Considering the debacle with ROR's contract negotiations to this point, I don't see wanting him. He's going to expect star money on his next deal, 6m+ per year. Frankly, from what I've seen, I don't know if he's worth it. I think we already have a similar player in Stepan. If the goal is to get ROR and use him and Stepan as a copy of Bergeron and Krejci, that makes sense, but it's not so simple seeing as ROR is a contract dispute waiting to happen.
I guess I'm not as high on the player that ROR is as many others are. Miller is in a similar mold, but a better skater than ROR. I'd rather look elsewhere than overpay in a trade for a guy who is going to be looking for a huge payday without really having earned it yet. He should go to Edmonton if that's all he wants.
I know people look at them as typical Sather moves, but the truth of the matter is Thornton and Spezza are still bonafide #1 centers in this league and will continue to be for at least 2-3 more seasons. There's also Eric Staal who could possibly be had in a trade who is also a true #1 Center.
Then in the FA market there's Stastny who was a more dangerous player on Colorado than ROR. If they can keep the cap hit around 6m a year, wouldn't he be a better option than ROR, especially when we have two centers (Stepan and Miller) who are similar players to ROR?
Thornton, Spezza, Staal, Stastny are all players I'd look at before ROR, knowing the player he is and how he wants to be paid and all.
This^.
1. (everybody) Please acknowledge the obvious: Kreider + MSL are best with a speed pivot who has max get up and go [healthy Kesler if available, which he is not, for example]. These two Ws drive the line. So doesn't matter if Miller is 1st, 2nd, or 3rd line 3C material. Every other consideration bends, buckles and breaks to the fact that (a) he is good enough a C, and (b) he is the best C available optimally for them.
So no on moving Miller barring something extraordinary.
2. I am not opposed to ROR at any price, the man has talent, but it is an issue of what we pay.
If we move Stepan, (particularly in a deal which moves Nash's contract and nets us Seth Jones), we can look at other creative ways to consider ROR. Possibly bringing in third team help for 3 way.
But ROR, with what appears to be his $$ first attitude -- granted he's entitled to that, but we're not looking to replace the downside of Callahan's darkside --- then he would become a short term acquisition in that once his #s start to go up, he will become more difficult to afford, and to move.
If ROR falls into our lap because they have an excess and want him out of conference and we can swing for something that doesn't bust up other deals contributing to the bigger picture, fine, by all means.
But let's not get in an uproar over him.
