LeftWinger

He re-signed with the Griffins. ...also, I'd put RAS on wing, move Veleno to 3rd line and dress Stephens. He one of the only RH'd C's we have.

Honestly, instead of trading Raymond, I would rather trade them BOTH 2022 and 2023 1st round picks with ONE of them being top 3 lottery protected to go to 2024. I'm not so sure Buffalo would do that, but outside of let's say 2022 being a top 3, they would then possibly get #1 OA in 2023 AND possibly a #4 (since not team can win a top 3 twice in a row anymore) in 2024. if 2022 is #4 and 2023 is #4, then they win that scenario as well. If I were Buffalo, I'd take that trade. I know I am on record as saying if he went to NYR, they'd should get one of Kakko or Laf back, but if NYR offered the same 2 1st's, with the same protection, I think Buffalo should do that as well. BUT we'd have to 10000000% make sure that Eichel is NOT damaged goods to possibly miss out on one of Wright or Bedard. But I think you're correct, Eichel would instantly be our #1C. Instead of bumpin Ras or Veleno down, I would moved Larkin to wing, maybe put Ras there too! 2021/22 FWD's Larkin - Eichel - Zadina Vrana - Suter - Bertuzzi Fabbri - Veleno - Ras Erne - Stephens - Namestikov Gagner/Smith (I waive Nielsen over Smith because I don't think Smith would clear waivers.) ...I think that lineup is well worth missing out one of Wright or Bedard. Seriously though, you KNOW Detroit is not going to get a #1 OA anyhow, so we'd be missing out on BOTH no matter what. And like you said, our Wing and D are pretty stacked right now, at least from the projections of how they are supposed to turn out.

A bit more than I thought for Erne. ...also

Guess he's the one taking over when (if) we deal Howard? The only explanation for the 3 years.

na

Miraculous healing once traded from Buffalo. Can't risk it. You gotta get one of those two back. Imagine a line of those three? Nope, not even gonna give that a chance to happen.

Buffalo should be getting back one of Lafrinere or Kakko

Remember a team can only jump 10 spots now, so if we're hoping for a shot at #1 we don't wanna finish better than 11th.

Let's offer Datsyuk a year too! Seriously though, why would Chara come here? Unless nobody else wants him and he's just looking for a paycheck. I don't even think he'd be a good TDL flip. Of course most of the serious contenders are already over the cap.

So I wonder what's going on with Bobby Ryan? I thought he was doing well before his injury. Maybe waiting to see where we're at after Erne and Vrana sign? Most of us probably agree it'd be better to have Bobby Ryan here than Nielsen. Bury Nielsen or buy him out and re-sign Ryan. Not sure if they would rather go with Hirose. I know they'll give Smith a spot rather than lose him to waivers. I'm not even sure Hirose will clear this time. But for sure I'd rather have Ryan than Nielsen.

Toronto is over the cap. Guess we'll be seeing Cap Circumvention 101 again this year by all these teams.

This deserves it's own thread because this is about the biggest name we are going to sign today. 2nd line Center?

Nm

Kase and Ritchie both to Toronto. Cap circumvention coming up. I still maintain you shouldn't be able to sign a player if you don't have the space. You should have to clear space beforehand.

Not quite the cap acquisition I was expecting from Tampa!

We're in the playoffs this season.