Paul McCann: Summer Notes

Leipold should take the blame. I think he's the biggest problem up there in Minnesota... There's just something off about him. I know he's just an owner and that doesn't necessarily qualify him as a hockey expert, but he acts like a disgruntled fan at times whose wearing blinders to the state his team is actually in. There seems to be legitimate frustration in Minny that Leipold just refuses to admit the team needs a rebuild and aren't as close to cup contention as he thinks. I still maintain that Leipold selling the Preds was the best thing that ever happened to the team. It took a few years to get there, and the organization is far from perfect, but the turnaround probably never happens without the sale. Poor Poile almost didn't seem to know what to do the first couple of years he had actual money to spend, and longer had to shop at Wal-mart for bargain basement players.

I know it's tempting to defend Fenton since he used to work under DP, but let's face it, he wasn't a very good GM. He seemed to try and follow David's model almost too closely only without the decades of experience and learning from his hits and misses to back it up, as well as an over reliance on players he was familiar with. The Wild might wind up winning the Fiala trade a couple of years from now, but when it happened, that trade was just weird as a one-for-one... You'd figure any other GM would've at least gotten a mid-round draft pick to go along with Kevin. That trade just sums up Fenton's time as a GM. I'm a little disappointed the Preds will no longer have a place to dump it's old garbage now that Fenton's gone.

Grimaldi was awarded $1M and is now signed for one year:

https://www.nhl.com/preda...year-contract/c-308458358

Because Grimaldi is the one who elected arbitration, the team had the option of accepting the arbitrator's award for one year or two. It's kind of interesting that they chose one year over two, especially when $1M is nothing, but two years would've taken him to the expansion draft and he's just the kind of guy that you'd want to have under contract at that time to tempt Seattle to take over someone better.

Grimaldi was awarded $1M and is now signed for one year:

https://www.nhl.com/preda...year-contract/c-308458358

Because Grimaldi is the one who elected arbitration, the team had the option of accepting the arbitrator's award for one year or two. It's kind of interesting that they chose one year over two, especially when $1M is nothing, but two years would've taken him to the expansion draft and he's just the kind of guy that you'd want to have under contract at that time to tempt Seattle to take over someone better.
- Osprey

There is zero chance Seattle would be tempted by Rocco Grimaldi.

Grimaldi was awarded $1M and is now signed for one year:

https://www.nhl.com/preda...year-contract/c-308458358

Because Grimaldi is the one who elected arbitration, the team had the option of accepting the arbitrator's award for one year or two. It's kind of interesting that they chose one year over two, especially when $1M is nothing, but two years would've taken him to the expansion draft and he's just the kind of guy that you'd want to have under contract at that time to tempt Seattle to take over someone better.
- Osprey

Girmaldi is a nice player, but last year he played in 53 games and had 13 points... Both career highs. He hasn't done enough in the league yet to prove he's worth anything more than being a depth/utility guy you evaluate from year-to-year. Let's face it, if he hadn't had the nice playoff series, being really the only Preds player to stand out, I don't think most fans would've even flinched if Poile decided not to bring Rocco back at all. 1y for 1mil is perfect for him. He provides the Preds an extremely low risk yet potentially high reward situation.

Is it me or is it fun to watch a division opponent burn?

As far as Rocco, I would be surprised if Seattle went for him unless he came out this year and went nuclear. He's a feel good story, and fans will always appreciate someone who gives effort and has heart, but let's not unfurl the banner just yet...

Anybody catch the NBCSN replay of the Ducks/Preds WCF last night? Good times...

Girmaldi is a nice player, but last year he played in 53 games and had 13 points... Both career highs. He hasn't done enough in the league yet to prove he's worth anything more than being a depth/utility guy you evaluate from year-to-year. Let's face it, if he hadn't had the nice playoff series, being really the only Preds player to stand out, I don't think most fans would've even flinched if Poile decided not to bring Rocco back at all. 1y for 1mil is perfect for him. He provides the Preds an extremely low risk yet potentially high reward situation.
- Squatchy

That's the point. The more that you argue that it's a perfect, low-risk/high-reward deal for the Preds, the more that it raises the question of why they wouldn't choose to have that for two years instead of one.

As far as Rocco, I would be surprised if Seattle went for him unless he came out this year and went nuclear. He's a feel good story, and fans will always appreciate someone who gives effort and has heart, but let's not unfurl the banner just yet...
- FoxMulder

For some reason, I thought that he was younger. He's already 26 and will be a UFA after this deal ends, so I agree that it's hard to see Seattle being interested even if he were to have a big season in the next two years. What I was thinking about, though, is that it's good to have players to expose that you don't mind losing. Teams have to expose a couple of forwards, one defenseman and one goaltender. However unlikely, you wouldn't want to be caught with not enough exposure-eligible forwards because that could end up being costly.

What I was thinking about, though, is that it's good to have players to expose that you don't mind losing. Teams have to expose a couple of forwards, one defenseman and one goaltender. However unlikely, you wouldn't want to be caught with only one exposure eligible forward because that could end up being costly.
- Osprey

I agree. Isn't that how we lost Neal? And it'll get dicey if Tolvy or another couple of Milwaukee assets make an impact this year with the big team.

That's the point. The more that you argue that it's a perfect, low-risk/high-reward deal for the Preds, the more that it raises the question of why they wouldn't choose to have that for two years instead of one.

For some reason, I thought that he was younger. He's already 26 and will be a UFA after this deal ends, so I agree that it's hard to see Seattle being interested even if he were to have a big season in the next two years. What I was thinking about, though, is that it's good to have players to expose that you don't mind losing. Teams have to expose a couple of forwards, one defenseman and one goaltender. However unlikely, you wouldn't want to be caught with not enough exposure-eligible forwards because that could end up being costly.
- Osprey

I think the Preds thoughts are : We are paying a guy 1 M one-way contract and he may not crack our opening night roster ?

That's the point. The more that you argue that it's a perfect, low-risk/high-reward deal for the Preds, the more that it raises the question of why they wouldn't choose to have that for two years instead of one.

For some reason, I thought that he was younger. He's already 26 and will be a UFA after this deal ends, so I agree that it's hard to see Seattle being interested even if he were to have a big season in the next two years. What I was thinking about, though, is that it's good to have players to expose that you don't mind losing. Teams have to expose a couple of forwards, one defenseman and one goaltender. However unlikely, you wouldn't want to be caught with not enough exposure-eligible forwards because that could end up being costly.
- Osprey

It's the lack of term that makes it a low-risk situation. Granted two years isn't that much more of a risk, but at least if he flops next year or struggles to crack the lineup again consistently, you're not on the hook for the second year. Rocco's 26 and has only played a little over 70 NHL games throughout his career with three teams... Not even a full season worth of games yet. He's done nothing yet to show he deserves more than a one-year, prove that you can play at this level contract. Your argument for two years is reasonable, but I don't think a couple of good playoffs= games against a team, who let's just say their best defensive efforts weren't focused on him, earns him a second year. I hope I'm wrong about Rocco and he absolutely smashes it next year, but I see him doing a lot of the same as last year... A 10-15 point guy who'll consistently be a bad game or two away from healthy scratch town.

I agree. Isn't that how we lost Neal? And it'll get dicey if Tolvy or another couple of Milwaukee assets make an impact this year with the big team.
- FoxMulder

Lost Neal because Poile had just signed Jarnkrok to that long term cap friendly deal, so he had to protect him over the guy with one year left on his deal. Guess Sissons will be eating up a spot in 2021 for the same reasons... I think the dream right now will be to leave Ellis exposed, and hope to God Seattle takes him. Might be the only way out from under that contract unless Ryan turns it around next season.

Sill mourning the loss of PK over here....... When can we trade this matt duchene kid?? A year or two?? Or do you think he will be long term....