Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell
Welcome to another edition of the Hockeybuzz hotstove.
More than any other player, Tyler Myers' name has been the center of trade rumors of late.
While the asking price is allegedly quite high and there's no guarantee he is traded, it sounds more likely than not he'll be moved.
In this edition of the hotstove, our members will suggest the best fit for Myers, whether it's a team rumored to be interested such as Anaheim, Detroit or Philadelphia, or another team off the board.
Todd Cordell: Detroit
I'm not sure how likely it is, but I think the Red Wings would be the best landing spot for Myers.
I think Myers would really benefit from a change of scenery, and going to the most successful team in the NHL over the last 20 years could be just what he needs.
The Red Wings have a ton of talented young forwards and a good goaltender in Jimmy Howard, but their defense leaves something to be desired.
They don't have a lot of offensive talent on the back end and Niklas Kronwall is going to start declining soon, so Myers could be the next defenseman they pass the torch to.
He hasn't been the same since his rookie year, but for my money Mike Babcock is the best coach in hockey and I think he'd be able to get the best out of him.
Adam French: Buffalo
This is such a hard question to answer for me. With Ristolainen, Zadorov, McCabe and Pysyk all up coming, the Sabres seem blessed with a ton of potential on the blueline going forward. However...getting the right mix of young defenders and veterans is proving to be a major difference between a contender and a pretender with "potential." Tyler Myers is not my definition of a number one defender and I question whether he will ever reach his former offensive heights (he was no screaming hell at scoring in junior), however he is taking on the difficult mantle of being a number one. He just recently played 29 minutes.
At 24 and 6'8, it's hard to blame him that all the scrutiny received was simply due to an overachieving rookie season. In my opinion you can't trade a player like Myers without getting something equally as good back...and I just don't see who will give them that. Edmonton? With their play thus far, could they afford to let the Sabres draft potentially 1-2 (since I don't think Eberle or Yakupov alone will be what the Sabres want and there's no way in hell the Oilers trade Hall/RNH/Nurse/Draisaitl).
Keep Myers, bring Ristolainen and the gang along slowly, because who knows, a 28 year old Myers in his prime might be the exact guy the Sabres need when they're looking to contend.
Ryan Wilson: Detroit
While I am saying that Detroit is the best fit for both team and player I don't see it happening. Here is the key thing to remember when talking about any potential Tyler Myers trade, the Sabres hold all the leverage and they aren't particularly in a rush to trade him for the sake of trading him. He has four years left on his contract after this season and the team is content losing this year.
The only way the Sabres move Myers is if somebody really wows them and to be honest I'm not sure that is a great risk/reward for the team trying to acquire him.
For the Red Wings this conversation probably starts with the name Anthony Mantha, which should also end the conversation.
Tyler Myers isn't a sure thing. The price a team will have to pay to acquire him will merit that of a sure thing. I just don't see somebody meeting the Sabres price tag here.
If Detroit were to magically overpay for Myers I think they certainly have a need on defense. I was a little surprised that they didn't make a run at Matt Niskanen this past offseason.
I don't think Myers will play out the rest of his contract in Buffalo, but I don't think he is moved this season either, although stranger things have happened.
Tim Chiasson: Detroit
Both Detroit and Anaheim are both safe places for defenders to go and have success, but I think Detroit is a better fit for Tyler Myers. In Detroit, Myers could try and get back to a version of his first two seasons in the NHL under the watchful eye of Mike Babcock and some of the best defensive minds in the game. Anaheim would require him to be too much of something he's not in the physical department. A change of scenery and placement in a friendlier environment for defencemen could be what Myers needs to bring out some of the offense we saw in his first two years.
The cap space is a tricky thing in the Myers situation. Philadelphia needs to stop spending and figure out what the salary cap means before they pursue anyone else. Anaheim has the most cap space and Detroit is in the middle. It wouldn't be easy for Detroit to acquire Myers but they do have some quality young players that Buffalo would be interested in. If the Wings could get it done I think it's the best fit for everyone involved.
James Tanner: Phoenix
I think the team that should try to get Tyler Myers is the Coyotes. The Coyotes have a stacked defense, but are missing size. It's not like their guys are small, they just lack that monster kind of guy and Myers fits the bill.
The Coyotes could probably make a nice trade with the Sabres that would help both teams.
Flush with young defenseman, the Coyotes have NHL ready star-in-waiting Brandon Gormley playing in the AHL because there is no room for him on the NHL roster that already includes Connor Murphy and Michael Stone.
The Coyotes can't afford to fall out of playoff contention and so can't have 3 1st/2nd year defensemen making up half their group.
Myers is 24 and 6'8. I don't think he's reached his potential yet and the Coyotes -most of who's Dgroup is made up of guys about 6'1, 6'2, could really use a monster like Myers. I don't think Buffalo should even trade Myers as his youth would fit nicely with a rebuild, you would think and they already paid off most of his front loaded contract.
Anyways, the Coyotes should offer up Henrik Samuelson and Connor Murphy and see what happens. What's the cost for the guy anyways? If it's more, ante up because Myers is the perfect fit. I'd go so far as to include Max Domi in discussions to bring in a 6'8 defenseman.
Just for comparison, consistent 40/50 point threat Zdeno Chara put up 9 points as a 24 year old on Long Island.
If I was the GM of ANY team, I'd make this happen. I mean, just imagine the Coyotes defense if they got him, and to top it off, it'd make room for Gormely. Imagine this:
Myers - OEL
Yandle - Michalek
Gormley - Stone
YOWZA!
**
Where do you think is the best fit for Myers? As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts.
Recent posts
Takeaways from week one of the season
Alex Ovechkin over/under: 52.5 goals
Ranking the top-5 goaltenders
Ranking the top-5 defensemen
Ranking the top-5 wingers
Ranking the top-5 centers
Stanley Cup predictions
How many Canadian teams will make the playoffs?
Join the Discussion:
»