jkutswings
hot piss hockey
- Jul 10, 2014
- 11,126
- 8,918
This summer there are several players that Yzerman will need to make decisions on, whether due to contract status or how they played this season. So let's play a game. You can only pick 2 players to put in each of the following categories, and state your reasons:
1) Rock. Pick 2 players you're certain you want on new deals ASAP.
2) Paper. Pick 2 players you wouldn't mind keeping, but you're willing to look at all your options, even if that means they might get traded or lost to free agency.
3) Scissors. Pick 2 players that need to be cut loose, whether that means not extending an expiring deal, trying to trade someone for peanuts, or even buying out a contract.
I'll start:
Rock - Raymond, Seider. No brainer moves to lock both up long term. Ray has already exceeded my expectations as a player, and if he can take yet another step (putting together a full season like he played down the stretch) he could be a very special player in this league. Seider had an up and down year with far more mistakes than I'd like to see, but I'm still certain he's a top pairing minute muncher that will continue to get better as he refines his game and as talent improves around him.
Paper - Kane, Veleno. Kane brought much needed elements of firepower and clutch scoring. But I would have a very long end of season interview with him to gauge his thoughts on his own health, his interest level to return, and what kind of deal it would take to bring him back. Veleno had moments where he played well and moments where he brought nothing to the table. He plays a premium position, so I'd see how cheaply I could keep him versus what I might get if I packaged him with other assets in a sign and trade.
Scissors - Gostisbehere, Holl. That move by Ghost to jump up and grab the puck for what led to the tying goal was the stuff of legends. But he simply doesn't play any defense, and I think keeping more pucks out of their own net is where the team needs to improve the most. And Holl was a total disaster of a signing, to the point that I'm willing to buy him out. Honorable mention to Petry and Husso, but I'd rather look at the press box and LTIRetirement as options for those guys and just launch Holl via trebuchet.
So pick 2 rocks, 2 papers, 2 scissors, and shoot away! (And no use of dynamite...or lizard or Spock, for you Big Bang Theory fans.)
1) Rock. Pick 2 players you're certain you want on new deals ASAP.
2) Paper. Pick 2 players you wouldn't mind keeping, but you're willing to look at all your options, even if that means they might get traded or lost to free agency.
3) Scissors. Pick 2 players that need to be cut loose, whether that means not extending an expiring deal, trying to trade someone for peanuts, or even buying out a contract.
I'll start:
Rock - Raymond, Seider. No brainer moves to lock both up long term. Ray has already exceeded my expectations as a player, and if he can take yet another step (putting together a full season like he played down the stretch) he could be a very special player in this league. Seider had an up and down year with far more mistakes than I'd like to see, but I'm still certain he's a top pairing minute muncher that will continue to get better as he refines his game and as talent improves around him.
Paper - Kane, Veleno. Kane brought much needed elements of firepower and clutch scoring. But I would have a very long end of season interview with him to gauge his thoughts on his own health, his interest level to return, and what kind of deal it would take to bring him back. Veleno had moments where he played well and moments where he brought nothing to the table. He plays a premium position, so I'd see how cheaply I could keep him versus what I might get if I packaged him with other assets in a sign and trade.
Scissors - Gostisbehere, Holl. That move by Ghost to jump up and grab the puck for what led to the tying goal was the stuff of legends. But he simply doesn't play any defense, and I think keeping more pucks out of their own net is where the team needs to improve the most. And Holl was a total disaster of a signing, to the point that I'm willing to buy him out. Honorable mention to Petry and Husso, but I'd rather look at the press box and LTIRetirement as options for those guys and just launch Holl via trebuchet.
So pick 2 rocks, 2 papers, 2 scissors, and shoot away! (And no use of dynamite...or lizard or Spock, for you Big Bang Theory fans.)