Unless both players are willing to give a hometown discount, I would rather not re-sign both.
- ses111

Varly I would be very interested in retaining, assuming he takes a pay cut. The reality is that any decent UFA backup goaltender they go out and sign is probably going to cost them in the neighborhood of ~$3M. If they can keep Varly for something like $3.5M then I'd be happy to do it.

Mayfield kind of similar. But I don't think he's really worth a whole lot more than he's making now. Something in the $2M-$2.5M range would be reasonable but if he thinks he can get more on the open market then I'd wish him the best and let him walk.

Fair enough. To the extent there are various degrees of "all in", Lou is less "all in" than some of the other teams you mention. My point is simply that I don't think Lou will be looking to sell today (nor should he be). If anything, he will be looking to make one last move to help the team make this year's playoffs.
- JohnScammo

If the isles were gonna be sellers, it wouldnt be on the last day of the deadline. The ownership just took on a major expense with that new building, and they make money in the post season.

Moving Bertuzzi I understand. But Hronek perplexes me. And the whole Vrana debacle carries a whiff of fishiness about it.
- Wildschwein

If Im Detroits ownership, I give Stevie Y carte blanche.....the guy is the best GM in the league. There's not a GM in the league i'd rather have from scratch than him.

Both players being able to make the jump next year would sure help the Cap.
- ses111

Isles dont have cap issues, but its lookin like they do have 2 good assets.

Varly I would be very interested in retaining, assuming he takes a pay cut. The reality is that any decent UFA backup goaltender they go out and sign is probably going to cost them in the neighborhood of ~$3M. If they can keep Varly for something like $3.5M then I'd be happy to do it.

Mayfield kind of similar. But I don't think he's really worth a whole lot more than he's making now. Something in the $2M-$2.5M range would be reasonable but if he thinks he can get more on the open market then I'd wish him the best and let him walk.
- eichiefs9

Mayfield is gonna get more than he's worth. Thats the nature of the beast. If Lou cant agree to a reasonable deal, i think it behooves the isles to move him at the draft.

Isles dont have cap issues, but its lookin like they do have 2 good assets.
- kindlyrick

They don't have "issues", but assuming the cap only rises another $1M...they'll have about $7M to sign a backup goalie, a 3rd pairing defenseman, an a depth forward or two. Shouldn't be a major problem, but it doesn't really leave them much to add unless they're able to clear out some salary.

Finding a way to ship out Bailey would go a long way for them, as would getting rid of dead weight like Johnston and Clutterbuck

Mayfield is gonna get more than he's worth. Thats the nature of the beast. If Lou cant agree to a reasonable deal, i think it behooves the isles to move him at the draft.
- kindlyrick

I pretty much agree with the first sentence. Only way I think the Isles retain him is if he is willing to give them a discount because he doesn't want to leave. And I wouldn't bank on that, given the fact that this will be his only real chance to cash in on a big (for him) contract. Only thing working against him will be the fact that he's been putrid this season.

They don't have "issues", but assuming the cap only rises another $1M...they'll have about $7M to sign a backup goalie, a 3rd pairing defenseman, an a depth forward or two. Shouldn't be a major problem, but it doesn't really leave them much to add unless they're able to clear out some salary.
- eichiefs9

I think Varly is a goner after this season, so that 7 million becomes 12 million. I also believe that Bailey is done here as well. You can't rationalize keeping a guy who's being paid a million bucks per goal. If they found a way to rid themselves of Andrew Badd, im sure they can find a home for Bailey......Arizona maybe?

I pretty much agree with the first sentence. Only way I think the Isles retain him is if he is willing to give them a discount because he doesn't want to leave. And I wouldn't bank on that, given the fact that this will be his only real chance to cash in on a big (for him) contract. Only thing working against him will be the fact that he's been putrid this season.
- eichiefs9

If we isles fans have learned nothing, "wanting to stay" before the deadline means nothing. The all mighty dollar means everything. Players are going to usually go for the highest bidder.
Before anyone references a Tavares or another scenario, when you're talking 10 million vs 10.5-11 million theres no real difference. 2 million vs 4 mllion is a different story

I think Varly is a goner after this season, so that 7 million becomes 12 million. I also believe that Bailey is done here as well. You can't rationalize keeping a guy who's being paid a million bucks per goal. If they found a way to rid themselves of Andrew Badd, im sure they can find a home for Bailey......Arizona maybe?
- kindlyrick

No, it would still be $7M. Varlamov's cap hit coming off the books is already accounted for in the $6.1M they currently have open for next year (cap rising by $1M would bump that up to around $7.1M)

That ~$7M number is what is available to sign any of:

- Parise
- Fasching
- Mayfield
- Wotherspoon
- Varlamov
- Engvall
- Wahlstrom (RFA and someone I forgot to list in the last post)

They don't have "issues", but assuming the cap only rises another $1M...they'll have about $7M to sign a backup goalie, a 3rd pairing defenseman, an a depth forward or two. Shouldn't be a major problem, but it doesn't really leave them much to add unless they're able to clear out some salary.

Finding a way to ship out Bailey would go a long way for them, as would getting rid of dead weight like Johnston and Clutterbuck
- eichiefs9

They love Johnston for some reason. We keep saying the game has changed, but its even different now, then 3 years ago. Are there really any more young up and coming traditional fighters?

No, it would still be $7M. Varlamov's cap hit coming off the books is already accounted for in the $6.1M they currently have open for next year (cap rising by $1M would bump that up to around $7.1M)

That ~$7M number is what is available to sign any of:

- Parise
- Fasching
- Mayfield
- Wotherspoon
- Varlamov
- Engvall
- Wahlstrom (RFA and someone I forgot to list in the last post)
- eichiefs9

Fair enough, but I have faith in Lou's ability to crunch the cap. He was the inventor of front loading. I think its aparent that this team needs some work, if they're going to compete with the likes of the Bruins, Bolts, Rags, Hurricanes etc. I dont think we are going to see the same team next year at the drop.

They love Johnston for some reason. We keep saying the game has changed, but its even different now, then 3 years ago. Are there really any more young up and coming traditional fighters?
- kindlyrick

Nope, anyone that fights now has to at least be a functional player. The goon days are over and guys like Johnston/Reaves/Deslaurier are the last of the bunch. They're better than the complete goons of past years, but not by a whole lot.

Guys like Wilson/Jeannot/etc... are what you're going to see being the new enforcers now

Nope, anyone that fights now has to at least be a functional player. The goon days are over and guys like Johnston/Reaves/Deslaurier are the last of the bunch. They're better than the complete goons of past years, but not by a whole lot.

Guys like Wilson/Jeannot/etc... are what you're going to see being the new enforcers now
- eichiefs9

Right which is why I dont see the point in throwing Johnston in the lineup to lose to Reaves and sacrifice the offense that you could have gotten from an uptrending Durandeau. Especially when they're in the race right now......every goal is important towards the needed 2 pts.

Fair enough, but I have faith in Lou's ability to crunch the cap. He was the inventor of front loading. I think its aparent that this team needs some work, if they're going to compete with the likes of the Bruins, Bolts, Rags, Hurricanes etc. I dont think we are going to see the same team next year at the drop.
- kindlyrick

Yeah I'm not overly concerned. Johnston's cap hit can be buried in the minors. I am relatively confident they'll do their best to get rid of Bailey. They could save another $1.16M by buying out Clutterbuck (would cost them $583k in cap space the following year)

There was some smoke about potentially moving Pageau. I don't know how real that was, but can't totally rule it out either. He'd be worth something and would clear off another $5M if they wanted to take a run at a more offensively-gifted UFA.

Right which is why I dont see the point in throwing Johnston in the lineup to lose to Reaves and sacrifice the offense that you could have gotten from an uptrending Durandeau. Especially when they're in the race right now......every goal is important towards the needed 2 pts.
- kindlyrick

Full agreement on that one. Johnston isn't worth the paper his contract is printed on.

Yeah I'm not overly concerned. Johnston's cap hit can be buried in the minors. I am relatively confident they'll do their best to get rid of Bailey. They could save another $1.16M by buying out Clutterbuck (would cost them $583k in cap space the following year)

There was some smoke about potentially moving Pageau. I don't know how real that was, but can't totally rule it out either. He'd be worth something and would clear off another $5M if they wanted to take a run at a more offensively-gifted UFA.
- eichiefs9

With the addition of Horvat and his faceoff abilities, i think Pageau is now expendable. I don't love his game, and think that 5 million could be better spent. There's a lot of passengers on this team.

With the addition of Horvat and his faceoff abilities, i think Pageau is now expendable. I don't love his game, and think that 5 million could be better spent. There's a lot of passengers on this team.
- kindlyrick

Somewhat agree. But then you're either going to have one of Barzal/Nelson/Horvat become a 3rd line center and Barzal be wing-less again or have to go out and sign a more traditional 3rd line center.

But if you get rid Bailey and Pageau, then you're looking at about $17M in cap space (again, assuming the cap only rises $1M) and they can try and make a splash

Somewhat agree. But then you're either going to have one of Barzal/Nelson/Horvat become a 3rd line center and Barzal be wing-less again or have to go out and sign a more traditional 3rd line center.

But if you get rid Bailey and Pageau, then you're looking at about $17M in cap space (again, assuming the cap only rises $1M) and they can try and make a splash
- eichiefs9

Nice knowin ya 12, and 44.....all the best.

Curious to see what they do with Lou as far as an extension? His contract runs out this year, no?

Nice knowin ya 12, and 44.....all the best.

Curious to see what they do with Lou as far as an extension? His contract runs out this year, no?
- kindlyrick

Pageaus' offensive game has gotten worse the last couple of years. If Lou can bring in someone with a BIT more scoring ability, I don't think any of us would complain.

Nice knowin ya 12, and 44.....all the best.

Curious to see what they do with Lou as far as an extension? His contract runs out this year, no?
- kindlyrick

I'm not sure when his contract is up, but the word was always that he and Trotz had the same term on their contracts I think.

Problem with all that cap space is that clearly the Island isn't a premier destination for big-name UFA's. We can have all the cap space in the world but if nobody wants to sign here then there's not much you can do

I'm not sure when his contract is up, but the word was always that he and Trotz had the same term on their contracts I think.

Problem with all that cap space is that clearly the Island isn't a premier destination for big-name UFA's. We can have all the cap space in the world but if nobody wants to sign here then there's not much you can do
- eichiefs9

Will be interesting to see if the Horvat moves helps in signing players? Still might be tough in signing top UFA's.

Will be interesting to see if the Horvat moves helps in signing players? Still might be tough in signing top UFA's.
- ses111

I mean Trotz/Lou/UBS were all supposed to influence that as well. Not a whole lot of substance, in terms of attracting UFA's, materialized from that. So I'm not banking on it until it happens.

I mean Trotz/Lou/UBS were all supposed to influence that as well. Not a whole lot of substance, in terms of attracting UFA's, materialized from that. So I'm not banking on it until it happens.
- eichiefs9

It's been disappointing that Trotz/Lou/UBS have not helped in signing better players.

I'm not sure when his contract is up, but the word was always that he and Trotz had the same term on their contracts I think.

Problem with all that cap space is that clearly the Island isn't a premier destination for big-name UFA's. We can have all the cap space in the world but if nobody wants to sign here then there's not much you can do
- eichiefs9

It would be real interesting to see if, say, Stevie Y was the GM....would he have trouble signing UFA's. Maybe Lou has a reputation? When Beau got traded the first thing he referenced was growing a beard. Anyone that ends up on the island loves it. I have to think thats on the GM to bring in those UFA's. Obviously the arena is no longer an excuse.