LeftWinger

I got 2003 seniority!

I honestly would prefer the trade with Tampa (or someone who needs cap relief) in order to get assets and keep our #6 and use it on a LHD (my preference) or a forward that we may need, rather than use it for a G. Even if we acquired Alnefelt, I am still good if we were able to get Cossa at 22 though! Those two right there would potentially turn our G pool 180 degrees.

No, I am not talking some big revelation, but in all this talk about our G prospect pool and how important it is to get that spot filled via a young kid I just felt that with all the talk about whether or not you take a G in the top 10, we may have lost sight of the trade possibility with a team that needs to dump salary. I didn't look at Columbus, but they are not in need to dump salary, so acquiring one of theirs may cost too much, plus they are 27 already, not sure if that fits the rebuild timeline or model. Alnefelt is only 20 and Tampa will be desperate to shed salary. Not sure if they want to play the "cap-circumvention" game for a whole 82 games season this time.

So here's where I sit with my trades from above and re-signing our RFA's and the 3 UFA's. I also signed Ullmark as our 2nd G. Disregard to salaries because I just threw some numbers in there to get the rosters together. We have plenty of cap space so give or take whatever with the salaries I did. I am at 26 players without removing one for Seattle. Both Alnefelt and Newpower can safely be sent to GR with waiver exposure. I am in a pickle. I can probably do without Staal, but he was one of our solid bright spots last season back there. Also I forgot I am using a buyout of Nielsen, so that helps. So I now sit at 25 before removing a player to Seattle. Do I trade for both of the Tampa guys or sign Ryan? Do I not re-sign Staal? I feel I have to re-sign Glenny. But anyhow here's how I look, remember one of these players will be off to Seattle. Also, I did not align them to position,so disregard that too. Honestly though, as much as I want him here and make the roster, Veleno can also be safely sent to GR to start the season. So remove him, lose a player in expansion (unless they sign one of our UFA's) and I am right at 23. Bring it on! I agree 1,000,000% but has Cholowski earned it over Lindstrom? Shoot, maybe they sign Helm as a UFA and that would count as our loss. I think, right? Because they have two days of expiring UFA negotiating before the draft, so technically Helm would not yet be a UFA.

One thing we do have to remember is Givani Smith is out of waivers. If he gets protected, odds are he'll get a 2-3 year deal and he will have to be in Detroit to avoid the waiver wire. Same goes for Cholowski and Lindstrom, no waivers exemption. So in my scenario above, losing a player to Seattle, then having Smith here puts me back at 25 players if I re-sign Ryan and Staal. If I am acquiring salary to gain assets then I guess I can let Staal and Ryan go. But I will screw around with the Armchair GM a bit to see what I can do. This will be a tough go if Seattle takes a FWD or Heaven forbid, Yzerman leave Stecher unprotected and they choose him.

That is why I think it would be a good deal both ways. We have the cap, we need the G prospect, they need the cap. We could use them as TDL fodder to get a couple of 3rds back maybe. The only thing is, with the RFA's that will be re-signed, acquiring those 2 plus Pettersson fills up our roster pretty quickly! Might not be room for Ryan or Staal, but I'd be ok with that too. Depending on who who lose to Seattle also.

If anyone can do it, Yzerman can! Look what he got from The Rangers!

The only issue is, all of them have some kind of control (M-NTC) where they go. Obviously NTC and even NMC can be waived, but would any of those three waive it to come here? I went with Palat because he had the highest salary plus it was only one year. But ya, to get that G prospect, I'd even take two of these guys! prefer Palat and Killorn. I'd also up the pick to a 3rd! to TPA : 2021 3rd round draft pick to DET : Andrej Palat, Alex Killorn, Hugo Alnefelt I'd have to change up the Pit trade though since I don't want to lose both 3rd rounders: to PIT : 2021 4th round draft pick, rights to Evgeny Svechnikov (or maybe a D prospect) to DET : Markus Pettersson of our UFA's I resign Ryan, Glendening and Staal. Then I sign either Ullmark or Driedger to play with Greiss. I still draft D at #6( prefer Hughes or Edvinsson) but if a hot FWD is there, maybe him.

Speaking of Palat, to go along with the below quote from me yesterday and one that I put in the draft thread, Tampa will be in DIRE need to shed salary this off season. Palat has the one year left at $5.3M. It won't solve all their problems, but it would bring them just under the cap, although they would need about 4-5 more players signed, they'd be at 18. Anyhow How about Palat, Alnefelt for a 4th at the draft? Then we can use #6 on skater that we need. Aslo, more specifically regarding the below idea, Pettersson for a 3rd at the draft. we have two 3rds and two 4ths and of course plenty of cap space. Palat can be a salary dump to help them and get us a top goalie prospect, and Pettersson can be a salary dump for Pittsburgh as they look to reload for better run. Like mentioned below, Pettersson fits the age range, and rebuild timeline, PLUS is a higher end prospect on the LH side. In reagards to G's, I am pretty convinced Bernier is going UFA and trying to land on a team with Cup chances, maybe even back to Colorado. I am ok with that because with better D, Greiss will be better and I am also ok with trying to get Mrazek back. But there are other options like Ullmark for example. Another one to consider could be Chris Driedger from Florida. With Bobrovsky tied up and Knight emerging, Driedger could be looking to go somewhere for playing time. Plus he's only 27. We can acquire Alnefelt, get Petruzzelli signed and maybe even draft a G later in the draft...or maybe even Cossa if he's there at 22. I brought this back up, because all the back and forth about Rasmussen was clogging the subject up. There is nothing we can do about 2017 now, we just need to hope he turns out to be that middle 6 guy, net front presence that he was touted to be when drafted. Unless we're talking about trading him in this off season. sidenote: the difference between Ras and Zadina is, in 2017, I don't think anyone knew if they had their eye on anyone, so even though it seemed Ras was taken a bit early, other than fan favorites being passed on, there wasn't any instant loss. With Zadina, everyone and their sisters knew Holland was eyeing D, the consensus was Hughes, but rumors was Bouchard, either way, D was the way they were going, then when Zadina fell (for good reason I believe) Holland totally flipped on the plan and drafted him. Although in hindsight, taking Ras instead of a few other names mentioned already, looks like a mistake years later, taking Zadina instead of Hughes looked like a mistake more quickly. But can't change it now, I only hope they both continue the trend from last season and get better and better, or both of these could end up another Keith Primeau/Joe Murphy screw up.

Nah, actually I hope he doesn't draft a G at #6. But if he does, then it's all part of the plan!

I'll take those lumps! I was pretty annoying back then, especially during that draft! I forget, did we pass on Hague or did someone select him in the 2nd before us? I'm cool though! The difference between now and then is now it's a legit joking point, back then I seriously pissed you guys off! But honestly, with all the name changes, I am not even sure who I am talking to! edit: looking at the draft, I see Vegas indeed selected him before us. We took Lindstrom. But (to bring in another older version of myself (just for fun)) Holland would have drafted the Swede anyhow! Ok, ok, now back to the newer me! Honestly I like and support Rasmussen, but hindsight, which doesn't really matter, maybe Suzuki or Foote. (obviously Necas is the handsdown one that stands out, so I was avoiding mentioning him.)

I, for one, am hoping for more scenarios like this, instead of just signing aging UFA's (which I am not against either, but this is more exciting!) https://thehockeywriters.com/penguins-red-wings-trade-partners-marcus-pettersson/?fbclid=IwAR1XslsMLjotTVV8RlJ_a8tsTqb9PqIL9OjD_fZpXUfmksibjkzMAV8NkLc What do you say to Pettersson? LHD D, high potential, only 25, under contract for 4 more years. Fits the age for the rebuild as well!

instead of drafting a G at #6 have we forgotten about deals? Not only is Tampa icing a $100m team in the Final's, but they are already over the cap by $5M for next season with only 19 players under contract, a deal like this more than likely will resurface in the coming weeks. https://thehockeywriters.com/the-grind-line-red-wings-goalies/?fbclid=IwAR10xkByIsUe6JIWClAyN4gZsFkRpe7VKFMEdmYYgqmkPtDiHYAxvJuPi3Q

Also looks like Toronto is going with The vets. Albeit at cheap deals, they are going to eat away at that $10M in cap pretty quickly. Simmonds re-signed a 2 year deal worth $1.8M. I still think they lose all of Hyman, Bogosian and Andersson.. at least. I'm a fan of Hyman, and honestly wouldn't be against Andersson coming here either.

It it said that The Q over inflates a players stats. While I was very happy when they drafted him, I am a believer in Jimmy D and the brass. I gave Mantha all the objective views I could, but it seemed that Jimmy was right. So thank goodness Yzerman was able to fleece Washington into think they "needed" him! Vrana, once signed, will be a staple in this rebuild to greatness! That being said, I was a fan of Mantha and was really hoping for him to be that 40+ goal guy.

Here's another good one about late draft picks. You'll notice 3 Red Wings on the list. Also mentioning Fedorov and Hasek. They mention the Bure situation. I often talk about how Detroit wanted to draft him in the 5th round, but he was still deemed ineligible. Then in the 6th Vancouver snagged him 2 spots before Detroit was going to take the risk. Dang what this team would've looked like with Fedorov and Bure! https://bleacherreport.com/articles/912897-pavel-datsyuk-and-14-other-late-round-draft-picks-that-turned-into-stars

I'm just saying it because I do remember the Petr Klima heist and also that is why the Russians were all drafted in later rounds, because you never knew if they would be able to leave. Bit after a few minutes of research, I found this from 2011

In Holland-type fashion, he also hands out a FULL NMC. Oh well, I knew he wasn't going to be signed here, but it was fun to dream!

Yes but that was back in the Czechoslovia days, you never knew if they were coming over or not. In today's world, Hasek goes 1st round.

Trust him no matter what, but I'd still prefer Cossa at 22.

I fine with whichever skater he takes... I just looked at TSN and Button has him drafting Wallstedt. I guess we'd have to live with it, but of all the names bouncing around, the G has to be the biggest risk I think. This guy better be Hasek 2.0 IMO to risk that #6. There is an outside chance we aren't even a lottery team next season depending on what Yzerman does with UFA's and or trades. I'd hate to miss out on a great LHD or a C that drops to us for a huge gamble in net. I know, I know, Jesper is supposed to be all world, maybe better than Askarov, but still, the G position has to be the biggest risk of being a bust. I would just rather go safe with Hughes (et.al) and get a G later in the draft. But, really, they are very high on Bednar, maybe that pick works out? I think I will be most disappointed if he drafts Wallstedt...but I still have to trust the process! (BTW, am I the only who would prefer giving Mrazek and contract instead of Bernier? *Different thread)

Multiple outlets saying that Yzerman may be targeting McTavish at #6. That is the problem with picking out of the top 2 or 3. So many good quality players, you just hope to choose the right one. Hughes, Edvinsson, Wallstedt, McTavish, Eklund...not including guys who may fall...it's gonna be crazy! Heck even Guenther may fall. It just seems so up in the air! Most folks see Power as the #1, but I would not be surprised if someone else went first.

A great off season would be: Draft Hughes and Cossa Buy out Nielsen (just so Blashill can't put him in the lineup, waived or not) Sign RNH and Koekoek ( i know your views of a 28 year old RNH, but I still maintain he'd be the best player on this team if we landed him.) re-sign Bernier (unless he splits) then lets give Mrazek another shot. Re-sign Glenny and Ryan. Of course qualify our RFA's and get them re-signed. (we already know Djoss and Brome are headed over to Europe.) Depending on the D, maybe give Staal another year, but he may be looking to go to a contender before he retires.

I really hoping for Hughes (Edvinsson) at 6. Then if we can squeak out Cossa in the 22nd spot. For me, that would be a perfect draft. But I do trust Yzerman and his scouts, much more than Holland and his band of merry men. If he takes Wallside at 6, so be it. Most of us were aghast when he selected Seider. Let's just get this off season going. Let's Go Isles and lets get to the expansion draft!

I get it, and I understand and I have been paying attention. But if he's ok with signing 27-33 year old D-men for leadership and that small veteran presence, I am just suggesting that RNH at 28 would slot right into that role PLUS be your legit #1C for years to come. He's only 3 years older than Reinhart and Larkin (25 on July 30) so it's not like he's a grey beard. Hamilton I am ok with not pursuing because he will be the marquee D-Man UFA and there are better teams out there with enough cap to give him a huge payday. Namestikov was 27 and Ryan was 33 when signed and they served a purpose. Heck, Yzerman may re-sign Ryan. RNH is elite compared to those two plus he's way younger than Filppula and Neilsen. I am not saying sign RNH or Yzerman is dumb, but IF, and that is a big IF, RNH was interested and Yzerman was too, bring him in! He's not too old, plus he is better than any other C on our team right now, and just as good as most of the #1 C's in the league. Not including your elite talent like McDavid or MacKinnon. This is not the draft to get a #1 C, we can hold out hope for maybe being a lottery team the next 2 years and scoring a #1 in one of them for that #1 guy. If they were to add RNH and someone like KoekKoek, this team we be world's better. Especially down the middle. RNH would cost some bucks, but Koekkoek shouldn't cost too much over $1M. This team going forward looks a ton better with RNH in the middle, rather than Helm, Turgeon or Pearson. Besides, one 28 year old C is not too bad to have for a continuing rebuild. Even if they didn't keep Glenny, your C's would be: RNH - 28, Larkin - 25, Veleno - 21, Rasmussen - 22. But I think Veleno and Ras are better than that, that is why I'd re-sign Glenny, slide Larkin to wing (he played pretty darn good there) and move Veleno and Ras up a slot.