Wouldn't be surprised if Vegas flips Kruger to you tomorrow.

I like Bonino as a player and the little things he does, but I think his value tops out at about $4 mil, maybe $4.5 mil. That said, he will get $5+ with term. I just hope it's a team I don't like because I think they are going to regret that contract in the very near future.
- T-Train

I wonder how Bones is going to handle less favorable matchups. I mean, he's going to be paid as 2C and I don't see him having 2C offensive skills.

I got no idea why jussi got bought out. Last year was a little bit of a down year but still 28 pts which after buy out costs only saves them 1.3. For a solid bottom line guy 1.3 is a good price and he's only one year removed from having really solid top 6 numbers.

Wouldn't be surprised if Vegas flips Kruger to you tomorrow.
- walleyeb1

I wouldn't mind him as a 4c. Though I would want half retained for a 7th.

I'd prefer jokinen though unless we want 5 centers on the roster.

Wouldn't be surprised if Vegas flips Kruger to you tomorrow.
- walleyeb1

I'd hope we went for someone with more offensive upside. Kruger would bea nice fit if we were going the shutdown route on 3rd line, but too many skilled wings to do that.

If Anisimov is on the block, that might be a fit. I'm guessing we are trading a young wing like Sheary or Rust.

Agreed. If you go the FA route, you usually end up with a drastically over-paid player. Just like Bones and Daley are going to be. We got Daley for the remains of Rob Scuderi's carcass.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if we move Rust or Sheary in a deal. The can afford to lose one of them. I hate losing Hornqvist, but I could see that too.
- madmike71

Rust, Sheary, Hornqvist is the group from which I expect them to trade. Just reading between the lines seems like they are trading a RW for a C. Won't be Kessel or Reaves so those are the guys.

I'd hope we went for someone with more offensive upside. Kruger would bea nice fit if we were going the shutdown route on 3rd line, but too many skilled wings to do that.

If Anisimov is on the block, that might be a fit. I'm guessing we are trading a young wing like Sheary or Rust.
- Tojo.

I'm not crazy about either. I would much rather have Jokinen as 3C and have Rowney play 4C unless another cheap option presents itself.

I'd hope we went for someone with more offensive upside. Kruger would bea nice fit if we were going the shutdown route on 3rd line, but too many skilled wings to do that.

If Anisimov is on the block, that might be a fit. I'm guessing we are trading a young wing like Sheary or Rust.
- Tojo.

Actually hearing AA's name being floated but not sure he'd fit salary wise at $4.5. Hawks slightly over paid IMO. Hawks also pay Kruger's $2m signing bonus tomorrow so a $3m cap hit but only 1.m in salary.

I got no idea why jussi got bought out. Last year was a little bit of a down year but still 28 pts which after buy out costs only saves them 1.3. For a solid bottom line guy 1.3 is a good price and he's only one year removed from having really solid top 6 numbers.
- sditulli

Florida did lose/trade 45 goals a year to Vegas at the expo draft, plus a draft pick .... now they bought out Jussi, another 10-20 goals gone. Not trying to Moneyball this... but this is a really painful implosion to watch with them losing ~60 goals a year in those three players. They seem to cut and run instantly now after a down year on Smith and Jussi, and just didn't want to pay Jonathan Marchessault ?

Even after Jossi' down year, I think most would expect him to bounce back with a 15-20 goal season on a good team getting mid 6 minutes. Which is why I want him here... I think he will want some term, 3 years, 6 to 7.5 mil total. Just bought out so I'll assume that cuts his value in half.


edit: To follow up with some math... because we love graphs and math and poop here...

Average goals per team this year was 2.77 (via http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/stats.html ) . So 82 game season... each team scored 277.14 goals on average. Florida lost about 25% of their goals in those three players. How the hell do you replace that realistically, for any team?

Rust, Sheary, Hornqvist is the group from which I expect them to trade. Just reading between the lines seems like they are trading a RW for a C. Won't be Kessel or Reaves so those are the guys.
- Tojo.

That would make sense. I'm guessing they had to bribe Vegas with a second not to take Rust in the ED.

It's interesting that Sheary is both an unsigned RFA and on the trading block.

I'd hate to lose any of them for different reasons but if it nets us a good 3C on a good contract, it will make us a more complete and competitive team.

I would rather get a guy like Jokinen on the cheap and use those assets for a high quality defenseman, though.

Actually hearing AA's name being floated but not sure he'd fit salary wise at $4.5. Hawks slightly over paid IMO. Hawks also pay Kruger's $2m signing bonus tomorrow so a $3m cap hit but only 1.m in salary.
- walleyeb1

I think the Pens could fit $4.5, but they would probably want to wait until their RFAs are signed and they get a defenseman if they are going to. It's going to be pretty close with three RFAs and needing a center and dman with about $19 mil unless another salary is going out (pretty much just Horny or Hags fits that scenario).

I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve hoping he gets a new bike tomorrow morning (Top 4 D) and am worried my parents got me school clothes instead (7D) ...

Mason to the Jets. So they were looking for a goalie. Calgary, too. And Dallas. Funny how much mental energy was spent on the Fleury conundrum for the past 2 years only to have it end rather anticlimactically.

I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve hoping he gets a new bike tomorrow morning (Top 4 D) and am worried my parents got me school clothes instead (7D) ...
- hipcheck_goalie

Yeah, it does feel like that. I think worse would be spending a lot on a 3C and not leaving enough left over for the RFAs and a quality dman.

Amazing that there are probably no fewer than 60 deals already consummated but just waiting for business to open.

Yeah, it does feel like that. I think worse would be spending a lot on a 3C and not leaving enough left over for the RFAs and a quality dman.

Amazing that there are probably no fewer than 60 deals already consummated but just waiting for business to open.
- T-Train

Do you think the deals will be announced at Midnight or in the morning? I'm asking for a friend who is debating on staying up till midnight?

Do you think the deals will be announced at Midnight or in the morning? I'm asking for a friend who is debating on staying up till midnight?
- hipcheck_goalie

Pretty sure it's in the morning but I don't know what time. Maybe 9AM Eastern?

I think the Pens could fit $4.5, but they would probably want to wait until their RFAs are signed and they get a defenseman if they are going to. It's going to be pretty close with three RFAs and needing a center and dman with about $19 mil unless another salary is going out (pretty much just Horny or Hags fits that scenario).
- T-Train

4.5 is fair for him. 20 goals per year. Legit lower end to average 2c. Bones likely gets paid more and he's not as good. Having him as the center piece of the saad trade was dumb

Actually hearing AA's name being floated but not sure he'd fit salary wise at $4.5. Hawks slightly over paid IMO. Hawks also pay Kruger's $2m signing bonus tomorrow so a $3m cap hit but only 1.m in salary.
- walleyeb1

I would take Anisimov at that salary, they have the space, not sure if Pens. Idea is to find someone they could play with Kessel. Chicago is I assume looking for cheaper assets so there could be a fit.

Kruger doesn't fit as well. Good shutdown guy, but lacks offense.

It's a shame it doesn't sound like the Pens are into Thornton at all. It's a pipe dream, but could you imagine going into next season with something like


Sheary Crosby Guentzel
Hagelin Malkin Sprong
Marleau Thornton Kessel
Wilson Aston-Reese Rust/Reeves

Dumoulin Letang
Maatta Schultz
Cole Pouliot/Corrado/Ruhwedel/etc/ufa

Muuray
Ufa

It's a crazy pipe dream and would barely fit under the cap without the most favorable of terms. But one can dream.

Florida did lose/trade 45 goals a year to Vegas at the expo draft, plus a draft pick .... now they bought out Jussi, another 10-20 goals gone. Not trying to Moneyball this... but this is a really painful implosion to watch with them losing ~60 goals a year in those three players. They seem to cut and run instantly now after a down year on Smith and Jussi, and just didn't want to pay Jonathan Marchessault ?

Even after Jossi' down year, I think most would expect him to bounce back with a 15-20 goal season on a good team getting mid 6 minutes. Which is why I want him here... I think he will want some term, 3 years, 6 to 7.5 mil total. Just bought out so I'll assume that cuts his value in half.


edit: To follow up with some math... because we love graphs and math and poop here...

Average goals per team this year was 2.77 (via http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/stats.html ) . So 82 game season... each team scored 277.14 goals on average. Florida lost about 25% of their goals in those three players. How the hell do you replace that realistically, for any team?
- Guile

Florida seems like a poorly run organization on many fronts.

Do you think the deals will be announced at Midnight or in the morning? I'm asking for a friend who is debating on staying up till midnight?
- hipcheck_goalie

Some handshake deals could leak tonight/ tomorrow morning, but nothing official can be signed before 12:00pm est tomorrow.

I think the Pens could fit $4.5, but they would probably want to wait until their RFAs are signed and they get a defenseman if they are going to. It's going to be pretty close with three RFAs and needing a center and dman with about $19 mil unless another salary is going out (pretty much just Horny or Hags fits that scenario).
- T-Train

Depends on who is going the other way though. If it's Sheary, you are sending some salary back. If it's Rust, then it gets tight (and I'm guessing Pens add more). Sheary makes sense if Chicago is looking for a skilled LW to play with Kane and save some salary.

But I'm just throwing stuff at the wall. If Yohe is right they are talking to 5 teams and doubt I could come up with 5. Anisimov is one name I know of out there. Duchene likely too, but price probably doesn't fit. Bozak? Staal or TT from Canes? Or just someone we never thought was available.

It's a shame it doesn't sound like the Pens are into Thornton at all. It's a pipe dream, but could you imagine going into next season with something like


Sheary Crosby Guentzel
Hagelin Malkin Sprong
Marleau Thornton Kessel
Wilson Aston-Reese Rust/Reeves

Dumoulin Letang
Maatta Schultz
Cole Pouliot/Corrado/Ruhwedel/etc/ufa

Muuray
Ufa

It's a crazy pipe dream and would barely fit under the cap without the most favorable of terms. But one can dream.
- ImScore71

What happened to Horny? I think you're putting WAY too much stock in Sprong and ZAR. I think they will both be lucky to be regulars this season. Also, 6th dman looks sketchy. One injury on the D (Letang, Maatta, and/or Schultz which is not a matter of if but when) and you're in a world of hurt. Thank jeebus Cole is able to play in an elevated role.

I doubt you could even sign the RFAs and those two, let alone have anything left for a sorely needed dman.

Some handshake deals could leak tonight/ tomorrow morning, but nothing official can be signed before 12:00pm est tomorrow.
- ImScore71

High noon, eh? Hmm, later than I thought.

Depends on who is going the other way though. If it's Sheary, you are sending some salary back. If it's Rust, then it gets tight (and I'm guessing Pens add more). Sheary makes sense if Chicago is looking for a skilled LW to play with Kane and save some salary.

But I'm just throwing stuff at the wall. If Yohe is right they are talking to 5 teams and doubt I could come up with 5. Anisimov is one name I know of out there. Duchene likely too, but price probably doesn't fit. Bozak? Staal or TT from Canes? Or just someone we never thought was available.
- Tojo.

So a sign-and-trade with Sheary? We're guessing in the $3.5 range? Could be undervaluing him. That only saves them $1 mil. Who knows. Would Rust be enough if they are desperate to shed salary?

Talking to 5 teams about a center? Hmm, I just don't see Duchene working line- and contract-wise. I think your other names are good guesses. We seem to deal a lot with the same teams. Maybe STL involved? Hopefully we can get a dman from the Ducks.