I’m with you here MacPatty. I actually think we should draft @ 21st. If we want to get rid of Jacko, we could get creative and package him with a roster player. We’ll be fine.

It would be the stupidest thing in the world to trade the first to get rid of JJ... dumb as it gets.

Trading down would also not be advisable. The Pens could have a great player fall to them at 21. The talk about the 21st OA not having an impact in the window is just wrong.

Point, Aho, Pastranak, Slavin, Benn, Gaudreau were all later picks who were contributing within a couple years of getting drafted. Take the best player available and fix your problems by other means.
- MacPatty

I agree that keeping the pick is the best option but I’m also ok with using it to lose JJ DEPENDING on what we use the space on.

Fenton discussed Rask and how he’s going to bounce back which I 100% agree on, he’ll have third line production. So Rask for JJ probably went by the wayside a while back. What other cap dumps would make sense? I haven’t looked into it much

I’m with you here MacPatty. I actually think we should draft @ 21st. If we want to get rid of Jacko, we could get creative and package him with a roster player. We’ll be fine.
- Barnaby36

Like the Sheary + Hunwick deal? That was my thought as well. I didn't think the 1st would be needed.

Kahun-Bjugstad-Kessel

Kahun is faster than Simon and he is always getting in and around the net / slot. Seems like the ideal type of player to slot on that line imo. The problem is that it still leaves us searching for a LW for Geno unless Rust or McCann or someone seizes that role
- WSCTeton17

I prefer the defensive tandem of Simon and Bjugstad. They were strong down the stretch. But we have to see who is even on the roster in a few weeks. I have a feeling one of the right wingers will be gone, given Kahun is cheaper and played RW successfully last season in a top 6 role.

I’d buyout JJ as it’s only about $1.2M per year against the cap. This way it only costs money and you can still add a player with the 21st pick
- Crushers68

I'm going buyout all the way. They clear the cap space for this year which is the last one before Murray's extension, not to mention extend or replace Schultz, and any of Kahun, McCann, and Simon could be in line for raises.

The buyout cap hit to make JJ go away is less than the retained salary Toronto paid to make Phil go away. It's worth it, use that 1st elsewhere.

I don't trade down with the 1st. Better chance to get a player that even if he doesn't help next year may help soon. Maatta was drafted in that area and helped a year later and this is a deeper draft.

I would however, package the 1st for a difference making player like a #3 defenseman or a LW for Malkin.

Like the Sheary + Hunwick deal? That was my thought as well. I didn't think the 1st would be needed.
- burgh4life87

Sheary>1st round pick

Sheary>1st round pick
- j.boyd919

In reality, yes, because he is proven. But GM's don't think that way

I don't trade down with the 1st. Better chance to get a player that even if he doesn't help next year may help soon. Maatta was drafted in that area and helped a year later and this is a deeper draft.

I would however, package the 1st for a difference making player like a #3 defenseman or a LW for Malkin.
- Tojo.

You could trade down and draft a Pouliot or stay put and grab a Maatta.

In reality, yes, because he is proven. But GM's don't think that way
- burgh4life87

Haha exactly my thought.

Sheary>1st round pick
- j.boyd919

Sheary is a fringe top 9 player who makes $3M. I'll take the pick and the cap space all day.

Is there a timeframe around when a player can be bought out?

For instance, if we had an agreement with X free agent to sign for X dollars but we were going to be over the cap, could we just buy out JJ at that point in time and sign the FA?

I'm just asking because the buyout is a viable option for me. No need to be desperate and trade away a 1st rd pick. If you have a trade or something in the works where you need rid of JJ, just buy him out. Though its a long duration, it's really not that big of a penalty, imo...

Sheary is a fringe top 9 player who makes $3M. I'll take the pick and the cap space all day.
- MacPatty

He had the same amount of even strength points as Mantha, Zucker, Coyle, DeBrusk - he is also a consistently positive possession player. He is very much a strong 3rd line option at a reasonable cost. Not sure why so many people are down on him.

Sheary is a fringe top 9 player who makes $3M. I'll take the pick and the cap space all day.
- MacPatty

What the (frank) is a fringe top 9 player?

He had the same amount of even strength points as Mantha, Zucker, Coyle, DeBrusk - he is also a consistently positive possession player. He is very much a strong 3rd line option at a reasonable cost. Not sure why so many people are down on him.
- burgh4life87

Because they’re retarded.

What the (frank) is a fringe top 9 player?
- j.boyd919

People around here have the weirdest view of Sheary because he “falls down” all the time.

I agree that keeping the pick is the best option but I’m also ok with using it to lose JJ DEPENDING on what we use the space on.

Fenton discussed Rask and how he’s going to bounce back which I 100% agree on, he’ll have third line production. So Rask for JJ probably went by the wayside a while back. What other cap dumps would make sense? I haven’t looked into it much
- WSCTeton17

The Rask deal would have been nice.

Like others have mentioned, could be a deal out there similar to the Huntwick/Sheary deal. Simon or ZAR might be guys another team would find cheap and good enough to take on.

Otherwise there are some ultra high risk deals out there like Neal & Eriksson. Or if we are really getting nuts send JJ and Rust for Lucic, Puljujavi and an exchange of 1st round picks.

People around here have the weirdest view of Sheary because he “falls down” all the time.
- Rinosaur

People didnt want sherry with 87 or 71. As a 3rd liner he was fine.

Curious what the longevity of Rust is? He is streaky but has speed. Is a cup winner so could have some value to a team?

What the (frank) is a fringe top 9 player?
- j.boyd919

It's a guy who is bordering on being a 4th line caliber player. Not all that effective when he isn't being carried around by elite players.

I keep wondering if the league's dumpster, the Coyotes, would be willing to take JJ and what it would take to make it happen. Maybe package JJ and the first round pick and try to get back a reliable third pairing defenseman in return.

What’s kinda funny about RW having an opinion on the 21st pick is that he’s never been shy about saying that he doesn’t look into the draft or the prospects. So, uhhh, why not refer to someone who does?

This is supposed to be a deep first round. Who was the last person we took around this spot? Kapanen who retained a high value after we had already drafted him (as many picks do at a young age) and has provided TOR some value on his ECL despite playing for a coach who makes his players overwork/sit and watch to earn their ice time. Yet he keeps talking about how we need those ELCs to stay competitive and how all cup winners have them. You can’t have it both ways.

I’m all for keeping the pick and like Rino has stated numerous times, hoping that JJ gets passed up on the depth chart and traded at some point

People around here have the weirdest view of Sheary because he “falls down” all the time.
- Rinosaur

Has nothing to do with falling down, though that was painful to watch sometimes. More his constant fumbling when trying to catch passes, losing every puck battle and going invisible when not with Sid.

I keep wondering if the league's dumpster, the Coyotes, would be willing to take JJ and what it would take to make it happen. Maybe package JJ and the first round pick and try to get back a reliable third pairing defenseman in return.
- PghPens668771

Can you further define dumpster? They just barely missed the playoffs with the second most injuries in the league. They’ve also got a new owner coming in which will allow them to finally spend some money - hence why Dreger has them targeting Duchene as their main free agent. They’re a top team defensively despite all of those injuries as well

What’s kinda funny about RW having an opinion on the 21st pick is that he’s never been shy about saying that he doesn’t look into the draft or the prospects. So, uhhh, why not refer to someone who does?

This is supposed to be a deep first round. Who was the last person we took around this spot? Kapanen who retained a high value after we had already drafted him (as many picks do at a young age) and has provided TOR some value on his ECL despite playing for a coach who makes his players overwork/sit and watch to earn their ice time. Yet he keeps talking about how we need those ELCs to stay competitive and how all cup winners have them. You can’t have it both ways.

I’m all for keeping the pick and like Rino has stated numerous times, hoping that JJ gets passed up on the depth chart and traded at some point
- WSCTeton17

Been awhile since I have posted... JR said on TSN today that it was either Maatta or JJ... Sure sounds like he plans on keeping JJ... Not a fan and prefer buyout but that seals all the talk of getting rid of JJ.

Ok. How stupid of an idea is it to package Johnson and a pick for Rasmus Ristolanen?