The more his name goes without being mentioned, the more I wonder about Schultz.

If they aren't dead set on resigning him I wonder how Winnipeg would value him? Could you get a 1st rounder for him? Could there be a deal around Schultz for Ehlers?
- MacPatty

Think about the market: Trouba got a 1st and a promising young D, Braun just went for a 2nd and a 3rd. Top 4 RHD even as a rental is easily worth a 1st and a roster player/2nd rounder imo, more if you’re not buying low

Jack Johnson @ $2.75M for 2 years we all could live with.
- Barnaby36

This is what has always pushed me over the top on wondering how GMJR operates.

Who was he negotiating against? Why would he believe anyone would be close to that range on an offer?

AND if he was actually bidding against another team, we should trade JJ to that team immediately, because that GM clearly also has some screws loose.

Think about the market: Trouba got a 1st and a promising young D, Braun just went for a 2nd and a 3rd. Top 4 RHD even as a rental is easily worth a 1st and a roster player/2nd rounder imo, more if you’re not buying low
- WSCTeton17

Is shultz worth Ehlers? I would explore that.

Is shultz worth Ehlers? I would explore that.
- sammy87

I don’t think so. So many people here get hung up on guys like Neal having one down year when their career suggests there’s a ton of room to rebound.

Ehlers has back to back 60+ point seasons. I think they would ask for Schultz+ or more like Dumo. The problem with trading Schultz is that we’d need to replace him. Unless we’re getting Subban or some other upper tier defender then we should all be talking about extending him. Remember how long it took to find a 3C? It would be worse looking for a top 4 RHD

This is what has always pushed me over the top on wondering how GMJR operates.

Who was he negotiating against? Why would he believe anyone would be close to that range on an offer?

AND if he was actually bidding against another team, we should trade JJ to that team immediately, because that GM clearly also has some screws loose.
- mgm986

I always thought JR was negotiating against himself with JJ. However, Yohe reported Anaheim and Detroit were also trying to sign him. JR said the 5 year contract was done to keep the yearly hit smaller.

None of this matters, but I had been thinking the same thing until Yohe said there were other teams involved. It's kind of telling Holland and Detroit were involved.

Phaneuf for $1M, 1 year prove me deal lol 🤮
- Barnaby36

LOL, I was actually talking about minor league vet defensemen for call-ups depth. GMJR needs to sign a few. They actually only have Niclas Almari and Dane Birks on 2 way deals besides the 8 guys everyone knows. That's why I think they might keep 8 defensemen rather than put Riikola on waivers.

I really like AV as a coach. Losing Gudas sucks but if Nisky stays healthy then he’s an upgrade in the transition game. I imagine Fletcher has probably talked with Gudas’ agent and figures he’s going to lose him anyways because they have so many other defenders to retain

The Brain trade was an overpayment and was gross. He’s good on the P.K. and there were talks that Philly wanted to improve there

Check out Hayes’ TOI. When he gets legit 2C minutes then he produces more. I imagine his QoT is going to go up in Philly as well. Somebody was going to pay him whether it was back in NY, Dallas, or Buffalo. Turns out Philly is ok letting Patrick Nolan play 3C or wing. Panik is probably getting over 4, Nyquist is probably going to get around 7, Duchene and Panarin will get 10-11 with lots of SBs. The market hath been set!
- WSCTeton17

I like Hayes as a fit, but I thought the Turris contract was a good comparable of a recent contract and that already has buyers regret. Hayes will have to prove he an consistently produce with more minutes. I love picking up guys like that because you might get some bonus value, buy I don't like paying them for it ahead of time. Also, he could still end up the 3C if Patrick breaks out.

I always thought JR was negotiating against himself with JJ. However, Yohe reported Anaheim and Detroit were also trying to sign him. JR said the 5 year contract was done to keep the yearly hit smaller.

None of this matters, but I had been thinking the same thing until Yohe said there were other teams involved. It's kind of telling Holland and Detroit were involved.
- madmike71

So they should shop him to Edmonton or Anaheim? Would be great if Holland were still in Detroit.

TSN is now reporting that Ottawa is once again shopping Ceci. They have a ton of good young D prospects, but they’re willing to take on a veteran D if he’s going to add some sort of value.

Ristolainen could head to TBL for Sergachev

Bobfather is reporting the same as I said, which is obvious - the RFAs aren’t looking to their teammates as comparables, they’re looking at the market. The market for most of them is trying to get Eichel money but for Marner it’s obviously Matthews

I always thought JR was negotiating against himself with JJ. However, Yohe reported Anaheim and Detroit were also trying to sign him. JR said the 5 year contract was done to keep the yearly hit smaller.

None of this matters, but I had been thinking the same thing until Yohe said there were other teams involved. It's kind of telling Holland and Detroit were involved.
- madmike71

Montreal was also bidding, it is known

When does the pending-UFA's-can-talk-to-other-teams period begin?
- MattStrat

June 23

I like Hayes as a fit, but I thought the Turris contract was a good comparable of a recent contract and that already has buyers regret. Hayes will have to prove he an consistently produce with more minutes. I love picking up guys like that because you might get some bonus value, buy I don't like paying them for it ahead of time. Also, he could still end up the 3C if Patrick breaks out.
- Tojo.

Yeah but what’s Turris’ cap hit pro rated to an overall salary cap of say 81.5MM? That would be 2.5% growth and wasn’t the last increase 2-3 million as well? I think Hayes is slightly better than Turris and it will show this year with better teammates

I was looking at the sharks salary cap, and they could be a good team to trade with. They have 16 mil to sign Pavelski, Meier, Labanc, Thornton, Donskoi, and Nyquist. They’ll probably let Nyquist and Donskoi walk, but Pavelski could easily get $8+ mil, and Meier and Labanc could get $4+ mil each, which would eat up the rest of their cap space. I wonder if the pens could try to work a deal with the 1st round pick and ZAR or Simon for Meier.
- drummer829

We're pretty close to the cap ourselves, specially if it's 82M or lower, so it would be are for us to make a deal where we take on salary. We don't have a bunch of easy contracts to dump.

Think about the market: Trouba got a 1st and a promising young D, Braun just went for a 2nd and a 3rd. Top 4 RHD even as a rental is easily worth a 1st and a roster player/2nd rounder imo, more if you’re not buying low
- WSCTeton17

Trouba I don't think is even a good comparable because it sure seems like they sold low to move on with their off-season. I agree, if they got another top 4 RHD they could flip Schultz for a nice return and if they aren't bringing him back, that's the route I'd try to take.

Someone else wondered why we haven't heard anything about Schultz yet. They can't talk until July 1st and unless you're a star player, those talks wait until free agent frenzy is over, so we'll probably find out more in a month.

We're pretty close to the cap ourselves, specially if it's 82M or lower, so it would be are for us to make a deal where we take on salary. We don't have a bunch of easy contracts to dump.
- Tojo.

I have to agree. Plus our cap space decreases pending on how much our RFAs sign for.

I think Meier is worth more than this, drummer. I'd kick the tires on Nyquist for Geno's wing. Why not?
- Barnaby36

Price.

I think Nyqvist would be a nice addition but only if we traded Hornqvist. I would hate to trade Kessel and then have him, in essence, be replaced with Nyqvist at $6-7M. There's no net gain there.

Trouba I don't think is even a good comparable because it sure seems like they sold low to move on with their off-season. I agree, if they got another top 4 RHD they could flip Schultz for a nice return and if they aren't bringing him back, that's the route I'd try to take.

Someone else wondered why we haven't heard anything about Schultz yet. They can't talk until July 1st and unless you're a star player, those talks wait until free agent frenzy is over, so we'll probably find out more in a month.
- Tojo.

I was on-board with trading Schultz if we signed Trouba. But as much as I think getting Ehlers would be a steal, we would be SOL trying to find a replacement 2nd pair RHD.

Yeah but what’s Turris’ cap hit pro rated to an overall salary cap of say 81.5MM? That would be 2.5% growth and wasn’t the last increase 2-3 million as well? I think Hayes is slightly better than Turris and it will show this year with better teammates
- WSCTeton17

Turris only got 6M and hit 50 points 4 if the 5 previous seasons, which Hayes just did for the first time. We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one and see how it plays out.

Price.

I think Nyqvist would be a nice addition but only if we traded Hornqvist. I would hate to trade Kessel and then have him, in essence, be replaced with Nyqvist at $6-7M. There's no net gain there.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I'd be willing to go as far as $5.5M for Nyquist. Johanson could be a cheaper option.

FWIW.... Rutherford said the 1st rounder is in play. Said he won't trade it for an aging vet, but if he can get a "23 or 24" year old player he'll do it.
- madmike71

And that is always fine to do. A 1st for a good RFA or last year elc type of player basically saves you 2-3 years of development.

Turris only got 6M and hit 50 points 4 if the 5 previous seasons, which Hayes just did for the first time. We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one and see how it plays out.
- Tojo.

Just for poops and giggles... how would you feel about a deal centered around Kessel & Turris?

Just for poops and giggles... how would you feel about a deal centered around Kessel & Turris?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Depends on what is added to the deal.

Turris only got 6M and hit 50 points 4 if the 5 previous seasons, which Hayes just did for the first time. We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one and see how it plays out.
- Tojo.

Turris is better than Hayes. I really don't get where the hype came from with him but I'm really glad Philly paid out the ass for him.

I still like the idea of a Phil for Turris deal with one of Tolvanen or Fabbro coming back.

I was on-board with trading Schultz if we signed Trouba. But as much as I think getting Ehlers would be a steal, we would be SOL trying to find a replacement 2nd pair RHD.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Part of me feels like Zaitsev could be a lower cost risk worth taking. I think he could rebound and become a solid 2nd pair D. At 4.5M it could turn into a value contract even if the term is tough to swallow.

I'd be fine going with Letang, Z and Gud on the right side.

Perry is officially getting bought out...

I personally would love to see the Pens pick him up on a cheap one year deal. He can bounce back once healthy and I have said for years that he is the perfect RW for Malkin.

Back to previous posts... trade Kessel and Pens 1st for Turris & Tolvanen (this gives them a chance to sign Duchene). You'd have a tremendously deep roster.