I voiced some my opinions so I think it’s fair I take a stab at this.
Frist and foremost, Torts and his staff has to go. I have enjoyed what Torts has brought to the franchise but what has been built here by Jarmo (in this case me I guess – I must have been confused at times) doesn’t align anymore with JT’s core abilities. I have enjoyed the teaching moments from this staff but the game decision making for player utilization and game strategy is not aligning with how I want to go forward.
My Defense core has the ability to skate and move the puck, I need this to be used more heavily for breakouts to create offense more like the USWNT does with Brad Stauber coaching (quick example) or the San Jose Sharks. I also need a more aggressive unit that doesn’t allow teams to bounce the puck around for pretty plays on the PK (and let’s fix the PP while we’re at it). All this stems from coaching, so while I like these guys, they’ve got to go. Candidates I might look at include: Dineen, Granato, Stauber, etc.
I also clean house at the AHL level for coaching. There’s a clear difference between Bednar’s group and what we have today (even though the cupboard is much more bare now since those players are in the NHL).
Next up has to be the decision of whether or not I want to retool this group or blow it up. I think retooling will get me there, that and I want to try to make a push before I get fired since, you know, expiration dates. Plus Columbus deserves a winner.
So retooling, I need to look at the guys that aren’t going to be in the long term plan (JJ and Calvert) or the game is starting to pass by (Dubi, Foligno, Jenner, and maybe Savard), especially with the identity I want our new coach to build. I also have to look at cost factors (Dubi, Foligno, Jenner, Bob, Panarin, and Werenski).
JJ is gone for picks/prospects or just UFA.
Calvert, if I can get him on an extension for less than he makes now I re-sign him otherwise he’s in the same boat as JJ (though less valuable to other teams). I love what he brings but with a base salary of 2.9M he’s not going to work out long term fiscally.
I look at moving a retained Dubi (15%) + first for someone like Victor Rask or maybe with Jenner to Ottawa for Stone. Retention obviously impacted by who you target. I’ll use the first one just as part of the example though I prefer Stone (he’s also UFA this summer). I also assume I can get Dubi to another young and exciting team to sell him on the trade to waive his NMC. Cap-wise this leaves me at moving - 5.85M + .878M + 4M so a net .9725M freed up. I don’t want to retain more with a first going to Carolina but this makes it more neutral on their part to take an older player.
With the Dubi Trade and my UFA moves I’m left with:
Panarin – PLD – Cam
Bjorkstrand – Wennberg – Anderson
Jenner – Rask – Foligno
Hannikainen – Sedlak – Motte/Schroeder
Werenski – Jones
Murray – Nutivaara
Kukan – Savard
Harrington
Carlsson
Next I’m moving Jenner (2.9M needing raise RFA) and Savard (4.25M) to free up additional cap and move on from players. At this point I probably keep Foligno since he can play the game fast enough for now and I can’t gut all my leaders. So I move Jenner to SJS for Kevin Labanc. I’m losing a bit of size, but Rask isn’t a small boy either. This frees up 2.2M off Jenner’s current contract.
Or I throw Jenner + Savard to EDM for Klefbom and a 4th. I bet EDM fans would hate that. But it clears 3M cap from us and gives the Oilers a Maroon/Cammalleri replacement that is better.
I think I’m going with the latter.
Now I’m working on seeing what I’m going to need for 2019:
Bread (8) – PLD (.9) – Cam (5.875)
Bjork (1.5) – Wenn (4.9) – Andy (1.85)
Foligno (5.5) – Rask (4) – XXXX
Hannikainen (.675) – Sedlak (1.1) – Motte (.800)
Werenski (7) – Jones (5.4)
Klefbom (4.1) – Nuti (2.5)
Kukan (1.1) – Murray (3.2)
Harrington (.900)
Carlsson (.900)
Bob (9)
Korpi (1.3)
That gets me to 78.6M for 2019. If I assume a 8% rise per year then 2019 will be roughly 86.9M. I’ve got room to sign Mark Stone (UFA 2018) and maybe a different Dman. I like what I’ve seen from Kukan and Nuti a lot. I do think Harrington is a capable 6. Most of my assumptions though are really going to rely on the new coaching group. I want more speed and depth vs. superstars. And yes, I'm counting on some growth and Edmonton to cave
. I have no hate for Bob. I do have hate for paying a goalie 8-10 million dollars , that has no big wins on his resume, that melts down when the playoffs come, and will be 30 soon. It’s all about cap management , and you put emotions aside . As Blah said , a good goalie becomes a great goalie if you have a solid defense . A good goalie can be had for 1/3 of what Bob will be looking for . And with this team , and the amount of young players that will be coming into their own, you don’t waste that cap space on a goalie .
