Anthony Travalgia: Bryan Little unsure of what his future in hockey will look like Speaking to the media Wednesday, Bryan Little was unsure of what his future in hockey will look like.

I wish Bryan well, he’s a great guy and a good teammate.

What he’s said in this article seems to indicate it’s very unlikely he’s coming back to play in the nhl.

I’d love to see him back, and well rested. He was off to a fantastic start this season, and could’ve been a huge difference maker if that continued. Looked prime again.

Having said that, now coming back at 33 for Little is not the same as Myers coming back in his mid 20s. Even if he was cleared, there’s a question of how much his skillset will have declined in his time away. At full health, it still might be the best option for all involved just to have him go to Hossa Island and get paid to stay home. It would be pretty damn brutal for him to risk his health in a return that sees him Seattle’d or bought out

I’d love to see him back, and well rested. He was off to a fantastic start this season, and could’ve been a huge difference maker if that continued. Looked prime again.

Having said that, now coming back at 33 for Little is not the same as Myers coming back in his mid 20s. Even if he was cleared, there’s a question of how much his skillset will have declined in his time away. At full health, it still might be the best option for all involved just to have him go to Hossa Island and get paid to stay home. It would be pretty damn brutal for him to risk his health in a return that sees him Seattle’d or bought out
- Rexypoo

We would all love to see him come back and rip up 60+ points. But realistically, there is a very long road ahead and the guy will likely ride out his contract on LTIR. Doesn't hurt the Jets in terms of Cap hit, and Chevy's most risky contract extension will no longer be an issue. I hope he can simply recover and be the family man he wants to be. Anything else is a bonus at this point.

It is a shame that the best PPG UFA centres are Ennis, Soderberg, and Haula..... Those are not the answer for the 2C dilemma. Not sure what Cirelli will be asking as an RFA, but if he can be poached for under 6.341M AAV, it would be a 1st and 3rd round pick well spent. I really don't know what their options can be at this point.

We would all love to see him come back and rip up 60+ points. But realistically, there is a very long road ahead and the guy will likely ride out his contract on LTIR. Doesn't hurt the Jets in terms of Cap hit, and Chevy's most risky contract extension will no longer be an issue. I hope he can simply recover and be the family man he wants to be. Anything else is a bonus at this point.

It is a shame that the best PPG UFA centres are Ennis, Soderberg, and Haula..... Those are not the answer for the 2C dilemma. Not sure what Cirelli will be asking as an RFA, but if he can be poached for under 6.341M AAV, it would be a 1st and 3rd round pick well spent. I really don't know what their options can be at this point.
- bikeguy99

Funny I was looking up comp for tendering Cirelli today as well. I cant imagine how he can ask more than that when his career high is around 40 points.

Nashville has to dump some salary and ryan johansen has had a horrible year!!! If he continues to play like he did this past year his contract and term are horrible, if he could regain the form he had 2-3 years ago and Nashville would eat some of the salary he’d be great but that’s a huge risk!!!!

Would love to see the jets pick up Ryan Getslaf from the ducks to fill our second line center role and he would be extremely valuable on our second PP.

Wishing Bryan the best. Retiring would be the wise decision.

Would love to see the jets pick up Ryan Getslaf from the ducks to fill our second line center role and he would be extremely valuable on our second PP.
- kreim13

I see him as an excellent short term (about 2 years - so likely needs a 4 year contract to get him signed) fix that would lend an enormous amount of experience to the group. Of course it depends on aquisition cost, cap and desire for Getzlaff to continue his career in Wpg... I believe he wants to remain with the Ducks.

Funny I was looking up comp for tendering Cirelli today as well. I cant imagine how he can ask more than that when his career high is around 40 points.

Nashville has to dump some salary and ryan johansen has had a horrible year!!! If he continues to play like he did this past year his contract and term are horrible, if he could regain the form he had 2-3 years ago and Nashville would eat some of the salary he’d be great but that’s a huge risk!!!!
- Ross77

DO NOT TOUCH RYJO. He’s been trending down for a while, and was never worth that contract. I want nothing to do with that.

But also yeah, offer sheeting Cirelli seems like the smart play. Keep the 10th, and guarantee you’re not giving up a high pick as compensation due to him being excellent

I see him as an excellent short term (about 2 years - so likely needs a 4 year contract to get him signed) fix that would lend an enormous amount of experience to the group. Of course it depends on aquisition cost, cap and desire for Getzlaff to continue his career in Wpg... I believe he wants to remain with the Ducks.
- 2.0

If we’re desperate, and he’s interested, just sign him to a big 1 year deal. Just say “here’s a Laine, feed him until your value is back, and you get paid by someone else next year”

DO NOT TOUCH RYJO. He’s been trending down for a while, and was never worth that contract. I want nothing to do with that.

But also yeah, offer sheeting Cirelli seems like the smart play. Keep the 10th, and guarantee you’re not giving up a high pick as compensation due to him being excellent
- Rexypoo

You still are gonna lose a first it would be next years.

Probably a short season with Maurice as coach, and Hellybuyck's career trend means his stats go down next year. That could end up being the first overall pick

You still are gonna lose a first it would be next years.

Probably a short season with Maurice as coach, and Hellybuyck's career trend means his stats go down next year. That could end up being the first overall pick
- BWJumper

I know that. That’s why I said you keep the 10th and guarantee you aren’t giving up a high pick. Because Cirelli is an elite forward, and it would be like the 22nd pick next year

I wouldn’t really call it a career trend with Hellebuyck. He just put in a godly effort this year. He’s never been below average

I know that. That’s why I said you keep the 10th and guarantee you aren’t giving up a high pick. Because Cirelli is an elite forward, and it would be like the 22nd pick next year

I wouldn’t really call it a career trend with Hellebuyck. He just put in a godly effort this year. He’s never been below average
- Rexypoo

Average goal tending would have had made the Jets a bottom 5 team this year. Would Cirelli make the Jets a playoff team? I wouldn't bank on it.

Average goal tending would have had made the Jets a bottom 5 team this year. Would Cirelli make the Jets a playoff team? I wouldn't bank on it.
- BWJumper

I keep thinking of this team as an “on paper” thing, not an “under Maurice” thing.

Honestly, I would rather win a Cup hating every decision Paul Maurice makes than spend the next decade getting my way and just seeing 2nd round bounces

I know that. That’s why I said you keep the 10th and guarantee you aren’t giving up a high pick. Because Cirelli is an elite forward, and it would be like the 22nd pick next year

I wouldn’t really call it a career trend with Hellebuyck. He just put in a godly effort this year. He’s never been below average
- Rexypoo

Looking at Tampa Bay's cap problems. They have 5 million dollars available with only 10 forwards, 3 defencemen and 2 goalies signed for next year. I think they may be forced to trade more than Cirelli and the guy they might need to get rid of for cap room is Brayden Point with his $6.5 million contract. I think Tampa Bay will offer a bridge deal to Cirelli to keep his salary low and look at other cost saving measures.Tampa also has Sergachev who is playing third pairing minutes.

The Jets might be able to swing for the fences and get a good left pairing defenceman and a 2nd line center. It will probably cost them a combination of some kind of a roster player such as Roslovic, Gustaffson, Niku paired with a top pick. The Lightning's window to win is now so they can't afford an offer sheet waiting for those picks to develop. Stamkos is not getting any younger. They will need NHL ready players coming back with their picks. If Chevy is smart, the Buff disaster can be turned in our favour.

Looking at Tampa Bay's cap problems. They have 5 million dollars available with only 10 forwards, 3 defencemen and 2 goalies signed for next year. I think they may be forced to trade more than Cirelli and the guy they might need to get rid of for cap room is Brayden Point with his $6.5 million contract. I think Tampa Bay will offer a bridge deal to Cirelli to keep his salary low and look at other cost saving measures.Tampa also has Sergachev who is playing third pairing minutes.

The Jets might be able to swing for the fences and get a good left pairing defenceman and a 2nd line center. It will probably cost them a combination of some kind of a roster player such as Roslovic, Gustaffson, Niku paired with a top pick. The Lightning's window to win is now so they can't afford an offer sheet waiting for those picks to develop. Stamkos is not getting any younger. They will need NHL ready players coming back with their picks. If Chevy is smart, the Buff disaster can be turned in our favour.
- Napolean-Mennonite

If you think Tampa is trading Brayden Point for anything, you’re out of your mind. You don’t trade a cheap, young, elite forward to clear cap space. The ONLY reason Cirelli can be available is because they might not know yet what they have in him. Point has dropped a 90 point season. I trade Stamkos twice before I even answer a phone call that gives me a “Brayden Point trade” vibe.

They also have three immediately obvious trade chips to clear cap space in Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn, and Yanni Gourde

*edit* Actually, yeah, wtf. If they trade those 3, they have 19mil for Sergachev, Cirelli, and Cernak without damaging their top 6. This should be pretty easy tbh

If you think Tampa is trading Brayden Point for anything, you’re out of your mind. You don’t trade a cheap, young, elite forward to clear cap space. The ONLY reason Cirelli can be available is because they might not know yet what they have in him. Point has dropped a 90 point season. I trade Stamkos twice before I even answer a phone call that gives me a “Brayden Point trade” vibe.

They also have three immediately obvious trade chips to clear cap space in Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn, and Yanni Gourde

*edit* Actually, yeah, wtf. If they trade those 3, they have 19mil for Sergachev, Cirelli, and Cernak without damaging their top 6. This should be pretty easy tbh
- Rexypoo

Nobody is touching Stamkos's 8.5 million with a flat cap, a history of injury and Stamkos gets to control where he plays. I don't think Tampa gets the full value of any trade with him when he has a no movement clause.

You would of never thought the Blackhawks would of traded Panarin but they had no choice but to trade him to Columbus with his upcoming salary. Even the Blackhawks in 2010 with their cup winning team had to get rid of Byfuglien, Ben Eager, Brent Sopel and Akim Aliu for a bag of hockey pucks, a 1st that became Kevin Hayes and a 2nd that turned into nothing. That was even after Byfuglien had a performance on a Stanley Cup winning team that was worthy of Conn Smythe contention. You can't build a winning team with cast offs earning league minimum contracts. Just like at the Jets with Bitetto, Sbisa, Shore, Shaw and all the rest of the fringe NHLers they had this season.

Nobody is touching Stamkos's 8.5 million with a flat cap, a history of injury and Stamkos gets to control where he plays. I don't think Tampa gets the full value of any trade with him when he has a no movement clause.

You would of never thought the Blackhawks would of traded Panarin but they had no choice but to trade him to Columbus with his upcoming salary. Even the Blackhawks in 2010 with their cup winning team had to get rid of Byfuglien, Ben Eager, Brent Sopel and Akim Aliu for a bag of hockey pucks, a 1st that became Kevin Hayes and a 2nd that turned into nothing. That was even after Byfuglien had a performance on a Stanley Cup winning team that was worthy of Conn Smythe contention. You can't build a winning team with cast offs earning league minimum contracts. Just like at the Jets with Bitetto, Sbisa, Shore, Shaw and all the rest of the fringe NHLers they had this season.
- Napolean-Mennonite

1: Tampa isn’t trading any of their top forwards, period.
2: Chicago lost that trade horribly, and everyone said so at the time. Panarin is twice the player Saad is, and they saved 500k at the time. I’d rather lose Panarin to New York than pay Saad now.
3: Byfuglien was the only player Chicago realistically couldn’t afford to lose after that Cup win, and they wouldn’t know that at the time. He broke out AFTER the trade, not before. Spare parts.
4: You can absolutely win using players on 1mil or less contracts if you have a strong core group. The Jets issue is constantly signing non-NHL players to NHL contracts, then playing them. If you know what to look for, it can be easily done. Less Bourque and Letestu, and more Jason Spezza and Nick Cousins. Or Nic Petan

I keep thinking of this team as an “on paper” thing, not an “under Maurice” thing.

Honestly, I would rather win a Cup hating every decision Paul Maurice makes than spend the next decade getting my way and just seeing 2nd round bounces
- Rexypoo

"On Paper" there is very little to dislike about the Jets.

I'm not the biggest fan of Copp as 2c, but if his production ends up mirroring what Little produces it's not the end of the world. People have this misconception that Stastny was great for the Jets he put up 9 5v5 points in 19 games, that type of production got the Jets to the final 4
Now if the Jets ran the 2015 line for the whole season as a 3rd line and kept Lowry and Perreault on the 4th line, the Jets are set at forward.

If they sign Demelo, all the Jets need is a playing partner for Pionk on defense.

And their starting goaltending is rock solid.

"On Paper" there is very little to dislike about the Jets.

I'm not the biggest fan of Copp as 2c, but if his production ends up mirroring what Little produces it's not the end of the world. People have this misconception that Stastny was great for the Jets he put up 9 5v5 points in 19 games, that type of production got the Jets to the final 4
Now if the Jets ran the 2015 line for the whole season as a 3rd line and kept Lowry and Perreault on the 4th line, the Jets are set at forward.

If they sign Demelo, all the Jets need is a playing partner for Pionk on defense.

And their starting goaltending is rock solid.
- BWJumper

Let’s run this out (with one tweak):

Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler (Ugh. Bad)
Ehlers-Copp-Laine (Erect)
Harkins-Gustafsson-Appleton (Fun)
Perreault-Lowry-Roslovic (Defence: the musical)

Morrissey-DeMelo (good)
Heinola-Pionk (Also good)
Samberg-Poolman (Could work)

Aaaaalright! *cracks knuckles* Time for me to suggestion something insanely stupid.

Step 1: Trade for Steven Stamkos.
Kyle Connor + Matthieu Perreault (50% retained) for Stamkos. Add a 2nd and/or Stanley if you must.
Step 2: Offer sheet Anthony Cirelli anyway, because I’m a d*ck. Assuming that works... (it won’t)
Step 3: Accept that I’ve now lost all of my first 3 picks next year, time to go for it. Sign DeMelo to a 3x3.
Step 4: Sign Tim Heed. Underwhelming, I know, but he’s good.

If my insane, actually impossible to perform master plan was successful:

Copp-Scheifele-Laine
Ehlers-Stamkos-Wheeler
Vesalainen-Cirelli-Roslovic
Harkins-Lowry-Appleton

Morrissey-DeMelo
Heinola-Pionk
Samberg-Heed

*Inspired by Ross77*

Aaaaalright! *cracks knuckles* Time for me to suggestion something insanely stupid.

Step 1: Trade for Steven Stamkos.
Kyle Connor + Matthieu Perreault (50% retained) for Stamkos. Add a 2nd and/or Stanley if you must.
Step 2: Offer sheet Anthony Cirelli anyway, because I’m a d*ck. Assuming that works... (it won’t)
Step 3: Accept that I’ve now lost all of my first 3 picks next year, time to go for it. Sign DeMelo to a 3x3.
Step 4: Sign Tim Heed. Underwhelming, I know, but he’s good.

If my insane, actually impossible to perform master plan was successful:

Copp-Scheifele-Laine
Ehlers-Stamkos-Wheeler
Vesalainen-Cirelli-Roslovic
Harkins-Lowry-Appleton

Morrissey-DeMelo
Heinola-Pionk
Samberg-Heed

*Inspired by Ross77*
- Rexypoo

One flaw with that. I don't see any GM getting fleeced by trading his star center and then allowing an offer sheet take a player. Any Stamkos trade allows Tampa Bay to theoretically sign Cirelli. No way any team trades with the Jets after they steal a player with an offer sheet.

You could offer sheet Dylan Strome from Chicago if you are looking at a 2nd center. Toews and Kirby Dach are their core top 2 centers now. With no cap space and Kubalik a necessity for them to sign, they are set to be picked apart by teams looking to trade.

Aaaaalright! *cracks knuckles* Time for me to suggestion something insanely stupid.

Step 1: Trade for Steven Stamkos.
Kyle Connor + Matthieu Perreault (50% retained) for Stamkos. Add a 2nd and/or Stanley if you must.
Step 2: Offer sheet Anthony Cirelli anyway, because I’m a d*ck. Assuming that works... (it won’t)
Step 3: Accept that I’ve now lost all of my first 3 picks next year, time to go for it. Sign DeMelo to a 3x3.
Step 4: Sign Tim Heed. Underwhelming, I know, but he’s good.

If my insane, actually impossible to perform master plan was successful:

Copp-Scheifele-Laine
Ehlers-Stamkos-Wheeler
Vesalainen-Cirelli-Roslovic
Harkins-Lowry-Appleton

Morrissey-DeMelo
Heinola-Pionk
Samberg-Heed

*Inspired by Ross77*
- Rexypoo

This is a dream, but I like it!!
But what are you offering Cirelli for it to cost that much. His career high is 44 points. He will be in the 5-6 per year range so an offer sheet should cost a 1rst and 3rd.

This is a dream, but I like it!!
But what are you offering Cirelli for it to cost that much. His career high is 44 points. He will be in the 5-6 per year range so an offer sheet should cost a 1rst and 3rd.
- Ross77

I’m offering the high end of that 1st and 3rd range

One flaw with that. I don't see any GM getting fleeced by trading his star center and then allowing an offer sheet take a player. Any Stamkos trade allows Tampa Bay to theoretically sign Cirelli. No way any team trades with the Jets after they steal a player with an offer sheet.

You could offer sheet Dylan Strome from Chicago if you are looking at a 2nd center. Toews and Kirby Dach are their core top 2 centers now. With no cap space and Kubalik a necessity for them to sign, they are set to be picked apart by teams looking to trade.
- Napolean-Mennonite

Oh, there’s no way the trade Stamkos and let the offer sheet happen. That’s why it’s a dream! Don’t lie. It would be pretty damn hilarious to watch Tampa’s potential dynasty get absolutely gutted by f*ckin Winnipeg.

I’m still not sold on Strome. To be honest, I’m more worried about his production being a product of Kane than I am about his overall ability. He might be what Little was last year. If that’s the case, we’ll all be here b*tching like nothing’s changed