Who will back up lehner in vegas

Jesse Granger
@JesseGranger_
A source close to Marc-Andre Fleury says that the trade is done, and that the Vezina Trophy winner found out through Twitter.



Also:

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
One thing to watch here: there were rumblings Marc-Andre Fleury might choose to retire if traded from Vegas — for family reasons. Not certain how it will all play out.
- eichiefs9

That’s (frank)ing harsh.

Crazy story there

David Pagnotta @TheFourthPeriod
5m
Josh Ho-Sang is going to get a fresh start this summer as he looks to get back to the NHL. Keep an eye on the Toronto Maple Leafs; likely a two-way contract when completed.


- eichiefs9

He's actually a perfect Leaf.. all offense.

Staple just released a UFA/trade article and is speculating that Cizikas ends up about $4M over 4/5 years
- eichiefs9

Pretty much where I assumed he would land. He's worth $4 mill IMO. He's a very big reason our 4th line is so effective, he kills penalties and it a HUGE part of this TEAM. I would love for him to get $3mill but if Goodrow is signing for $3.6 and Leo makes $3 then Casey is worth $4 mill AAV.

Wouldnt sign any of them at those numbers
- Hell_Bent

Thankfully you are not the Isles GM then.

Pretty much where I assumed he would land. He's worth $4 mill IMO. He's a very big reason our 4th line is so effective, he kills penalties and it a HUGE part of this TEAM. I would love for him to get $3mill but if Goodrow is signing for $3.6 and Leo makes $3 then Casey is worth $4 mill AAV.
- niteislander

Don't entirely disagree, but you could also point to that Statsny deal at $3.75M and say he's probably not a more talented UFA than Statsny was. I won't cry at $4M but it'll make things tight.

Pretty much where I assumed he would land. He's worth $4 mill IMO. He's a very big reason our 4th line is so effective, he kills penalties and it a HUGE part of this TEAM. I would love for him to get $3mill but if Goodrow is signing for $3.6 and Leo makes $3 then Casey is worth $4 mill AAV.
- niteislander

I would not use Leo's contract and the Rangers are desperate for any sort of toughness.

Yes. Yes it is.

Love Cizikas. He’s been a great 4C for the organization. But he’s not exceptional, nor should he command that kind of coin. I mean that’s damn near the same contract as Pageau, and Pageau is twice the player that Cizikas is.

2 years @ 3.25, or 4 years @ 2.75 is as high as I’d go. If that’s not enough, then I’d look elsewhere and wish Casey the best.
- Wildschwein

Not sure if JGP is Twice the player Casey is.. they are actually similar IMO. JGP is a little better but if you put JGP as the 4th line Center and Casey as 3rd my guess is their numbers would reflect that both higher and lower.

Allan Walsh
@walsha
While Marc-Andre Fleury still hasn’t heard from anybody with the Vegas Golden Knights, he has apparently been traded to Chicago. Marc-Andre will be taking time to discuss his situation with his family and seriously evaluate his hockey future at this time.

Allan Walsh, from the top rope

Don't entirely disagree, but you could also point to that Statsny deal at $3.75M and say he's probably not a more talented UFA than Statsny was. I won't cry at $4M but it'll make things tight.
- eichiefs9

Agreed.. and knowing Lou it might be slightly lower than the $4 but when they are a UFA you end up paying a little more in general.

Michael Russo @RussoHockey
19m
If he doesn’t report, did Chicago just give Vegas - a Cup contender and presumably one of their West rivals - 7M of free cap space for Jack squat?

Pretty much where I assumed he would land. He's worth $4 mill IMO. He's a very big reason our 4th line is so effective, he kills penalties and it a HUGE part of this TEAM. I would love for him to get $3mill but if Goodrow is signing for $3.6 and Leo makes $3 then Casey is worth $4 mill AAV.
- niteislander

AGREED

Agreed.. and knowing Lou it might be slightly lower than the $4 but when they are a UFA you end up paying a little more in general.
- niteislander

It very well may be, this seems to be purely just Staple predicting what he gets here. But if it's anything more than $4M it starts to become kinda problematic.

Cizikas is due for a contract at a bad time. GMs are all in on "grit and toughness" this offseason and are severely overpaying for it. I feel like we were borderline overpaying for those traits at $3m to $3.5m, so I wouldn't want to go over that at all, as important as Cizikas is to the Isles.

I think that, in this market, you'll get more bang for your buck buying skill than grit. Not that you'll pay less for skill, but I think you'd get fairer value...so, I'd rather spend $6m to $7m on a skilled goal scorer (fair value for that skill) than $4.5m to $5m on a "heart and soul" gritty bottom-six guy (overpayment for that skill in any market).

What that means for Cizikas, I'm not sure...if he wants a monster payday, I wouldn't blame him at all...and this is a once-in-a-lifetime market to cash in. But the Isles need to be careful...they gave up a lot of assets to get out from under a bad contract to an injury-prone player and they shouldn't rush headlong into another one.

My sources are telling me Jaden Schwartz is heading to Seattle.

Cizikas is due for a contract at a bad time. GMs are all in on "grit and toughness" this offseason and are severely overpaying for it. I feel like we were borderline overpaying for those traits at $3m to $3.5m, so I wouldn't want to go over that at all, as important as Cizikas is to the Isles.

I think that, in this market, you'll get more bang for your buck buying skill than grit. Not that you'll pay less for skill, but I think you'd get fairer value...so, I'd rather spend $6m to $7m on a skilled goal scorer (fair value for that skill) than $4.5m to $5m on a "heart and soul" gritty bottom-six guy (overpayment for that skill in any market).

What that means for Cizikas, I'm not sure...if he wants a monster payday, I wouldn't blame him at all...and this is a once-in-a-lifetime market to cash in. But the Isles need to be careful...they gave up a lot of assets to get out from under a bad contract to an injury-prone player and they shouldn't rush headlong into another one.
- UIF

I think your argument of buying skill over grit is disproven with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and conversely why the isles have had this much success with less "names".
I'll take 3 Cizikas over 1 Matthews.

I dont think 4 shmill is that egregious vs 3.25

Cizikas is due for a contract at a bad time. GMs are all in on "grit and toughness" this offseason and are severely overpaying for it. I feel like we were borderline overpaying for those traits at $3m to $3.5m, so I wouldn't want to go over that at all, as important as Cizikas is to the Isles.

I think that, in this market, you'll get more bang for your buck buying skill than grit. Not that you'll pay less for skill, but I think you'd get fairer value...so, I'd rather spend $6m to $7m on a skilled goal scorer (fair value for that skill) than $4.5m to $5m on a "heart and soul" gritty bottom-six guy (overpayment for that skill in any market).

What that means for Cizikas, I'm not sure...if he wants a monster payday, I wouldn't blame him at all...and this is a once-in-a-lifetime market to cash in. But the Isles need to be careful...they gave up a lot of assets to get out from under a bad contract to an injury-prone player and they shouldn't rush headlong into another one.
- UIF

Exactly right UIF! As much as we may like Casey, he is not a top 6 player.

I think your argument of buying skill over grit is disproven with the Toronto Maple Leafs. I'll take 3 Cizikas over 1 Matthews.

I dont think 4 shmill is that egregious vs 3.25
- kindlyrick

I didn't say always buy skill over grit. I said in this market, you'll get more bang for your buck buying skill than grit. Everyone's severely overpaying for grit this offseason because "toughness" is the GMs' Word of the Day.

Edit -- I'd also say that if you already have three Cizikases, it might not be the worst thing to buy a Matthews at fair market value or even a discount than severely overspend for three more Cizikases.

Heart and soul is something the Isles have. Cizikas epitomizes that, no doubt. He's an awesome player at 30 years old and $3m. He might not be so great at 35 years old and $4 or $4.5m.

I didn't say always buy skill over grit. I said in this market, you'll get more bang for your buck buying skill than grit. Everyone's severely overpaying for grit this offseason because "toughness" is the GMs' Word of the Day.
- UIF

And Isles need more skill right now. Losing twice to Tampa and getting shutout twice this past playoffs tells you all you need to know. Nobody wants the Isles to become the Leafs but Isles cannot also becoming weaker on offense either.

I didn't say always buy skill over grit. I said in this market, you'll get more bang for your buck buying skill than grit. Everyone's severely overpaying for grit this offseason because "toughness" is the GMs' Word of the Day.
- UIF

Not to be combative, but i'll disagree that Cizikas @ 4 per is severely overpaying. I think its actual value. I have faith in Lou Lam to get the right contracts in place. The isles havent been this close since the 80's.

Conor Garland 5 years 24.75 million. Canucks

I didn't say always buy skill over grit. I said in this market, you'll get more bang for your buck buying skill than grit. Everyone's severely overpaying for grit this offseason because "toughness" is the GMs' Word of the Day.

Edit -- I'd also say that if you already have three Cizikases, it might not be the worst thing to buy a Matthews at fair market value or even a discount than severely overspend for three more Cizikases.

Heart and soul is something the Isles have. Cizikas epitomizes that, no doubt. He's an awesome player at 30 years old and $3m. He might not be so great at 35 years old and $4 or $4.5m.
- UIF

My reference to 3 Cizikas' wasnt about Martin and Clutter playing that style, but more so the fact that Casey is exceptional on draws in all zones, and can basically do everything well.

Fair question, if I told you the isles sign Casey for 4 for 4, but will win the cup in that first year, do you do it?

And Isles need more skill right now. Losing twice to Tampa and getting shutout twice this past playoffs tells you all you need to know. Nobody wants the Isles to become the Leafs but Isles cannot also becoming weaker on offense either.
- ses111

Ill point out that the isles gave the Bolts their toughest challenge, and took them to within a goal of the cup finals. I'd argue that had Anders Lee been healthy, this Isles team wins that series. Add a healthy Lee this year, with a UFA or two and the isles are exponentially better than this past years team who were 1 goal away from the cup.

And Isles need more skill right now. Losing twice to Tampa and getting shutout twice this past playoffs tells you all you need to know. Nobody wants the Isles to become the Leafs but Isles cannot also becoming weaker on offense either.
- ses111

Yep...Isles have a lot of holes to fill in really important spots, and not an unlimited amount of money to do it all with.