Drag0nDan

https://puckpedia.com/team/dallas-stars I'm not going to worry much about buffalo's cap because there's a number of players they could potentially move to accomodate. Dallas is losing - Duchene, Benn, Granlund, Dadonov and doesn't have a lot of cap space - excluding the NMC's for Rantanen, Seguin, Heiskanen and Hintz. Adding in the trade protected marchment, and Lindell. They still have a number of people to work with, the biggest being Johnston Robertson or Oettinger. Johnston's a 22 year old center averaging nearly 30-30 over his 3 pro seasons, plays on both PP and PK - we can assume they'll want to hang onto him. Robertson's also expected to be much pricier on the next deal probably close to 12M AAV. They need to lessen the cap burden in 2025, which makes peterka a tough sell as he's expecting to get just about the same number as the 7.75 that Robertson has. Tuch's 4.75 does lessen that, his projected extension is less than 12, an nhl ready prospect, and a pick might get it done to allow them to bring back their captain (Benn). Oettinger has no trade protection this year, and I'd assume they want Levi coming back. Adding this layer probably makes peterka's extension easier for them to work with. Something this big and juicy needs a third team though. If buffalo were to come out with Robertson and Oettinger, they're moving a lot of stuff - probably too many 21-year-old's for one team to want.

He doesn't... and Dallas has people to pay and escalating contracts. He's really the only star forward without a clause who isn't like 22. Yeah and it probably starts at 12-12.5M AAV in buffalo.

My issue with UPL is he is not very good, especially when considering what he's being paid now. If he is starting 30ish games, i expect to lose more than i win with him in net, and i don't see a ceiling of anything notable.

I'd agree, if you sign marner you will figure everything else out. I'm not really worried about what to do with Byram and Peterka because you just added a PPG player who's an all-star.

They already extended Lankinen, so I assume theyre moving demko either this offseason or at the deadline. Me personally? Step 1 is getting rid of UPL somehow.

Realistically I just hope he's there to work with agents, and use his rolodex of contacts more effectively. It's a pretty important off-season to make some moves in trades and free agency to re-make the roster, so I'm glad there's someone in the building that has made some history with both. Another set of eyes on the rest of the org's pieces too, from analytics, to scouting, to finance, coaching staff, etc. Strength and conditioning was an issue, and they are making changes there - great. Need to do more. They need someone to look at anything and everything to figure out ways to fix it.

Maybe we can trade them UPL and get something back? Garbage in and garbage out?

I like the fire and intensity in any case. You're here to play hockey, and be the best hockey player you can be - its not like going to florida is any less hard work, nor are you expected to live in buffalo year round.

He did get Gaudreau to sign in 2022 which was the top dog that year. I liked his comments on the signing as well. Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen expressed the hope that with the signing "we can finally get rid of the bullsh*t that this is somehow a bad destination, a bad city, whatever. Because it's never been true."

Probably would need a prospect on buffalo's side, and would require them dumping some money somehow.

Beyond all of this - the rangers are in a cap crunch, and JJP and Byram would cost more than all 3 of these players so it doesn't really work. Maybe Rosen and Byram? I'd feel like i needed to dump a bad contract like Clifton or Lafferty though.

But they can't afford Byram and JJP anyway, they also have to find money for Miller.

It's the leafs man! Their fans are obnoxious, i hate the organization, and their failure is generally a pretty joyful experience for everyone else. It's like hating the yankees, the dodgers, the lakers, etc. I am aware of the yankees success (their fans will remind you if you aren't), so when they crash out in the world series after beating my guardians - i LOVED seeing them crying all over twitter. So to me it goes the same for the leafs... if you're going to trash sabres fans all season, and talk smack up 2-0 against the defending champs.... don't be shocked when the receipts pop up.

Now i'm sure its like this for many players because playoffs usually means - better goaltending, and just fewer goals scored in general... but... Matthews 82 game average: Regular season - 52 goals, 42 assists, +20, 15.8% shooting Playoffs - 31 goals, 40 assists, +2, 9.2% shooting

The best 2 players on this list are JJP and Byram - it also doesn't really do much to alleviate the cap issues for the rangers that limit what they can do. They're adding the more expensive RFA's that they already are going to struggle to pay. Kreider has no market really, so you're either eating some money to trade him for peanuts, or buying him out. Zibanejad's contract is all bonuses so its basically buy-out proof, and he has a full-NMC through 2030. Panarins a free agent after this year and I'd assume he will go into free agency. Trocheck's probably the most tradeable asset with a 12-team NTC, so probably not a target for Buffalo. They really don't have much in the pipe though so i think they're likely kinda stuck rebuilding on the fly.

Jason Robertson would be my pipe-dream pick. It's going to cost an arm and leg, specifically cost-controlled assets, and they don't need defensemen.

Here's basically the roster as it exists today - Any major trade probably requires at least one of - JJP, Benson, Kulich, Tuch, Power or Byram. I don't think they'd move Zucker or Greenway, as the team needs vets and just extended both. Could also dangle the 1st round pick in any trades since we know its not a high lottery pick. Quinn's value is low, same as Norris, and Rosen and Östlund are unknowns. I think they can all potentially be throw-ins (Norris i can't see them moving unless its for an upgrade at center). Helenius probably has some high value, but on a team needing help down the middle I don't see how trading a 19 year old future 2-way center helps the team in the long run.

No i mean... i don't think they make that trade with Mitts under contract.

I'd probably maximize the earnings and trade a year of UFA to get paid more now... its not like the checks aren't clearing. Y'all are way too personal, and RFA's have like no negotiating legs to get out of the contract. Embrace the suck while you have to, then figure it out after.

They also built a really nice training facility.

My thing with Mittelstadt is, if you keep him you don't trade for Mcleod. Who would you rather have?

I appreciate the aggressiveness in Byram's game vs. the relative passive control version you see with Powers. If Power is staying, and is the guy - he needs to be more aggressive in both zones. I don't think he'll ever develop a pronger level mean streak, but you have to move people in front of the net. I don't think he'll ever score 20 goals, but he needs to shoot more often, and less tentatively. Passive and in control is great, tentative is not. But in the same tone - Byrams aggressiveness can occaisionally border on recklessness - which leads to odd man rushes, turnovers, mistakes, etc. Both need to find more of a balance in their games.

Flipped an asset for another who had an extra year prior to RFA. Having seen what the Av's got for Mittelstadt 1 year later (Charlie Coyle) after he signed his extension, Adams was probably right to pull the trigger when he did. Mittelstadt was an RFA after the year, and while he's an alright middle six forward... He wasn't a good skater, or shooter, while his play between the blue lines was solid, as was his playmaking. Essentially he was no longer an ascending player, and this is kinda who he is. With cozens there it was looking like an expensive proposition for a center who probably never scores 20 goals in a season. Looks worse having moved cozens now, and with some question marks up the middle i feel like we'd probably like to have him back for 25-26. However I do think McLeod settled in nicely to replace him as the 2/3C, and they still have Byram as at the very least a similar level asset to what they had or would have head in MIttelstadt. There's lots to complain about with Adams from a roster construction standpoint, but I didn't hate this from an asset management perspective.

#9, JJP , rosen out -> Jason robertson in -- Might also try and see about swinging Dumba or Lundkvist if they're still looking for RHD. Or swap JJP and tuch. Or benson or Östlund. In any case - trying to make a move for robertson is the biggest move i can see out there with a player who has no clause, and a team that is in a cap crunch. He's likely to get 11-12M AAV on a new deal after next season and I'm not sure they can keep him. https://puckpedia.com/team/dallas-stars Seguin @ 9.85, Hintz @ 8.45, Rantanen @ 12 - thats about 30M in cap space. Add in Johnston @ 8.4. Heiskanen and Lindell. Harley will need to get paid. Oettinger's salary goes up as well.

They have seemed like a team that for long stretches gets outskated and outworked. It's not all on the strength coach (hello player accountability), but i do think he probably didn't do his job well enough. Time to go in a different direction.