Trades and Potential Trades

This was a developed first round pick...not that many "good" prospects are actually worth much. All the need for defense, about 8 or 9 teams in the market for promising young dmen to develop, and Tinordi was moved for a whole lot of not much. In Tinordi's case, there were plenty of red flags.

 

The trade value for goalies have nose-dived over the past few decades. It used to be that a team would horde G's because they knew they'd get a bounty in trade. Well, BOS is one of a few teams with (IMO) an outstanding G-pipeline. I do not think that's a mistake, it's just that a G is rarely going to be the feature-piece in a deal. There are always going to be teams hunting for a strong young G or G backup. The distinction is that they can be more discriminating.

If you're looking for a G are you going to talk to BUF*, or are you asking WPG, BOS, etc.? Having an attractive prospect, (and in my opinion Subban is just below the elite tier for G prospects) can really help grease a deal.

(* Teams looking for a backup rental, or a playoff team with an injury may ask about Chad, but they wouldn't pay very much for him. Any other prospects in their system are not going to interest other teams.)

I don't track the Wild closely, but until last year's trade with AZ their fans were apoplectic about their G situation. The team has the currency that every team covets - Defense. They could address their need for a top six winger and replenish their prospect pool at the same time by trading with Sweeney.

I do not know the Wilds' cap status, (I really should check on these things before posting), but if it's like most they may be willing to take the risk with renting Loui. If he helps them go on a deep run - or even a SC - then they could either sign him to a (his new) hometown discount (i.e. shorter term, not less $/year) or let him loose. The fans are not going to have conniptions if they have immediate gratification this Spring.

That's what I believe the Wild are thinking and I think a deal with BOS matches up for them about as well as any other team.

 

my thinking is that a team like Minnesota has real cap issues ahead. not only do they have the Parise and Suter deals but they also have over $11m going to Vanek and Pominville next year. Koivu making $6.75 through '17/18 also.
Brodin has a very reasonable deal at just north of $4, Id love him and that deal in Boston I just don't see Minnesota making it.
Are the Wild really a contender w/ Loui in the lineup? I don't buy it.

 

What you buy does not matter; it's all about what's in their drink. I give the Wild FO quite a bit more credit than the fans I've met, (which is quite a few).

I guess that MN fans have a case for being testy since they've never won anything that matters (i.e., hockey championships) in professional sports. This includes the Northstars, the Fighting Saints, and the Wild. That's nearly fifty years of futility! (Holy shit!, that's very similar to Buffalo's plight.)

I do not know if the Wild would become a legit contender with your boy, but I do know it would help their chances. And, I am certain that Wild fan is absolutely convinced that a big winger is the missing piece to SC glory.

 

Minnesota's biggest problem seems to be Yeo in my opinion. He suffocates his own offense (so does Q, Sutter, Babcock, etc.) and not every roster can get away with that. This is the 5th consecutive year of a massive offensive drought. It's not just the goals, it's the scoring chances. I thought they were going to turn the corner this year with Granlund, El Nino, Zucker, Haula, and Dumba taking a big step up. It hasn't happened since November.

Their cap situation is pretty good, relative to all likely playoff teams. Backstrom comes off the books next year and Vanek the year after that. Dumba is the only player that may need a big extension, but that possibility has been shrinking. Brodin, Scandella, Suter, and Spurgeon are locked up for a long time at affordable cap hits.

I don't think Eriksson is the answer for Minnesota, but he helps. I think they would be better off trading for Pastrnak or Spooner from Boston. Sweeney is a clown in my eyes so far, so he'll keep both even though he doesn't have the slots for all his new toys. Also, Sully would kill them (Seabass is hypersensitive imo) if they trade shiny hopefulness and false hopes for top 4 dman that isn't familiar like Scandella.

I think Boston should target Scandella and Spooner or Pastrnak should be in the discussion. I'm not sure Fletcher or Yeo are interested in trading Scandella or Brodin, but they have to be feeling some heat from above.

 

Things are too quiet around his truculence.

 

i don't like the Wild's cap situation, especially if they're looking to add top 6 Fs. that F group reminds me of the St. Louis situation where they have some solid players but not real high skill guys up front and not much wiggle room to get it done. maybe they'll hit a home run like the Blues did by taking Tarasenko in the middle of the 1st round.
next year they only have 8 Fs signed, 5 D, and Dubnyk. w/out looking at overages yet and not knowing what the cap will be their situation looks tight heading in to next year w/ Dumba + quite a few roster spots to fill.

 

Agreed. Waaaaaay to much talent to be where they are. Yeo and Therien need to be on a 1-way trip to nowhere... or the AHL.

On the other hand, Im just fine with the Wild and the Habs losing.

 

Parise is an elite wing in every situation in every zone and Koivu is underrated imo. They can hold their own pretty well against Chicago and STL at the top of the lineup, it's been the adjustments that seem to hold them back. Their biggest problem to me is that they have to play "their game", they can't adjust tempos or to other teams very well. They're too rigid on the ice.

As far as the cap goes in MIN, I like where they are at. They have a bunch of good dmen that should be around the league for a long time and they have a good mix of forwards too, even if they're short one game changing player. They've been buried in really tough division for 3 years (4 if this year holds to form) so they don't get the recognition they probably deserve.

Fletcher has their contracts lined up pretty well to pick and choose who to keep and who to let go. They can clear up capspace for a significant acquisition pretty easily too in my opinion. Backstrom comes off the book, and they only have to worry about extending Keumper, Zucker, and Dumba...none should be too pricey. They're short their 2nd, 3rd, and 5th for this draft. I imagine Fletcher would trade to pick up a couple of picks back. The only real disaster on the books is Pominville.

I do expect MIN to move one of their dmen out before the draft, and that frees them up for a big contract.

 

i see both of these guys as diminishing returns at this point. you can throw Suter in there too. He's awesome but I see a sharp fall coming soon. all 3 of those guys have had heavy mileage. agreed on Parise as elite for the present though.


we'll see what Dumba demands.

Vanek? not that its a disaster, more just symbolic, they had to buy out Matt Cooke and are on the books for another year if that slime.

 

Suter skates efficiently, I think he's the same guy for a couple more years at least. Who knows with Parise. Koivu has been on the edge of the abyss for a while, I agree about him but he's surprised me over and over again.

Vanek only has one more year at 6.5 against the cap. He's a very good player in a secondary scoring role still. Unfortunately for the wild, the goofy changes at the blueline and because of injuries have caused him to look worse than he is. While he'll be shut down in the postseason again, he'll draw off good defensive players for the other wings unlike a Pominville for example.

 

Here's who has what in terms of pics. Pictures rewl, werdz drewl.

 

There are four Sabres logos on the chart giving BUF 11 picks at the draft at home in June. BOS also has four of their B'-superimposed-over-a-puckered-asshole logo, but lose one 2nd for 10 picks. However their picks are much higher, Matty's boys may drive this draft, especially if SJ's gets them into the top three.

 

TOR's pick from PIT needs an * since they get this only so long as the Pens avoid the lottery. TOR & PIT fans are rooting hard for the Pens to reach the playoffs. For everyone else, it is a delight to follow the Rutherford foibles and pratfalls.

 

lookin' at the chart, i wouldn't mind a trade with toronto for pitt's pick.

 

that Edm 2nd rounder on the board probably won't come in to play until '17. thats the Chiarelli B.S. compensatory pick. Im pretty sure that Edm can decide whether it will be a 2nd in '16 or '17. Id have to think that theyde bank on themselves improving and making that a '17 pick for the Bruins.

 

Id have to think that theyde bank on themselves improving

this is funny ^^^^^^

 

love that the flyers have 10 picks in the draft. houdini hextall working his magic and tomfoolery on teams like LA. haha.

 

being reported that the Bruins and Flames were very close to a deal that would've sent Wideman to Boston right before his suspension. also heard that if the suspension was 5 games or less Sweeney would've still pulled the trigger. if there's a silver lining in bamboozling an unaware ref from behind it's that Wideman will not be feeding the opposition breakaways on breakout passes while wearing a Bruins uni for a 2nd time.

 

The Panthers had scratched Pirri from a number of games prior to the All-Star game. That, of course, brought up rumors of him being traded. He was back in the lineup last night and crushed it. Glad to still have him a Panther, and I hope he stays down here.