Hoffman on a 1 year deal for 4-5 mil max is fine, anything more in both term and/or AAV is a hard pass for me. If we want to flip him at the deadline the other team needs to be able fit him too, and if we give him 7-8 mil like you suggest nobody is going to want him, even if we eat 50%. But yeah, we arent signing Hoffman anyway so its all a moot point


Your last point is essentially why Fitz said hes staying away from the big guys on the market. He wants the space open in case a trade falls into his lap from one of those cap strapped teams, and he doesnt want to be in a situation where we cant do it because we signed someone we should have just stayed away from.
- vlongo4419

Just playing devils advocate here. And these examples are not player specific. It's just current examples. Lets say Tampa Bay trades us Tyler Johnson and two first round draft picks for Mikey McLeod because they need cap space. We are then stuck with a declining player for four years unless we buy him out. If you sign Hoffman for a year or two and flip him at the deadline (and retain salary) you give no assets and probably fetch a first round pick. You do that with another quality UFA and you're in a similar spot as the Johnson trade and have a shorter cap commit.

So just saying in these hypotheticals it doesn't really matter if its trade or free agency it matters if the deal makes sense and the cost to benefit ratio. I'd think Fritz believes teams will become more desperate to fix their cap situations and that makes sense. So he's holding out for a better deal. But I don't think anyone should limit themselves one way or another. And in this case do you want Tyler Johnson or do you want Hoffman on your team?

Just playing devils advocate here. And these examples are not player specific. It's just current examples. Lets say Tampa Bay trades us Tyler Johnson and two first round draft picks for Mikey McLeod because they need cap space. We are then stuck with a declining player for four years unless we buy him out. If you sign Hoffman for a year or two and flip him at the deadline (and retain salary) you give no assets and probably fetch a first round pick. You do that with another quality UFA and you're in a similar spot as the Johnson trade and have a shorter cap commit.

So just saying in these hypotheticals it doesn't really matter if its trade or free agency it matters if the deal makes sense and the cost to benefit ratio. I'd think Fritz believes teams will become more desperate to fix their cap situations and that makes sense. So he's holding out for a better deal. But I don't think anyone should limit themselves one way or another. And in this case do you want Tyler Johnson or do you want Hoffman on your team?
- Queenie_5_hole

In this case i'd take the Tyler Johnson trade because we're getting multiple 1st round picks, thats far better than anything we would get for Hoffman in a deadline deal. Thats exactly what i mean though, i'd rather continue to hold out for teams to get desperate(which is going to happen) and use our cap space to bring in assets that will help us in the future. And thats exactly what Fitz has talked about doing.

In this case i'd take the Tyler Johnson trade because we're getting multiple 1st round picks, thats far better than anything we would get for Hoffman in a deadline deal. Thats exactly what i mean though, i'd rather continue to hold out for teams to get desperate(which is going to happen) and use our cap space to bring in assets that will help us in the future. And thats exactly what Fitz has talked about doing.
- vlongo4419

After the arbitration hears are over there will be more plays available/teams that are even more desperate to move out cap and we'll be able to find some good players for cheap. Plus I think GMs are taking their time because we have no idea when the season will even start if it does.

After the arbitration hears are over there will be more plays available/teams that are even more desperate to move out cap and we'll be able to find some good players for cheap. Plus I think GMs are taking their time because we have no idea when the season will even start if it does.
- Pomegrant

Absolutely, i think thats exactly why everything has been very quiet recently. Once the arb hearings are done i think it'll pick back up a little. As you said, nobody knows when the season will start so teams can take their time. But the closer we get, the more desperate teams will become

"When there is time, you use it. When there isn't, you make a decision."

Lou Lamoriello 101.

"When there is time, you use it. When there isn't, you make a decision."

Lou Lamoriello 101.
- Queenie_5_hole

Exactly

We arent bringing in Hoffman. Fitz already said he was staying out of the big free agent market from the beginning and has reiterated it multiple times throughout interviews so i wouldnt get your hopes up. Unless he's willing to take a 1 year deal to play for a bad team for half the season just to get flipped at the deadline. So hard pass on Hoffman, luckily Fitz is staying away too. If we brought in a FA forward I'd rather go for Granlund or take a shot on Athanasiou, Kahun, or even Duclair. But im fine with what we're doing and staying out of it ouside of depth, focusing on the potential trade market.

I assume we'll keep all of our wingers in their natural position on their strong side. So Bratt/Johnsson on the left and Palmieri/Goose on the right. Thats likely our 4 top 6 wingers unless we bring in someone else through trade
- vlongo4419

Fitz has to keep our expectations low. He can't state that he will be inking the big boys before and ink is on the paper. With Gusev/Palms/Murray all UFA's after this season, there are some major holes that may need to be filled. I hope we retain Palms and Gus, and Murray if his season goes well. However, inking Hoffman to a 2 year deal would provide some insurance. Our LW has some great prospects, but unless Kuokkenen is ready for a top 6 role right now, we could use the help.

Duclair and AA would be welcomed additions if possible. I know consistancy has been their struggle but they are proven scorers, entering their prime years, and available at a discount. If we bring one of them in to fill that 2RW role, then we could move Bratt back to the LW bringing some balance to our lineup.

"When there is time, you use it. When there isn't, you make a decision."

Lou Lamoriello 101.
- Queenie_5_hole

Lou should have listened to himself. Clock is ticking and his two best players aren't inked.

Fitz has to keep our expectations low. He can't state that he will be inking the big boys before and ink is on the paper. With Gusev/Palms/Murray all UFA's after this season, there are some major holes that may need to be filled. I hope we retain Palms and Gus, and Murray if his season goes well. However, inking Hoffman to a 2 year deal would provide some insurance. Our LW has some great prospects, but unless Kuokkenen is ready for a top 6 role right now, we could use the help.

Duclair and AA would be welcomed additions if possible. I know consistancy has been their struggle but they are proven scorers, entering their prime years, and available at a discount. If we bring one of them in to fill that 2RW role, then we could move Bratt back to the LW bringing some balance to our lineup.
- bikeguy99

Bratt is already going to be on LW, as is Johnsson. Palms/Goose on the right, thats our top 6 wingers right now. AA or Duclair would be in our bottom 6, likely the 3rd line, and wouldnt push any of them out of the top 6. So unless we make a trade to bring someone in that will be our 4 top 6 wingers. Hoffman isnt coming here, so it'll need to be a trade if we add anybody into our top 6. But we'll see, if we make a trade i see it being for D over a forward.

As it stands right now our top 6 going into the season will be:

Bratt-Nico-Goose
Johnsson-Hughes-Palms

Swap the wings to whichever line you want but those 6 are what we're likely rolling out with, unless a trade happens

Bratt is already going to be on LW, as is Johnsson. Palms/Goose on the right, thats our top 6 wingers right now. AA or Duclair would be in our bottom 6, likely the 3rd line, and wouldnt push any of them out of the top 6. So unless we make a trade to bring someone in that will be our 4 top 6 wingers. Hoffman isnt coming here, so it'll need to be a trade if we add anybody into our top 6. But we'll see, if we make a trade i see it being for D over a forward.

As it stands right now our top 6 going into the season will be:

Bratt-Nico-Goose
Johnsson-Hughes-Palms

Swap the wings to whichever line you want but those 6 are what we're likely rolling out with, unless a trade happens
- vlongo4419

Agreed. I think Zacha and Zajac will be good "stabilizer" centers for the kids that skate along side them. It's both a good and disappointing thing for Zacha.. as I'd much rather be seeing if he can up his output with whichever wingers (as Bratt-Gusev seemed to work well with him last year), but Hughes is the priority and Zacha.. will just have to make due with what he has around him.

Bratt-Nico-Palmieri
Johnsson-Hughes-Gusev
Kuokkanen/Boqvist-Zacha-Merkley/McLeod
Wood-Zajac-Merkley/McLeod/Bastian

I wish Gusev was with Zacha and Holtz with Hughes, but it is what it is. We don't really have much RW depth without Holtz/Mercer.

I've become OK with Kulikov and have accepted what this team is. We will be a bottom 10 team again, and that's fine. There's plenty to watch without looking for actual wins. The bottom 6 will produce nothing, and we just hope to see any kind of progression from Zacha, and if the kids can at least look like consistent NHL-ers with some potential. So half the lineup will bring us nothing, and probably get scored against a good bit. Heck, the Hughes line will also get scored against a good bit.
We hope to see Nico put up 70pts, Bratt 50, Gusev 60. We hope to see Johnsson even with 50. That would be exciting. And we reaaallly hope to see a substantial improvement from our wonder-boy. Is 50 points from a 2nd year 1st overall pick on the 2nd line asking for too much? Palmieri will get his 60pts again.

Murray-Severson
Butcher-Subban
Kulikov-Smith

The D will give up plenty. Smith will be learning, Kulikov will try to block everything but isn't a speed demon.. Butcher and Subban are sad defensively.. and Murray probably won't play 1/3 of the season. So.. good luck Blackwood. Glad we have Crawford to steal some of the pain away.

Lots of reasons to watch, while we plan for our top 10 pick. It's not outside the realm of possibility we get top 10 in the following year. Yea Hughes will have another year under his belt, but Holtz will then be a rookie, and who knows if we still have Palmieri or Gus. So we could lose an established 2-way goal scorer in Palms and gain a rookie scorer in Holtz, who could struggle out the gate. Who knows what Smith actually does, and if any of our prospects, including Foote, make a positive impact the season after this. I think 3 seasons from now is the one to put a star on as far as having any level of confidence we could push for a playoff spot.

Agreed. I think Zacha and Zajac will be good "stabilizer" centers for the kids that skate along side them. It's both a good and disappointing thing for Zacha.. as I'd much rather be seeing if he can up his output with whichever wingers (as Bratt-Gusev seemed to work well with him last year), but Hughes is the priority and Zacha.. will just have to make due with what he has around him.

Bratt-Nico-Palmieri
Johnsson-Hughes-Gusev
Kuokkanen/Boqvist-Zacha-Merkley/McLeod
Wood-Zajac-Merkley/McLeod/Bastian

I wish Gusev was with Zacha and Holtz with Hughes, but it is what it is. We don't really have much RW depth without Holtz/Mercer.

I've become OK with Kulikov and have accepted what this team is. We will be a bottom 10 team again, and that's fine. There's plenty to watch without looking for actual wins. The bottom 6 will produce nothing, and we just hope to see any kind of progression from Zacha, and if the kids can at least look like consistent NHL-ers with some potential. So half the lineup will bring us nothing, and probably get scored against a good bit. Heck, the Hughes line will also get scored against a good bit.
We hope to see Nico put up 70pts, Bratt 50, Gusev 60. We hope to see Johnsson even with 50. That would be exciting. And we reaaallly hope to see a substantial improvement from our wonder-boy. Is 50 points from a 2nd year 1st overall pick on the 2nd line asking for too much? Palmieri will get his 60pts again.

Murray-Severson
Butcher-Subban
Kulikov-Smith

The D will give up plenty. Smith will be learning, Kulikov will try to block everything but isn't a speed demon.. Butcher and Subban are sad defensively.. and Murray probably won't play 1/3 of the season. So.. good luck Blackwood. Glad we have Crawford to steal some of the pain away.

Lots of reasons to watch, while we plan for our top 10 pick. It's not outside the realm of possibility we get top 10 in the following year. Yea Hughes will have another year under his belt, but Holtz will then be a rookie, and who knows if we still have Palmieri or Gus. So we could lose an established 2-way goal scorer in Palms and gain a rookie scorer in Holtz, who could struggle out the gate. Who knows what Smith actually does, and if any of our prospects, including Foote, make a positive impact the season after this. I think 3 seasons from now is the one to put a star on as far as having any level of confidence we could push for a playoff spot.
- MartysBetter88

I agree there are a lot of reasons to watch. It is interesting to think about how the team has evolved into what it is now. Different everything. Several missed steps / moves that turned out to not work out well in the rebuild process but it has been much more fun hockey to watch these past few years, and more to come. Zajac and Severson are the only remnants of the old guard left. Remember the days of Jordin Tootoo on the first line? Michael Ryder? Hoping Reid Boucher's game translates to the NHL? "Good times" I will take watching Nico, Jack, Holtz, Bratt, etc. and the young guys grow into their skills over that any day.

I agree there are a lot of reasons to watch. It is interesting to think about how the team has evolved into what it is now. Different everything. Several missed steps / moves that turned out to not work out well in the rebuild process but it has been much more fun hockey to watch these past few years, and more to come. Zajac and Severson are the only remnants of the old guard left. Remember the days of Jordin Tootoo on the first line? Michael Ryder? Hoping Reid Boucher's game translates to the NHL? "Good times" I will take watching Nico, Jack, Holtz, Bratt, etc. and the young guys grow into their skills over that any day.
- TRDevil

Those were some really dark years for us. Now we might be a bad team but at least we have some fun players to watch with hope for the future. Took a long time to turn the franchise around but at least it's looking up now.

Those were some really dark years for us. Now we might be a bad team but at least we have some fun players to watch with hope for the future. Took a long time to turn the franchise around but at least it's looking up now.
- Pomegrant

I’m uncomfortable with you being optimistic.

I’m uncomfortable with you being optimistic.
- Queenie_5_hole

Just wait until the owners do something poopty again and i'll be back to normal.

Those were some really dark years for us. Now we might be a bad team but at least we have some fun players to watch with hope for the future. Took a long time to turn the franchise around but at least it's looking up now.
- Pomegrant

It's sad how excited I have been for our recent off-seasons. I don't expect too much from this squad this season, but I do have some optimism for a few players to start popping off. I will also be paying much more attention to Bing, as this could be an unreal AHL team. I don't see the point in rushing most of our prospects into this season. Smith, yes. The rest...... Not so sure

Hello....new post....crickets.....

Hello....new post....crickets.....
- redmonsters

There isn't a whole lot going on but yeah, it's been too quiet in these parts.....

Hello....new post....crickets.....
- redmonsters

Just a simple 2 paragraph blog regarding Blackwood/Bratts RFA's status would be fine.

Hello....new post....crickets.....
- redmonsters

It's the dark ages of the NHL season. blackness. emptiness. waiting for the big bang of Lightning to explode activity with their cap issues- Cirelli, Cernak, Sergachev. Waiting for spectacular Blackwood and Bratt signings..
and waiting for Hoffman to sign somewhere.

Weekly updates on Holtz, Mercer, and long-name would be fun.

Hello....new post....crickets.....
- redmonsters

The dog days of summer are upon us

Bratt is already going to be on LW, as is Johnsson. Palms/Goose on the right, thats our top 6 wingers right now. AA or Duclair would be in our bottom 6, likely the 3rd line, and wouldnt push any of them out of the top 6. So unless we make a trade to bring someone in that will be our 4 top 6 wingers. Hoffman isnt coming here, so it'll need to be a trade if we add anybody into our top 6. But we'll see, if we make a trade i see it being for D over a forward.

As it stands right now our top 6 going into the season will be:

Bratt-Nico-Goose
Johnsson-Hughes-Palms

Swap the wings to whichever line you want but those 6 are what we're likely rolling out with, unless a trade happens
- vlongo4419

Bratt has me puzzled. He is an anomaly. For 2 seasons, he is projected on the top line one night, then healthy scratched the next. Personally, I think the guy is fantastic, and underutilized. I hope we get at least 2 years on his next contract. I wouldn't be so sure he is a LW at this point. He was quite effective playing the RW, and Kuokkenen could stabilize that LW. I think he's ready.

Bratt has me puzzled. He is an anomaly. For 2 seasons, he is projected on the top line one night, then healthy scratched the next. Personally, I think the guy is fantastic, and underutilized. I hope we get at least 2 years on his next contract. I wouldn't be so sure he is a LW at this point. He was quite effective playing the RW, and Kuokkenen could stabilize that LW. I think he's ready.
- bikeguy99

The analytics guys like Bratt. He's got nice underlying numbers. The problem is that he doesn't get consistent play time so his sample size isn't large. I'd like to see them just give him an expanded role for a good chunk of time so we actually know what kind of player we've got with him.

The analytics guys like Bratt. He's got nice underlying numbers. The problem is that he doesn't get consistent play time so his sample size isn't large. I'd like to see them just give him an expanded role for a good chunk of time so we actually know what kind of player we've got with him.
- Pomegrant

100% agree. Bratt has yet to make me yell at my tv. Many Devs have had me yelling at my TV like a psycho. He seems to have instant chemistry with the more skilled/puck posession players. The only reason his numbers dip appears to be when he is thrown on a dump and chase line with guys like Wood/Bastian/Zajac as his supporting cast. Give him Gusev/Palms/Nico and he seems to be a perfect fit. So lets hope he gets a 5 year deal at 2.5M aav and we can sneak him in as a cheap top 6 guy before he actually drives his price up.

The analytics guys like Bratt. He's got nice underlying numbers. The problem is that he doesn't get consistent play time so his sample size isn't large. I'd like to see them just give him an expanded role for a good chunk of time so we actually know what kind of player we've got with him.
- Pomegrant

The kid gets jerked around a lot but has put up pretty consistent numbers the last three years. I don't get why Hynes was on him so much. I mean he's not the best two way player but there are guys (Woods, Hayden etc.) who were a lot worse defensively. I'm hoping things are better for Bratt under Lindy Ruff because the kid has legit skills..

The kid gets jerked around a lot but has put up pretty consistent numbers the last three years. I don't get why Hynes was on him so much. I mean he's not the best two way player but there are guys (Woods, Hayden etc.) who were a lot worse defensively. I'm hoping things are better for Bratt under Lindy Ruff because the kid has legit skills..

- Queenie_5_hole

With so many young guys like Bratt, Nico, Jack etc. Ruff actually does seem like a good fit to help these guys develop. Hoping we don't ever again have a PDB/Larsson situation with any of these young guys coming through.