Travis Yost: Jiri Sekac, Part II

It's going to be exciting to see how much someone overpays for a bottom 6 guy.

This is good news , bring another prospect on board . Low risk high reward

It's going to be exciting to see how much someone overpays for a bottom 6 guy.
- eichiefs9

i'd rather give up 3 mil, then a 21 year old, legit top six winger, for a 3rd or 4th liner.

cough cough clutterbuck cough cough.

lmao another Wick, Da Costa, Brunstromm, etc

165 lb winger on smaller ice than he's used to is going to get destroyed in the NHL

Our franchise is embarrassing

lmao another Wick, Da Costa, Brunstromm, etc

165 lb winger on smaller ice than he's used to is going to get destroyed in the NHL

Our franchise is embarrassing
- skelly96

for looking at acquiring what's basically a free asset, that several scouts have probably reported has the potential to crack an NHL lineup................

i'd rather give up 3 mil, then a 21 year old, legit top six winger, for a 3rd or 4th liner.

cough cough clutterbuck cough cough.


- sensarmy_11

Well when he starts acting like a little crybaby and stamping his feet demanding a trade you pretty much lose all leverage. His stock plummeted through the floor the day that human stool sample and his equally fecal-like agent made his trade demands public.

But no hard feelings

It's going to be exciting to see how much someone overpays for a bottom 6 guy.
- eichiefs9

Doesn't he have to sign an entry-level deal because of his age?

I honestly don't really understand how that works, but right now I don't think money is really driving this. Fairly certain if he's leaving the KHL, where he probably gets paid pretty well, that he'll be leaving for opportunity, not cash.

Hence, the alleged 'frontrunners' listed as the Flyers, Devils, and Senators. I suspect they, along with everyone else, would all pay him roughly the same. But as for opportunity:

Philadelphia - Outside chance to crack the top-6, same hometown as Voracek.

New Jersey - Jagr.

Ottawa - Way better than average chance to play in the top-6, with Spezza/Michalek/Hemsky leaving.

Those three teams probably offer the most comfortable situation for him. None of those teams will be garbage bottom-feeders, they're all a good fit in terms of on-ice opportunity.

But I doubt anyone 'overpays'. If he doesn't have to sign an ELC, then he'll get paid like any other player coming into the league that needs to prove himself. Use Brunnstrom's first contract as a barometer. He got a base salary of $850k, with incentive bonuses that brought it up to $2.5mm. I suspect that's pretty much the framework you're looking at here, but correct for 5-6 years of inflation since that contract was signed.

lmao another Wick, Da Costa, Brunstromm, etc

165 lb winger on smaller ice than he's used to is going to get destroyed in the NHL

Our franchise is embarrassing
- skelly96

Allegedly there are a pile of teams interested in him, not just Ottawa. Don't see why this is embarrassing. And besides, he hasn't signed in Ottawa yet either, he could just as easily go elsewhere, and you dodge that bullet.

I mean, no one needs the dead weight of a $1.5mm contract when you're so close against the cap....right?

Doesn't he have to sign an entry-level deal because of his age?

I honestly don't really understand how that works, but right now I don't think money is really driving this. Fairly certain if he's leaving the KHL, where he probably gets paid pretty well, that he'll be leaving for opportunity, not cash.

Hence, the alleged 'frontrunners' listed as the Flyers, Devils, and Senators. I suspect they, along with everyone else, would all pay him roughly the same. But as for opportunity:

Philadelphia - Outside chance to crack the top-6, same hometown as Voracek.

New Jersey - Jagr.

Ottawa - Way better than average chance to play in the top-6, with Spezza/Michalek/Hemsky leaving.

Those three teams probably offer the most comfortable situation for him. None of those teams will be garbage bottom-feeders, they're all a good fit in terms of on-ice opportunity.

But I doubt anyone 'overpays'. If he doesn't have to sign an ELC, then he'll get paid like any other player coming into the league that needs to prove himself. Use Brunnstrom's first contract as a barometer. He got a base salary of $850k, with incentive bonuses that brought it up to $2.5mm. I suspect that's pretty much the framework you're looking at here, but correct for 5-6 years of inflation since that contract was signed.
- the_terror

I'm not sure on the undrafted Euro signings of that age either. I'd take him on the Isles, it's not like we're exactly cap-strapped. Not that anyone on earth wants to play here.

Ottawa will be a very young team next year. I think Lazar, Stone, Hoffman, Peumple as well as DaCosta and Pageau all have a good shot at making and sticking with the big team. Ceci also stays and Borowieki is on a one year deal as well.

I think Ottawa will do a very good deal for Spezza. I would not be surprised to see Hemsky sign on with the same team as Spezza.

Also think Ottawa does another big deal for the "hard" top 6 player that Murray wants. Ottawa has a surplus of assets in their system. Trading Spezza will only expand that asset base. They should be able to put together a very strong package for the right guy.

Well when he starts acting like a little crybaby and stamping his feet demanding a trade you pretty much lose all leverage. His stock plummeted through the floor the day that human stool sample and his equally fecal-like agent made his trade demands public.

But no hard feelings
- eichiefs9

i was just messing with you. isles obviously had no choice...........it's too bad you didn't have a better GM to maximize his value though.

I'm not sure on the undrafted Euro signings of that age either. I'd take him on the Isles, it's not like we're exactly cap-strapped. Not that anyone on earth wants to play here.
- eichiefs9

I think that the bolded statement above is the appeal to a player like this. It doesn't cost you any assets in return to signing him, no picks, no players, nothing. His contract eats up a roster spot, but you're not signing a guy to come over from the KHL to be a farmhand, ya know? If you're a team that is interested in signing him, then he's all but assured a spot on your NHL roster for opening night, and probably 10-15 games at that.

The only potential downside to a signing like this, and it's a stretch to call it a downside at the contract value he'll have, is that he's likely to be signing a one-way deal, which means if he can't cut it in the NHL, he'll have to clear waivers to go down, and you'll still be paying him full value to play in the AHL. However, I'm fairly certain he'll get half a season in the NHL as a tryout, if he stinks the joint out then he'll be waived, and someone will pick him up. You're not anchored to this contract or this player, he's a low-risk high-reward signing, and that primarily is why he is being sought after so heavily now.

I think that the bolded statement above is the appeal to a player like this. It doesn't cost you any assets in return to signing him, no picks, no players, nothing. His contract eats up a roster spot, but you're not signing a guy to come over from the KHL to be a farmhand, ya know? If you're a team that is interested in signing him, then he's all but assured a spot on your NHL roster for opening night, and probably 10-15 games at that.

The only potential downside to a signing like this, and it's a stretch to call it a downside at the contract value he'll have, is that he's likely to be signing a one-way deal, which means if he can't cut it in the NHL, he'll have to clear waivers to go down, and you'll still be paying him full value to play in the AHL. However, I'm fairly certain he'll get half a season in the NHL as a tryout, if he stinks the joint out then he'll be waived, and someone will pick him up. You're not anchored to this contract or this player, he's a low-risk high-reward signing, and that primarily is why he is being sought after so heavily now.
- the_terror

I have no objection to his being signed. But some bodies have to be moved.

Lazer cannot play in the AHL, he would have to go back to Edmonton. He is as ready for the NHL as any junior. More important, scouts predict he is going to be a better pro than junior, he already plays a responsible pro game.

Stone makes the team. Hoffman gets a one way contract, Peumple was a top AHL goal scorer in his rookie year and he probably deserves some minutes. Not sure how all the young guys will fit. But one more good young player can only make the situation better.

i was just messing with you. isles obviously had no choice...........it's too bad you didn't have a better GM to maximize his value though.
- sensarmy_11

I just don't think there was much more value to be had for him. Everybody and their mom knew he wanted off the Island, Snow was fighting with one arm tied behind his back. And for the record, I'm no Snow apologist. He sucks. But no team was going to offer up a big package for a guy they knew had to be traded.

I have no objection to his being signed. But some bodies have to be moved.

Lazer cannot play in the AHL, he would have to go back to Edmonton. He is as ready for the NHL as any junior. More important, scouts predict he is going to be a better pro than junior, he already plays a responsible pro game.

Stone makes the team. Hoffman gets a one way contract, Peumple was a top AHL goal scorer in his rookie year and he probably deserves some minutes. Not sure how all the young guys will fit. But one more good young player can only make the situation better.
- spatso

I agree completely. There's quite a few players on the farm that are probably ready to play in the NHL. I'd agree that this group includes Lazar and Stone and Hoffman. Maybe Da Costa, Pageau, and Puempel. There's no question that the Senators still need to find a partner for Karlsson, although I still believe that they'll get that player back in the Spezza trade, and I still believe that this player will be Kevin Shattenkirk.

Regardless, whether it is or isn't, Spezza/Michalek/Hemsky are gone. This means to me that they're going into camp with the following group of forwards that have all got a legitimate claim at a NHL spot in some capacity:

Condra, Greening, Hoffman, MacArthur, Neil, Pageau, Ryan, Smith, Stone, Turris, Zibanejad, Da Costa, Grant, Lazar, Prince, Puempel.

That's 16 guys playing for 12 spots, and you can rest assured at at minimum, 8 or 9 of those spots are already spoken for. Then figure into that equation that they might get a NHL forward back for Spezza, which eats up another spot. I don't think signing Sekac, if they got him, would be an awful thing. But I do think that with this many players that could be on a NHL team now, the time has come for Murray to package 1-2 of them up to shore up his roster where it is deficient, likely on the blueline and adding another legitimate top 6 guy.

I have no objection to his being signed. But some bodies have to be moved.

Lazer cannot play in the AHL, he would have to go back to Edmonton. He is as ready for the NHL as any junior. More important, scouts predict he is going to be a better pro than junior, he already plays a responsible pro game.

Stone makes the team. Hoffman gets a one way contract, Peumple was a top AHL goal scorer in his rookie year and he probably deserves some minutes. Not sure how all the young guys will fit. But one more good young player can only make the situation better.
- spatso

I get what you're saying with this young talent at the ready, but have two comments for you and your likeminded friends;

1) be careful in assuming that all of them will reach their potential - there are bound to be flops in the group. we learned this with the d-core this past year

2) being methodical in their development is best in the long run (Detroit approach). Bringing them along with Spezza/Hemsky in the fold is much smarter than throwing them to the wolves behind what is still a young first line

MacArthur Turris Ryan
Stone/Peumple Spezza Hemsky
Stone/Peumple ZBad 'hard fwd'
Greening/Condra Smith Lazar

replacing Spezza/Hemsky with DaCosta, Hoffman and Pageau (all tweeners in my opinion) does not present a strong forward corps ....... unless your eyes are set on McDavid.

That list above, or variations of it will put us in the play-offs and provide the young core the time to develop as Spezza/Hemsky fade into their twilight years

I get what you're saying with this young talent at the ready, but have two comments for you and your likeminded friends;

1) be careful in assuming that all of them will reach their potential - there are bound to be flops in the group. we learned this with the d-core this past year

2) being methodical in their development is best in the long run (Detroit approach). Bringing them along with Spezza/Hemsky in the fold is much smarter than throwing them to the wolves behind what is still a young first line

MacArthur Turris Ryan
Stone/Peumple Spezza Hemsky
Stone/Peumple ZBad 'hard fwd'
Greening/Condra Smith Lazar

replacing Spezza/Hemsky with DaCosta, Hoffman and Pageau (all tweeners in my opinion) does not present a strong forward corps ....... unless your eyes are set on McDavid.

That list above, or variations of it will put us in the play-offs and provide the young core the time to develop as Spezza/Hemsky fade into their twilight years
- GadesnSens

But they won't sign Hemsky, that's already been established. And Spezza doesn't want to be in Ottawa either, this isn't just the team trying to ship the guy out.

The time has come to accept that these two players are gone, and work with the tools you have. Detroit has had the luxury of having a few legitimate lifers on their team, which allowed them that flexibility. Ottawa doesn't have that luxury, so they'll need to do their best with what they have to work with. It's not like they don't have leadership on the team, they do. They're young, but that's not the worst thing in the world either. I don't think it's a stretch to assume that Mika Zibanejad is ready to be a 2C in the NHL. I also don't think it's a stretch to think that Mark Stone is ready to be a 2W in the NHL. So they need a winger for that line, Murray clearly wants a more established player to fill that spot, so fine, he goes out and gets one. But hanging on to the dream that they can, or should, somehow retain Spezza and Hemsky, is pointless.

But they won't sign Hemsky, that's already been established. And Spezza doesn't want to be in Ottawa either, this isn't just the team trying to ship the guy out.

The time has come to accept that these two players are gone, and work with the tools you have. Detroit has had the luxury of having a few legitimate lifers on their team, which allowed them that flexibility. Ottawa doesn't have that luxury, so they'll need to do their best with what they have to work with. It's not like they don't have leadership on the team, they do. They're young, but that's not the worst thing in the world either. I don't think it's a stretch to assume that Mika Zibanejad is ready to be a 2C in the NHL. I also don't think it's a stretch to think that Mark Stone is ready to be a 2W in the NHL. So they need a winger for that line, Murray clearly wants a more established player to fill that spot, so fine, he goes out and gets one. But hanging on to the dream that they can, or should, somehow retain Spezza and Hemsky, is pointless.
- the_terror

we are obviously on opposite sides on this debate, but my counter to your theory would be ....

- point one is only established in boards such as this - we have no idea what is actually going on in Murray's office

- point two, Detroit has that luxury because they keep these players, rather than trade them when they hit the ripe old age of 30

- I agree that some of the young players are showing flashes that they are ready to make a jump - which in reality means they are a year away from being ready ... patience is required. Let them fill the 2nd line roles as injuries come up and then go back to the 3rd line when everyone is healthy.....

But they won't sign Hemsky, that's already been established. And Spezza doesn't want to be in Ottawa either, this isn't just the team trying to ship the guy out.

The time has come to accept that these two players are gone, and work with the tools you have. Detroit has had the luxury of having a few legitimate lifers on their team, which allowed them that flexibility. Ottawa doesn't have that luxury, so they'll need to do their best with what they have to work with. It's not like they don't have leadership on the team, they do. They're young, but that's not the worst thing in the world either. I don't think it's a stretch to assume that Mika Zibanejad is ready to be a 2C in the NHL. I also don't think it's a stretch to think that Mark Stone is ready to be a 2W in the NHL. So they need a winger for that line, Murray clearly wants a more established player to fill that spot, so fine, he goes out and gets one. But hanging on to the dream that they can, or should, somehow retain Spezza and Hemsky, is pointless.
- the_terror

Murray wants a "hard" player for his top 6.

Suppose they get back their #10 2014 from Anahiem plus a couple of skaters like Silferburg and Peley-Smith for Spezza.

Would it be too much to offer up

#10 2014
1st 2015
Stone
Cowen and
(Anderson or Lehner)

For a "hard" forward from Winnipeg.

we are obviously on opposite sides on this debate, but my counter to your theory would be ....

- point one is only established in boards such as this - we have no idea what is actually going on in Murray's office

- point two, Detroit has that luxury because they keep these players, rather than trade them when they hit the ripe old age of 30

- I agree that some of the young players are showing flashes that they are ready to make a jump - which in reality means they are a year away from being ready ... patience is required. Let them fill the 2nd line roles as injuries come up and then go back to the 3rd line when everyone is healthy.....
- GadesnSens

But Detroit is old and getting older and farther away from winning a Cup than what they were even a few years ago. They are old men just hanging on for another year. They got no place to go but down.

Murray wants a "hard" player for his top 6.

Suppose they get back their #10 2014 from Anahiem plus a couple of skaters like Silferburg and Peley-Smith for Spezza.

Would it be too much to offer up

#10 2014
1st 2015
Stone
Cowen and
(Anderson or Lehner)

For a "hard" forward from Winnipeg.
- spatso

Doubt they would want Silfverberg back, I think they've moved on. Smith-Pelly I'd agree on.

I assume the player you're referring to is Evander Kane. I don't think he's worth 2 firsts and three roster players. I don't think anyone would pay that for Kane. A first and a legitimate roster player and Anderson, sure. Anything beyond that is too much.

Murray wants a "hard" player for his top 6.

Suppose they get back their #10 2014 from Anahiem plus a couple of skaters like Silferburg and Peley-Smith for Spezza.

Would it be too much to offer up

#10 2014
1st 2015
Stone
Cowen and
(Anderson or Lehner)

For a "hard" forward from Winnipeg.
- spatso

I laugh like a 9 year old every time i read "hard" forward.

And that trade is awful. E Kane is simply not that good for that package.

Murray wants a "hard" player for his top 6.

Suppose they get back their #10 2014 from Anahiem plus a couple of skaters like Silferburg and Peley-Smith for Spezza.

Would it be too much to offer up

#10 2014
1st 2015
Stone
Cowen and
(Anderson or Lehner)

For a "hard" forward from Winnipeg.
- spatso

that's WAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY too much for evander kane. MAYBE, and i mean MAYBE, i give that package up for kane AND a d-man (byfuglien or bogosian)

But Detroit is old and getting older and farther away from winning a Cup than what they were even a few years ago. They are old men just hanging on for another year. They got no place to go but down.
- spatso

agreed, but when Datsyuk and Zetterbrg and the gang were 30, they didn't trade them away simply because they were on the crrest of the hill and at their peak trading value.

I'm not advocating keeping the likes Spezza and Hemsky as part of the top six until they're 40, but 3-5 more years would fit well as the younger guys amture enough to replace them.