Roster Construction Ideas & Workshopping

[thewookie1]

Puckpedia has its PuckGM mode and with the logjam we have in legit players as well as some cap issues I was wondering what everyone was thinking?

For instance here's my first go of it

https://puckgm.puckpedia.com/rosters/1544432

I did a sign and trade with Tuch with Seattle to garner Tampa's 1st (The 8th year is a big deal since otherwise they can only offer, at July 1st, 6 years)

Greenway leaves in a minor pick swap of 27' picks with Chicago

Traded Norris, Mrtka, and our 26 1st for Thomas and a 4th (The idea is, if Brady Tkachuk is actually on the market, what better way to lure him to the Blues than with his great friend)

Then I'm at a loss how to solve the roster spots and goalie issues.

 

My starting lines are

Kulich - Thomas - Thompson

Benson - Östlund - Doan

Quinn - Helenius - Zucker

Krebs - McLeod - Malenstyn

 

I'm keeping Zucker because with Greenway and Tuch departing we still need a vet presence in the day to day lineup  

[Big Guava]

I cannot even fathom how potent this team will be with Kulich, Östlund and Helenius added to the mix next year.

Edited May 20 by Big Guava

[HumanSlinky39]

27 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

Puckpedia has its PuckGM mode and with the logjam we have in legit players as well as some cap issues I was wondering what everyone was thinking?

For instance here's my first go of it

https://puckgm.puckpedia.com/rosters/1544432

I did a sign and trade with Tuch with Seattle to garner Tampa's 1st (The 8th year is a big deal since otherwise they can only offer, at July 1st, 6 years)

Greenway leaves in a minor pick swap of 27' picks with Chicago

Traded Norris, Mrtka, and our 26 1st for Thomas and a 4th (The idea is, if Brady Tkachuk is actually on the market, what better way to lure him to the Blues than with his great friend)

Then I'm at a loss how to solve the roster spots and goalie issues.

 

My starting lines are

Kulich - Thomas - Thompson

Benson - Östlund - Doan

Quinn - Helenius - Zucker

Krebs - McLeod - Malenstyn

 

I'm keeping Zucker because with Greenway and Tuch departing we still need a vet presence in the day to day lineup  

Like it overall, but I still think Tuch is back, and I hope so. I know he stunk vs. the Habs, but he was an integral part of their success this season and has been one of our best players for years. Unless Kulich or Quinn take HUGE leaps, he's a much bigger asset. That might free up a younger winger (Kulich? Quinn?) to trade for another piece...defenseman? Goalie?

[Pimlach]

32 minutes ago, Big Guava said:

I cannot even fathom how potent this team will be with Kulich, Östlund and Helenius added to the mix next year.

Depends on if they have room to play without fear of getting killed.

They have all looked good when thrust into a situation.  Can all of them do it over the grind of 82 plus playoffs?  

[steveoath]

unless Tuch is settling for a 2-3 year contract at below 10M aav I am not sure I would sign him in if I was making the decisions.

[Pimlach]

37 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

Puckpedia has its PuckGM mode and with the logjam we have in legit players as well as some cap issues I was wondering what everyone was thinking?

For instance here's my first go of it

https://puckgm.puckpedia.com/rosters/1544432

I did a sign and trade with Tuch with Seattle to garner Tampa's 1st (The 8th year is a big deal since otherwise they can only offer, at July 1st, 6 years)

Greenway leaves in a minor pick swap of 27' picks with Chicago

Traded Norris, Mrtka, and our 26 1st for Thomas and a 4th (The idea is, if Brady Tkachuk is actually on the market, what better way to lure him to the Blues than with his great friend)

Then I'm at a loss how to solve the roster spots and goalie issues.

 

My starting lines are

Kulich - Thomas - Thompson

Benson - Östlund - Doan

Quinn - Helenius - Zucker

Krebs - McLeod - Malenstyn

 

I'm keeping Zucker because with Greenway and Tuch departing we still need a vet presence in the day to day lineup  

No Tuch, no Norris, no Greenway, no Carrick?    

 

[#freejame]

21 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Depends on if they have room to play without fear of getting killed.

They have all looked good when thrust into a situation.  Can all of them do it over the grind of 82 plus playoffs?  

Why would any of them have to worry about getting killed? None of them have ever given me the impression they are intimidated on the ice. 

[Trettioåtta]

Our fourth line of Kozak, Danforth, Carrier - with a possible addition of Beck seems pretty good. I assume Danforth still exists in hockey land.

I would expect Kulich to have a massive step back and be 13th forward / AHL player for most of the season (if not his entire career)

Benson needs a long term contract, buy once cry once vibes.

I expect Tuch, Greenway, UPL, Pearson, Dunne, Schenn, Stanley and maybe Beck and Norris to be gone

[#freejame]

4 minutes ago, Trettioåtta said:

Our fourth line of Kozak, Danforth, Carrier - with a possible addition of Beck seems pretty good. I assume Danforth still exists in hockey land.

I would expect Kulich to have a massive step back and be 13th forward / AHL player for most of the season (if not his entire career)

Benson needs a long term contract, buy once cry once vibes.

I expect Tuch, Greenway, UPL, Pearson, Dunne, Schenn, Stanley and maybe Beck and Norris to be gone

Why do you expect Kulich to take a step back and not Danforth? Considering the injuries, I would imagine that Kulich is in much better playing shape than Danforth. He should have been swimming like a fish and cycling nonstop the last 6 months. 

I do think Kozak-Carrick-Danforth is likely our fourth line (and an effective one at that), but I don’t see a massive step back for Kulich. Maybe a slow start, but I think he will hit 20 goals playing left wing. Less responsibility and an easier adjustment back from the wing than at center. 

[Doohickie]

1 hour ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

That might free up a younger winger (Kulich? Quinn?) to trade for another piece

When JJP was traded, he was what he was, and he hasn't shown anything different in Utah. 

I think Kulich might be a foundational piece; certainly a good forward that provides center depth. 

Quinn, I think, found his game in the second half of the season and played well in the playoffs.  I think he's becoming a pretty good two-way forward with scoring touch.  I'm pretty high on him and wouldn't move him at this point.

[Trettioåtta]

57 minutes ago, #freejame said:

Why do you expect Kulich to take a step back and not Danforth? Considering the injuries, I would imagine that Kulich is in much better playing shape than Danforth. He should have been swimming like a fish and cycling nonstop the last 6 months. 

I do think Kozak-Carrick-Danforth is likely our fourth line (and an effective one at that), but I don’t see a massive step back for Kulich. Maybe a slow start, but I think he will hit 20 goals playing left wing. Less responsibility and an easier adjustment back from the wing than at center. 

Fair challenge. I expect Danforth to also take a step back, but he is slotted in to the fourth line, so it matters less - putting up 15 rather than 20 points. Additionally, Kulich is young and was at a pivotal point in his development, whereas Danforth is more of a known quantity. I assume Kulich was on blood thinners an told no physical exercise for most of the year too.

In my mind, if he recovers that's great - but he is my ace in the hole, not my cornerstone.

[HumanSlinky39]

14 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

When JJP was traded, he was what he was, and he hasn't shown anything different in Utah. 

I think Kulich might be a foundational piece; certainly a good forward that provides center depth. 

Quinn, I think, found his game in the second half of the season and played well in the playoffs.  I think he's becoming a pretty good two-way forward with scoring touch.  I'm pretty high on him and wouldn't move him at this point.

I'd prefer to keep both, it would be entirely dependent on the return to me.

[Scottysabres]

Certain players have to go. It’s a money thing but it’s also a performance thing when tied to the money. Nothing personal, but this team needs consistency upgrades in certain areas, starting with the face off dot, because puck possession is everything.

I’d like to see them acquire a true 1st line center, Thomas comes to mind but there are others I’d reckon you all could point out to me. Along with that 1st line center I’d like to see them address the 3rd and 4th lines with some chemistry. McLeod, while speedy, really doesn’t do a whole lot with the puck, that 3rd line suffers in production due to it, and while Carrick and Malenstyn were a breath of fresh air while together I’d like to see another winger with bloody knuckles and speed brought in.

[Weave]

With Lindy signing on again, I think we need to keep Byram.  That top 4 needs to stay intact with the system Lindy deployed.

So, where do we make changes?  I’m not convinced Tage is the right player to be the face of the 1st line.  He’s a first liner, and among the tops in the league.  But I don’t like featuring him in particular.  I want to see an elite playmaker be the featured forward on that line, and let Tage feed off him.  I’d love to pry Thomas out of StL, but I don’t know how realistic that is.  We’d almost certainly have to move on from one of the kid forwards.  I’m OK with moving on from one of them.  I have no idea which one Id hate to lose most.  Probably Konsta, but that could be because he’s the shiniest of the shiny new toys.

Tuch……. i have no idea if signing him is the right move.  He’s proven to be a cog.  Hate to lose a cog.  Really hate to lose a cog. His market value carries a heavy price, one that some team may regret.  But great teams usually keep those guys and find ways.  I don’t think I’ll be upset either way.  I will be concerned either way.  This is why Jarmo makes in one season more than I have earned in a lifetime. I ain’t got the chops to be responsible for this decision.

Goaltending….. the way I see it, at least two of them have to go.  Everyone is eligible for waiver claims next season, and I don’t think any of them have a chance at slipping through.  Which two do I move?  Which two have the highest trade value?  I move one of them for starters.

Would love to see another ruffian in the lineup if Stanley moves on.  I genuinely felt more comfortable that our team wasn’t going to get bullied with him in the lineup.

[Turbo44]

5 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

Puckpedia has its PuckGM mode and with the logjam we have in legit players as well as some cap issues I was wondering what everyone was thinking?

For instance here's my first go of it

https://puckgm.puckpedia.com/rosters/1544432

I did a sign and trade with Tuch with Seattle to garner Tampa's 1st (The 8th year is a big deal since otherwise they can only offer, at July 1st, 6 years)

Greenway leaves in a minor pick swap of 27' picks with Chicago

Traded Norris, Mrtka, and our 26 1st for Thomas and a 4th (The idea is, if Brady Tkachuk is actually on the market, what better way to lure him to the Blues than with his great friend)

Then I'm at a loss how to solve the roster spots and goalie issues.

 

My starting lines are

Kulich - Thomas - Thompson

Benson - Östlund - Doan

Quinn - Helenius - Zucker

Krebs - McLeod - Malenstyn

 

I'm keeping Zucker because with Greenway and Tuch departing we still need a vet presence in the day to day lineup  

Like it and the Tuch sign and trade is very well thought out.  I don’t think you get Thomas for that package though. I think it also costs you a top youngster (Helenius Or oslund) or you’d have to substitute Byram for mrtka

[BullBuchanan]

I don't think Tuch agrees to a sign and trade. More realistic he just walks.

I'm trading Greenway and Zucker as contract dumps. Kozak, Carrick, Danforth are your new 4th line.

I'm going to try to trade 3 goalies and get Connor Hellebuyck. Maybe a UPL + Levi trade is part of a package and then we keep Ellis or we keep Levi.

If we can move Kulich/Quinn/McLeod for an upgrade, I'm doing it.

I'm looking to move one of our top 4 defensemen, for a high level physical defenseman. Ideally this is Power, given his contract.

My lines: 
TBD - Thomas - Thompson

Benson - Östlund - Doan

Kulich - Helenius - Quinn

Kozak- Carrick- Danforth

 

[Brawndo]

6 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

Puckpedia has its PuckGM mode and with the logjam we have in legit players as well as some cap issues I was wondering what everyone was thinking?

For instance here's my first go of it

https://puckgm.puckpedia.com/rosters/1544432

I did a sign and trade with Tuch with Seattle to garner Tampa's 1st (The 8th year is a big deal since otherwise they can only offer, at July 1st, 6 years)

Greenway leaves in a minor pick swap of 27' picks with Chicago

Traded Norris, Mrtka, and our 26 1st for Thomas and a 4th (The idea is, if Brady Tkachuk is actually on the market, what better way to lure him to the Blues than with his great friend)

Then I'm at a loss how to solve the roster spots and goalie issues.

 

My starting lines are

Kulich - Thomas - Thompson

Benson - Östlund - Doan

Quinn - Helenius - Zucker

Krebs - McLeod - Malenstyn

 

I'm keeping Zucker because with Greenway and Tuch departing we still need a vet presence in the day to day lineup  

Good stuff Wookie. 
 

One small point though, this upcoming free agency period is the final one where UFAs can be signed to a max term of 7 years by a different team. 
 

Add on the fact that the Alex Tuch at age 36-38 will not be the same player as Tuch from 30-33, any potential new team might like the idea of a higher AAV over a 7 year period, thereby eliminating the need for a sign and trade. 
 

Supposedly Thomas was never truly on the market, but the ask would include one of Östlund or Helenius in addition to Norris/Mrtka/1st and a another pick 
 

 

[RPop]

5 hours ago, Trettioåtta said:

Our fourth line of Kozak, Danforth, Carrier - with a possible addition of Beck seems pretty good. I assume Danforth still exists in hockey land.

I would expect Kulich to have a massive step back and be 13th forward / AHL player for most of the season (if not his entire career)

Benson needs a long term contract, buy once cry once vibes.

I expect Tuch, Greenway, UPL, Pearson, Dunne, Schenn, Stanley and maybe Beck and Norris to be gone

Why is Kulich taking a step back? He was playing top C minutes when he finished last season. If his career is over it will happen during training camp, otherwise if he’s playing he will be a factor. He was getting time on the ice when the team was desperate and he got it before any of the other young guys. All of whom showed tremendous talent. 

[RPop]

1 hour ago, Turbo44 said:

Like it and the Tuch sign and trade is very well thought out.  I don’t think you get Thomas for that package though. I think it also costs you a top youngster (Helenius Or oslund) or you’d have to substitute Byram for mrtka

Drastic overpay .. why are the Blues so keen on trading him? No way the top 4 should be broken up. 

[RPop]

24 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

I don't think Tuch agrees to a sign and trade. More realistic he just walks.

I'm trading Greenway and Zucker as contract dumps. Kozak, Carrick, Danforth are your new 4th line.

I'm going to try to trade 3 goalies and get Connor Hellebuyck. Maybe a UPL + Levi trade is part of a package and then we keep Ellis or we keep Levi.

If we can move Kulich/Quinn/McLeod for an upgrade, I'm doing it.

I'm looking to move one of our top 4 defensemen, for a high level physical defenseman. Ideally this is Power, given his contract.

My lines: 
TBD - Thomas - Thompson

Benson - Östlund - Doan

Kulich - Helenius - Quinn

Kozak- Carrick- Danforth

 

That’s an insane amount of movement of contributing players.  I’d rather do almost nothing than all of that. Who exactly is going to the Jets for Helly? UPL, Quinn, and Kulich ?  Why would Power be traded? He was excellent in the playoffs. 

[thewookie1]

Others are free to make their own and post them here; just trying to give us a thread for this sort of general discussion versus specific player events.

[Porous Five Hole]

I don’t think the Sabres add to the forward ranks at all. I want to run it back with what the Sabres have in their infusion of Konsta, Oslund, and Kulich. It’s sexy to talk about bringing in a guy like Thomas, but I’m not inclined to move on from any of the kids…and you absolutely would be losing two of those guys to bring him in. I pass.
 

I also especially like keeping the depth if you have to worry about Norris staying healthy. A center spine of Norris, potentially Tage if needed, McCleod, Kulich, Carrick…and one of Konsta or Östlund. That’s seven deep and I love that.

Plus, the kids will be earning nothing on ELCs the next couple of years and you need that for deadline flexibility and to extend Byram and Benson until the cap rises to pay the fully grown kids in a couple of years. 
 

You also need a new solution in goal cuz I’m not doing the UPL thing again. 
 

I think Tuch walks. I like the player, but I’m not overpaying to keep him here when he’s going to fall off a production cliff sooner than later.
 

Doan is ready to play Tuch’s role. One of Konsta, Östlund or Kulich on a wing can be what Doan was last year to the roster. The other two are an upgrade over Krebs (goodbye) and Zucker/Greenway (our trade bait or new 13th & 14th forwards). I’ll keep an open mind with Quinn, but I would not hesitate to give up his roster spot to one of the kids either. 
 

This team was one good bounce away (or one less careless penalty from a team leader away) from the Conference Final. I lean into the youth and depth. 
 

Benson-Norris-Tage

Doan-Östlund-Quinn

Konsta-McLeod-Kulich

Zucker-Carrick-Malenstyn 

That’s a dangerous forward group and there’s no additional costs to run with it. Or, ammo to get better in the crease…the one place I would consider an overpay with our young guns. 

[dudacek]

Everybody likes Beck, me included, but if he’s getting in the $3M range I’ve seen people projecting, c ya later.

I think the Sabres already acquired his replacement in trading for $1M Sam Carrick and will replace a cap dump Greenway by pulling $1.8M Justin Danforth off IR.

If Beck will sign for something in the range of those 2, then you’ve got a good 4th line right there. If not, Kozak and Dunne are still around.

Meanwhile, Thompson, Norris,  Benson, Doan, Quinn, McLeod Zucker are seven of your top 9, with Noah, Konsta, Jiri and Krebsy in the mix for the other 2 slots.

I love Tuch, but this team can survive his departure if he wants too much.

I flip Zucker preferably, or Krebs, Norris or McLeod if they need to fit him in if he agrees to a team friendly deal.

The cheap depth up front gives Jarmo all kinds of options, but Benson and Byram should be the priority over a 30-year-old winger.

[BullBuchanan]

3 hours ago, RPop said:

That’s an insane amount of movement of contributing players.  I’d rather do almost nothing than all of that. Who exactly is going to the Jets for Helly? UPL, Quinn, and Kulich ?  Why would Power be traded? He was excellent in the playoffs. 

We lack top end talent. We have like 9 middle six forwards and no legitimate top line guys.

We have 3/4 1B/#2 goalies, and our defense, despite having significant talent in the top 4, is grossly underperforming. Power is a good player who will get you a good return, but he's an offensive defenseman, which we have a plethora of. We need to get more physical. The goal power let in at the crease was embarassing and indicative of our entire defensive unit. Even Muel, who has traditionally been thought of as a defensive defenseman, was often out of position and not physical enough in his own end. We desperately need an upgrade who can shut down elite players when we need them to.

UPL would be the key piece in a Hellebuyck deal I'd think and if they want a 2nd one, give them whoever they want. If Kulich/Quinn and a pick gets a deal done - great.

Quinn/Kulich are replaceable middle six forwards that we should ideally be looking to package for an upgrade. We can keep them another year, but if you want to improve the top 6, one or both will likely be involved.

As far as I'm concerned, Benson, Helenius, and Dahlin are what we have to build around. Everyone else is replaceable if the return makes us better. I'd like to see us lock up Byram long term too. Thompson probably stays because the contract is too favorable, but I wouldn't blink at moving him if we could get similar production in return. Don't see it happening though.

[Scottysabres]

Robert Thomas talk from Armstrong on f the Blues starts around 15:55

Sure sounds like he’s on the table but at a high price.