I like Gerbe.
Faulk would bring back back a mint.
Elias Lindholm is going to be a stud.
- Marc D

Those guys would be cornerstones-at least the last two would be. Gerbe's a solid guy to have, but I wouldn't consider him a cornerstone piece.

If it was me, I'd be shopping the Staals, Skinner, Semin, Ward, Sekera, Liles and Hainsey.

Jesus Christ, Semin has 4 years left on his deal at $7mm.

Those guys would be cornerstones-at least the last two would be. Gerbe's a solid guy to have, but I wouldn't consider him a cornerstone piece.

If it was me, I'd be shopping the Staals, Skinner, Semin, Ward, Sekera, Liles and Hainsey.

Jesus Christ, Semin has 4 years left on his deal at $7mm.
- Jsaquella

Holy (frank), and people talk bad about Paul Holmgren

Jim Rutherford needs to be charged with crimes against hockey with some of the deals he left Carolina with

1 and 3 are more debatable but I think they are true too
- Marc D

i agree with lindholm. he looks great. however, just nature of the business, i think faulk would be the one to fetch the most out of any of those guys.

he gets overlooked because of how bad they are, but he looks like he has it all.

the speed is there. yeah he might not pot all of the ones a pure finisher might be able to in that spot, but oh well. you make due with the player you have. he can at least keep up with the first line guys, something that for some reason other seemingly more talented players havent been able to do. good defensive awareness and hustle on every play.
- stayinthefnnet

That's been a big difference for Raffl vs a guy like Brayden Schenn. There's no lack of intensity. Raffl knows what his job is on that line and just does it. Schenn has responded well with Bellemare and Simmonds, but still has shifts & games where he looks out of place.

Holy (frank), and people talk bad about Paul Holmgren

Jim Rutherford needs to be charged with crimes against hockey with some of the deals he left Carolina with
- AllInForFlyers

cant wait to see some of his parting gifts for the pens.

That's been a big difference for Raffl vs a guy like Brayden Schenn. There's no lack of intensity. Raffl knows what his job is on that line and just does it. Schenn has responded well with Bellemare and Simmonds, but still has shifts & games where he looks out of place.
- Jsaquella

schenn just bothers me. i dont think hes worthless as an asset, but i dont really like him as a hockey fan.

he doesnt inspire ire like lucic or marchant, but still.

Holy (frank), and people talk bad about Paul Holmgren

Jim Rutherford needs to be charged with crimes against hockey with some of the deals he left Carolina with
- AllInForFlyers

There's some brutal contracts there. Eric Staal with 2 years $8.25mm, Jordan has 9 years left at $6mm. Semin's deal is mind boggling. Skinner has 5 years at $5.75mm. Ward has two at $6.3mm

Looking at capgeek, the only deals where they're getting value are Lindholm, Tlusty, Faulk, Gerbe & Sekera

schenn just bothers me. i dont think hes worthless as an asset, but i dont really like him as a hockey fan.

he doesnt inspire ire like lucic or marchant, but still.
- stayinthefnnet

He's frustrating if you're rooting for him, too. He's got skill. He just seems to be lost out there far too often.

cant wait to see some of his parting gifts for the pens.
- stayinthefnnet

He just got locked into the thing you can't do as a manager: Giving NTCs to guys who aren't elite players

If somebody wants to argue that Eric Staal was an elite player when he signed his deal, fine. I won't split hairs on that -- he was a hellacious player when he signed it.

But you can't give Skinner and Jordan Staal NTCs, Ward, Hainsey either, though I guess his is modified. Add Semin to that at 7 per, and woof -- you got some work to do

Those guys would be cornerstones-at least the last two would be. Gerbe's a solid guy to have, but I wouldn't consider him a cornerstone piece.

If it was me, I'd be shopping the Staals, Skinner, Semin, Ward, Sekera, Liles and Hainsey.

Jesus Christ, Semin has 4 years left on his deal at $7mm.
- Jsaquella

You really think someone would trade for Jordan Staal's contract? Its awful. Maybe Rutherford will make that trade again.

They can get great value for Eric if they eat the majority of the money over the next two years. But he would have to waive... and he apparently loves it there.

I wonder if they're even allowing Rutherford to do anything extension related in Pittsburgh. I would not let the guy within sight of my team.

He just got locked into the thing you can't do as a manager: Giving NTCs to guys who aren't elite players

If somebody wants to argue that Eric Staal was an elite player when he signed his deal, fine. I won't split hairs on that -- he was a hellacious player when he signed it.

But you can't give Skinner and Jordan Staal NTCs, Ward, Hainsey either, though I guess his is modified. Add Semin to that at 7 per, and woof -- you got some work to do
- AllInForFlyers

Rutherford makes Holmgren look like a penny pinching conservative GM.

You really think someone would trade for Jordan Staal's contract? Its awful. Maybe Rutherford will make that trade again.

They can get great value for Eric if they eat the majority of the money over the next two years. But he would have to waive... and he apparently loves it there.

I wonder if they're even allowing Rutherford to do anything extension related in Pittsburgh. I would not let the guy within sight of my team.
- hereticpride

I don't think they can move many of those guys, regardless. I'd still be trying like Hell to move them out. Jordan Staal, Semin....no way anyone touches them. Eric Staal and Skinner...I could see them moving and maybe even getting actual value, if they're healthy.

But there's a load of bad deals there.

Rutherford makes Holmgren look like a penny pinching conservative GM.
- Jsaquella

The absolute killer is Ward, though -- their defense is so shaky, you can't tell if it's him or the defense, but either way, $6.3 is a hell of a number for a goalie nowadays

He did great giving Semin the one year deal initially and then buckled the following year.

The absolute killer is Ward, though -- their defense is so shaky, you can't tell if it's him or the defense, but either way, $6.3 is a hell of a number for a goalie nowadays
- AllInForFlyers

His is short at least. You buy him out this summer

Cam Ward buyout from CapGeek.com

2015-16: $1,766,667
2016-17: $2,266,667


It's a big chunk of change, but it's better than carrying him at $6.3 in the AHL

Those other deals, they last longer than Herpes.

I don't think they can move many of those guys, regardless. I'd still be trying like Hell to move them out. Jordan Staal, Semin....no way anyone touches them. Eric Staal and Skinner...I could see them moving and maybe even getting actual value, if they're healthy.

But there's a load of bad deals there.
- Jsaquella

Man, with the way the league is, I don't even know if you could trade Semin if you ate half of it -- that term is damn near as horrifying as the dollars

The absolute killer is Ward, though -- their defense is so shaky, you can't tell if it's him or the defense, but either way, $6.3 is a hell of a number for a goalie nowadays
- AllInForFlyers

watch someone give Fleury that deal

hopefully Pitt

I don't think they can move many of those guys, regardless. I'd still be trying like Hell to move them out. Jordan Staal, Semin....no way anyone touches them. Eric Staal and Skinner...I could see them moving and maybe even getting actual value, if they're healthy.

But there's a load of bad deals there.
- Jsaquella

It's crazy they have a bunch of good forwards, albeit a bad mix for one team, but the contracts kill almost all of their value.

I think Semin got that deal based off one season with the team. And that may have been the shortened season now that I think of it.

His is short at least. You buy him out this summer

Cam Ward buyout from CapGeek.com

2015-16: $1,766,667
2016-17: $2,266,667


It's a big chunk of change, but it's better than carrying him at $6.3 in the AHL

Those other deals, they last longer than Herpes.
- Jsaquella

You know what? That's where I'd start. Because you're not trading that contract, so you might as well be done with it and use that money elsewhere -- you can get league average goaltending for, what...$3.5?

Man, with the way the league is, I don't even know if you could trade Semin if you ate half of it -- that term is damn near as horrifying as the dollars
- AllInForFlyers

Agreed. Same goes for Jordan Staal. It's just too long of a commitment. What GM is going to trade for a second line center, signed for 8 more years at $6mm?

Agreed. Same goes for Jordan Staal. It's just too long of a commitment. What GM is going to trade for a second line center, signed for 8 more years at $6mm?
- Jsaquella

toronto

You know what? That's where I'd start. Because you're not trading that contract, so you might as well be done with it and use that money elsewhere -- you can get league average goaltending for, what...$3.5?
- AllInForFlyers

Basically. He'd be an automatic buyout this summer for me, if he was untradeable.

toronto
- Marc D

Staal arrives at the Leafs practice facility.

"What's that big spot of blood all over the wall?"

"Oh, we told Kessel that you were his new center and his head exploded"

The Canes may honestly be better off in the long run trading the 1st or 2nd overall for what would likely be an incredibly strong return. The catch: Whoever makes that deal needs to take two of these contracts.

The Canes may honestly be better off in the long run trading the 1st or 2nd overall for what would likely be an incredibly strong return. The catch: Whoever makes that deal needs to take two of these contracts.
- hereticpride

Yeah we traded Eichel, but now Semin is a Leaf