These Are The Days
Oh no! We suck again!!
Well fans there's a lot Yzerman can do at this juncture of the off-season. I personally am pleased with the direction of the franchise and there is a lot we can do to improve ourselves. This thread is about what you would like to see him do. I know there's an offseason discussion thread but I think it tends to get a little disorganized at times.
Re-sign all RFA's except for Lindback unless we can trade him to someone who needs a goalie.
Release or buy out Ryan Malone
Do not re-sign Brian Lee
Do not re-sign Sami Salo
Qualify Ryan Callahan with a 4 year $24 million deal. If he doesn't take it then take a hike to Buffalo. I'm high on Callahan too but a player who's cracked 45 points TWICE in his career IS NOT worth more than $6 million. It's the two-way play you're being paid for here. If he doesn't take it then let him walk and grow another top 6 player through the system or trade for Kesler. I love the guy but I'm not going to risk paying him any longer than 4 years either. Prove you can play well past your early 30's before we continue paying you $6 million.
If we trade for Kesler. Offer Vancouver Connolly, Erne or Panik and a 2014 1st rounder and be done with it.
If they don't play ball then we have Killorn grow into the player Callahan is. People have suggested parting ways with Killorn and Kucherov in terms of prospects being dealt and Kucherov is raw but will get better I've said it a million times, it's his ruthlessness that I love. Killorn I see as a fantastic 2 way forward who scores in big moments. As for Panik ******* I love this kid but I'd part with him before Killorn and I've seen more from Kucherov that I like than I have from Panik.
Sign UFA
Steve Downie -I'll admit it. I have a soft spot for the guy. He has a deserved reputation as a punk but he is good enough defensively to be an upgrade for us at the 2nd and 3rd lines. I know he doesn't score much but I loved his chemistry with Stamkos and between himself and Gudas, no one will take any shots at our stars. I really do believe we can bring out the best in him. He may not crack 20 goals, but neither will Purcell at this rate. Put him on the 3rd and 2nd line and watch the fireworks.
Anton Stralman- He's proven to be very steady and I think having him will help us out. He's still young and can log big minutes. Is he a #1? Ehhh I don't know. He's done well enough in the Ranger playoff games that I've seen to get my attention. But it can't be any worse than having Salo around anymore. I know it's a gamble making HIM our top line guy with Hedman but I think he's worth it. People have mentioned Fayne and between him and Stralman there's no one else I'm really pointing my finger at saying "oooh I want him!"
Trades
Draft pick to Minnesota Wild for Keith Ballard if they're willing to do the deal. Low risk, potentially high reward move in my eyes. He doesn't log huge minutes with the Wild but he blocks shots and he hits. And given the fact his brain may be scrambled from concussions, they may be willing to part with him. He plays a physical game above all and I think that's what we need. I don't mean to do this to rob Gudas Aulie and Sustr of valuable playing time either. But considering the fact Cooper rolls with 7 defensemen and we had Barberio in there so much, send him to Syracuse. No offense but having a guy out there just to have a PP QB seems pointless. I'd rather just have someone like Ballard out there so we can have a more physical back end. He only has a year on his contract and it's cheap so I think we can afford to hit or miss here. Having him with one of the young guys at the bottom parings ought to help them in my opinion.
Teddy Purcell to the Nashville Predators for some of their defensive prospects and a draft pick. I don't know who in particular, but they always produce such great, young defensemen. And yes this is a personal vendetta. He's had enough chances and I'm perfectly fine with trading him for prospects. Jonathan Drouin will likely render Purcell useless in the near future.
What would you all like to see to happen?
Re-sign all RFA's except for Lindback unless we can trade him to someone who needs a goalie.
Release or buy out Ryan Malone
Do not re-sign Brian Lee
Do not re-sign Sami Salo
Qualify Ryan Callahan with a 4 year $24 million deal. If he doesn't take it then take a hike to Buffalo. I'm high on Callahan too but a player who's cracked 45 points TWICE in his career IS NOT worth more than $6 million. It's the two-way play you're being paid for here. If he doesn't take it then let him walk and grow another top 6 player through the system or trade for Kesler. I love the guy but I'm not going to risk paying him any longer than 4 years either. Prove you can play well past your early 30's before we continue paying you $6 million.
If we trade for Kesler. Offer Vancouver Connolly, Erne or Panik and a 2014 1st rounder and be done with it.
If they don't play ball then we have Killorn grow into the player Callahan is. People have suggested parting ways with Killorn and Kucherov in terms of prospects being dealt and Kucherov is raw but will get better I've said it a million times, it's his ruthlessness that I love. Killorn I see as a fantastic 2 way forward who scores in big moments. As for Panik ******* I love this kid but I'd part with him before Killorn and I've seen more from Kucherov that I like than I have from Panik.
Sign UFA
Steve Downie -I'll admit it. I have a soft spot for the guy. He has a deserved reputation as a punk but he is good enough defensively to be an upgrade for us at the 2nd and 3rd lines. I know he doesn't score much but I loved his chemistry with Stamkos and between himself and Gudas, no one will take any shots at our stars. I really do believe we can bring out the best in him. He may not crack 20 goals, but neither will Purcell at this rate. Put him on the 3rd and 2nd line and watch the fireworks.
Anton Stralman- He's proven to be very steady and I think having him will help us out. He's still young and can log big minutes. Is he a #1? Ehhh I don't know. He's done well enough in the Ranger playoff games that I've seen to get my attention. But it can't be any worse than having Salo around anymore. I know it's a gamble making HIM our top line guy with Hedman but I think he's worth it. People have mentioned Fayne and between him and Stralman there's no one else I'm really pointing my finger at saying "oooh I want him!"
Trades
Draft pick to Minnesota Wild for Keith Ballard if they're willing to do the deal. Low risk, potentially high reward move in my eyes. He doesn't log huge minutes with the Wild but he blocks shots and he hits. And given the fact his brain may be scrambled from concussions, they may be willing to part with him. He plays a physical game above all and I think that's what we need. I don't mean to do this to rob Gudas Aulie and Sustr of valuable playing time either. But considering the fact Cooper rolls with 7 defensemen and we had Barberio in there so much, send him to Syracuse. No offense but having a guy out there just to have a PP QB seems pointless. I'd rather just have someone like Ballard out there so we can have a more physical back end. He only has a year on his contract and it's cheap so I think we can afford to hit or miss here. Having him with one of the young guys at the bottom parings ought to help them in my opinion.
Teddy Purcell to the Nashville Predators for some of their defensive prospects and a draft pick. I don't know who in particular, but they always produce such great, young defensemen. And yes this is a personal vendetta. He's had enough chances and I'm perfectly fine with trading him for prospects. Jonathan Drouin will likely render Purcell useless in the near future.
What would you all like to see to happen?
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