Bertuzzi, Frk... We don't have the time for AA's shenanigans this summer. He is arbitration eligible, but we may as well just deal him before he is able to go to arbitration. He'll probably get a deal that he'll hate and be disgruntled all year long. Of course still not sure if Z is going to play after next year, so we may get a nice LTIR relief there too. Permanently promote Ras, Svech, Smith, Cholowski, Hronek and a young G to back up whoever is starting in 2019. That could possibly be Howard at a VERY reduced rate. I am sure Jimmy would just as well finish his career out here, and at something like $2M to $3M that wouldn't be a bad thing, especially if a young G on an ELC proves he can handle the NHL.

Maybe we do make a deal for OEL under the pretenses that he re-signs or he already re-signed and then traded. I am sure it would be expensive, but AA and VEG's 1st is a good start.

Ya, but could imagine if we COULD land both? Stranger things have happened! I am sure cap will rise again, we are losing Kronwall and Howards contract. Sure we'll be paying Larkin and Mantha more than now, but again, especially if we bomb out of the JT sweeps, we'd need about what, $16M-$18M to sign them? Maybe $20M? That's a lot to have tied up in 2 guys, but the quality of those 2 would be worth it IMO! If we don't waste anymore cash on average UFA's and just bring up our kids, we could swing $20M to those two guys... OEL - Bouchard (PLEASE!) Karlsson - Cholowski Hronek - Ericsson Extra It's nice to imagine!

It'd be nice to get OEL, it would help our chances in landing Karlsson.

We have the chance to draft THREE defenders in the 1st two rounds that are already better than what we have on our current team. Bouchard, Mat Samuelsson and Calen Addison. Now that doesn't mean they'll bump three of our D out this season, but add to those three, Cholowski and Hronek and the outside remote possibility that we could land Karlsson, we really don't need to take away from our top 6 future to add another D. Holland could go with Hughes, Boqvist or Dobsobn with #6 and they too are also better than anyone we have on D currently. The remains, you don't trade away players like Larkin.

With all due respect to Lidstrom, he was not the reason nor the cornerstone for us winning the Cups in 97 and 98. He was great, but he was only one part in a machine. I agree, you are offering way too much for Hamilton. As much as you need a "Hamilton" on the blueline, you also desperately need a Larkin in the top 6. There is nobody in the system that could replace Larkin. We'll draft our version of Hamilton (hopefully Bouchard) and we'll still have Larkin. Win-Win.

Caps all the way!

My kids are a big fan of Pacifica Northwest!

I'm looking for this piece if anyone can help...

Wow, didn't know there was anyone left with a minus rep. I gave ya a like to get you back on the right track!

Let us not forget, Lidstrom was a 3rd round pick. It could be something like that that could redefine our D.

I honestly don't see Kenny trading for anyone. He's said for the last 4-5 years that you build through the draft. He's especially not going to pay the price it's going to take to get any of the D-men we're mentioning. Fast forward to Erik Karlsson (if he becomes UFA) and I can see Holland going large for him.

Dude, give it up. You are now just mocking the Mods.

I guess it all depends on whether or not Trouba is going to give them issues come July 1 again. But ya, surely would be a fantasy come true!

If Jets get eliminated, Holland will trade AA, Helm, Vegas 1st and our 2nd to them for Trouba.

Do not like that mock draft, with the exception of Bouchard. The rest seems a little too random. Here is my top four based on the latest ISS rankings: #6 - Bouchard #28(ish) - Dominik Bokk #33 - Mat Samuelsson #36 - Calen Addison That would be an awesome 4 picks for us. I'd like to have Ryan McLeod, but he will probably be gone by #28-#31, and we do need RH'd scorers and Bokk fits that bill. Can you imagine our D in 3-4 years with Bouchard and Samuelsson?

Washington - Winnipeg would be a very interesting SCF. Hell, I don't care anymore, all is right with the hockey world with Pit being gone and Chicago never making it!

Ya, there are lots of good discussions going on over in the Draft thread. I'd add some here, but don't want to post the same thing over here that we have been discussing over there.

Nielsen can score points, he just needs wingers that he can score with. He was doing very good with Vanek before Vanek got injured. I am not saying bring Vanek back, but he needs a scoring winger to put up points. I remember even when it was Nyquist - Nielsen - Helm, they were doing well together. I just don't get Blashill and why he doesn't try to stick with combos that are successful. You don't HAVE to have Nyquist with Z, or on the top line. Put players together that gel. Remember Mantha - Larkin - Frk? I honestly wouldn't mind seeing Ras - Nielsen - AA as a unit. ...that being said, this is the draft thread! Sorry!, but I was wanted to address to Nielsen subject. But ya, Jonas, I don't think that package would get a 10th OA pick. We'd have to send someone of value and with potential. DD has lost value over the years, Jensen, for as much as I like him, is a bottom 6, depth pairing guy. I love AA, but if we were guaranteed getting #7-#9ish, and we could draft Wahlstrom, I'd trade AA. But it would cost much more than that, plus if the draft shakes out like most insiders are predicting, I think Wahlstrom goes #7 anyhow, so we'd really have to up to offer to get it. Maybe, MAYBE we'd still be able to get him at #8 if we could make a deal with Chicago, because IMO, if Vancouver doesn't select him, Chicago will grab him for sure, they need scoring wingers. Here is my proposal to Vancouver or Chicago: Nyquist (since Chicago has been rumored to be interested in him) AA, Vegas 1st for #8. ONLY if Vancouver does not draft him at #7. If we are trying to deal with Vancouver, then we'd have to up the ante a bit, because they hold the cards, plus they are losing the Twins, so they really need player(s) to take those spots. I'd offer them an entire line of Nyquist - AA - Svechnikov plus Vegas 1st for their #7. There is no guarantee that they'd even be interested in that because Nyquist is on an expiring contract and probably holds no future value to them. Although they could be intrigued with teaming him up with Pettersson. I've seen a couple mock's that have Wahlstrom going to Arizona at #5 as well. We just may have to face it that, we probably aren't getting BOTH a top notch blueliner and a top notch RW'er in the top 10, we'll have to "settle" (I say that like whomever we draft is settling for him ) for one or the other, its just up to Holland to deem who the best player available is. If Bouchard and Wahlstrom are both there at #6, that is going to be a flip of a coin decision, because either one of them would help our rebuild tremendously and IMO, you couldn't go wrong with either one of them. Unless Holland pulls a miracle and either snags #5 or #7 somehow, someway. If we somehow walked out of the 1st round with BOTH Bouchard and Wahlstrom, holy crap!