Broken Ankles

One more year at $5.25M. Miller has 3 more years at $3.875. I agree on your comments regarding Toronto setting the price. I bet George had sticker shock when he was shopping. And to your point, now that the price has been sent, can it go lower? They went ahead and singed Karlsson, so they are a full $7.5M over the Cap. So they need to lose both Miller and this $5.25M to get below and sign their RFA goalie (maybe $800k). Would you do that deal (Miller + 1st) to take on the Clarkson contract? Or would you rather spend it on UFA's.

probably not. Not b/c he wouldn't fill a gaping hole.....but https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/golden-knights-nhl/golden-knights-salary-cap-issues-not-as-bad-as-they-appear-1693781/ Vegas is trying to work under the cap by shedding Clarkson's Cap hit & trading Colin Miller. I think they are still in 'win now' mode and would not risk trading Stastny.

If by "learning his lesson" it means if he doesn't see a top 6 winger with upside and a team friendly contract as part of the return package, and we keep him for next season then great. I'd love to shake up our D with two new faces but if teams are holding out for another O'Reilly Fleecing" then maybe he needs to stand pat. Let's follow the advice of Alanis........ And all I really want is some patience A way to calm the angry voice And all I really want is deliverance, ah The O'Reilly trade is Jason's Jagged Little Pill.

Look on the bright side. At least he doesn't have a $7.5M signing bonus due in 6 days creating an imaginary line of demarcation. Or an egregious driving record of crashing into Timmy Ho's while intoxicated (allegedly) frustrating ownership.

I agree. Probably contributing factor to an Executive position but a scout is on the road 90% of the time and not in the home office. If he is great, probably finds a home soon.

Question. If his evaluation of talent is so superior why has no team hired him? Even Darcy landed an Assistant GM position and his last 5 drafts were horrendous.

Looking at just future draft selections, or total selections comparatively does not tell the whole story. Include the prospects given up in those trades, and the net return by round including trades. Example - TM acquiring two second round draft picks for Moulson and McCormick, or trading prospects like Zadorov, Compher, Mcnabb, Lemieux, Armia , etc. When you factor those into the NET pick up, TM has a -8 between first and second round (which are really the only ones that matter). This compared to JB who while trading two prospects (Guhle/Poo), manages to net to zero when looking at the first two rounds. My biggest criticism of Murray was his decision to trade 3 picks in the top 31 of the 2015 Draft which was assumed to be the best crop of talent in decades, and has proven as such. I assumed JB was going to keep #31 overall this year and he did. With a pool of talent much more shallow than 2015. Murray had 4 picks in the top 31 of that draft and traded 3 keeping Jack. Botterill had 3 in the top 31 this year and traded 1. This approach is much more prudent.

Cody Hodgson?

$8.7M in 2008/09 after entry level was 15% of the cap ($56.7m). So shouldn't Toronto expect $12.6M for 5 years as acceptable?

Malkin signed same term/AAV on his second but a higher AAV with 8 year term (new CBA) on his third deal.

Crosby actually did get a huge deal after his entry level. The $8.7M AAV on his third contract is same as his "bridge" deal. But the bridge was big for 2008

no specifics but you win for a Clubber Lang Gif.

Very active. Biggest to leave is Risto. Biggest Return is Ehlers. Too much talk about Tampa so I also say Miller and Callahan are also traded to Buffalo. I think he unloads Scandella and rights for Larsson. Relentless in my belief (probably wrong) that Vlad is a buyout. Nylander is traded although I want to see him get a legit chance on this team. He keeps both 7 & 31. We are surprised that Cozens falls to #7 (not unlike the Bills good fortune in April). McCabe is also traded and we pick up a McQuaid or Girardi in free agency. Girgensen returns on a one year deal, along with another UFA. Donskoi is the popular pick but I'll go Vanek.

Stastny - A slightly higher AAV than Miller, but fewer years. But you don't have to take on Callahan's salary in return. Is the cost that much more than a Miller/Callahan in TB?

and Subban

NHL and other athletes collectively bargain. In doing so they give up certain rights for the ability to sign long term, and in many circumstances guaranteed contracts. If an actor/singer/dancer loses their ability to perform, they would experience an immediate loss of income. Unlike Vlad Sobotka, who by all observation cannot play competitive hockey anymore, but still collects $3.5M in a salary. For that, he is sentenced to live in Buffalo. Kind of a fair trade off, wouldn't you say?

All this is true. What I am suggesting is factors such as his age (1+ younger), no NMC, and being a RD shut down top pair that plays PP & PK makes his value much higher than Skinner. The circumstances and their similarities provide an explanation of why he is being shopped, but other factors suggest the market value is not equal. Some sources suggest Risto, P31 and a prospect (M. Davidson) would be required. That is not even close to Skinners market value last summer, otherwise Carolina wouldn’t have accepted the offer they did from JB. You can also throw in the fact the Organizations are in different places too. Winnipeg is in win now mode, where Carolina probably was looking to the future when they pulled the trigger on Jeff. Keeping Trouba might make more sense for them than moving him before the season.

Trouba is a 25 year old RFA. Very different from Skinner last year. Although I think the only teams in on that trade will be one where his agent agrees to a long term extension.

History is on your side. Those that cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat. I hope a guy with an MBA has enough sense not to do that. We will find out in the next 3 weeks. Anticipation....

You had me until Scandella. Good thoughts all around. I think McCabe is a good bargaining chip as well. His expected AAV and experience will attract s few team up against the cap like Tampa or The Peg.

I agree with this too. Just as you convinced me on how wrong I was on O'Reilly, I hope I can convince you that a Risto trade will actually benefit this team in the long run.

Did we demand a "kings ransom" for Brayden McNabb? I believe it was Hudson Fashing (who was a wash out - and TM gave up 2 #2's to LA to boot). McNabb went on to play top pairing minutes with Drew Doughty. What I'm suggesting is that Ristolainen's upside (scoring, power play minutes) is already replaced by a younger, better skating defender. His strength and D-zone will continue to grow. What we need is a compliment to Dahlin's game. Not necessarily another teams #1 D-man. I don't buy into the idea that your two best defensemen always have to be on the same pairing. My argument is not that Risto is bad. I think some elements of his game are desperately needed by other teams. I just happen to think that we have two players on the roster that can fill those voids, and IF the return from another team can bolster another area of need, then it's something you must consider. What am I willing to give up? See McNabb trade above, or Nick Leddy, or Boychuck as other comps. Nothing significant. I would even suggest Dan Giaradi as a UFA as an option. If you go down the path of Trouba it will be a good prospect, a first and a player. I'm advocating the former.

As soon as I wrote this, I knew I opened up to criticism. Agreed. The fact we have a 3 line D in Bogo and 4th line forward in KO earning $6M AAV is one of many reasons why we are not in great cap shape. However there is a light at the end of the tunnel (at least with Hunwick, Bogo, Vlad and Scandella). I have no reason to expect a Ryan O'Reillyesque return, but I think Risto brings back something something useful to the top six. And like Liger said, Montour slots in as Second line Right pair, so I expect another move to find a dance partner for Dahlin.

Disagree. Not a good complimentary fit with the other Rasmus, and to be clear our Defense begins and ends with Dahlin. As stated, Montour is a RD, and therefore not a need there. We cannot pay $5.4m AAV to a third line D, especially when guys like Nelson or Bogo can fill that hole. These facts coupled with the expected return lead me to believe he is expendable. His cap figure will be replaced by a top six forward we desperately need. Yes the compliment to Dahlin is missing but I expect that in a trade or Free agency.

Well stated. He’s expendable b/c of those reasons.