Busting up the top line is an easy "f*** no"I can imagine the Sens demanding Schmidt, Marchssault and/or W Karlsson as part of deal, as well as Glass or Suzuki, 1st pick.
Busting up the top line is an easy "f*** no"I can imagine the Sens demanding Schmidt, Marchssault and/or W Karlsson as part of deal, as well as Glass or Suzuki, 1st pick.
This team is already somewhat screwing itself not getting a string of lottery picks to build a young foundation of players. I dread a nightmare scenario where this deal goes through and the Gallant effect stops being so profound and we start just middling with the burn of having shipped off two first rounders and two of our top prospects along with Theodore. It wastes Karlsson's quest for supremacy and holds the team's build up.
Don't get me wrong. I would love Karlsson on the team if things were simpler. But they're not. It's gonna cost assets that are critical to the future of this team and a lot of money. And I'm given pause in thinking would we not be better off with Theodore and Brannstrom plus whoever we draft in the next two drafts and I think the answer is yes. Like at their best I never would have dreamed of trading Getzlaf and Perry for Crosby alone. Now that Perry is a shade of his former self I'd easily make that trade. Crosby alone wasn't enough to win cups. Crosby and Malkin "alone" was enough for one. But they needed Kessel for two more. Karlsson alone won't put us over the top. Depth of talent might. We trade "5 pieces" and it makes trying to find that much much harder. Karlsson is a generational talent. A superstar. A legend of his era. Do I want a player like that on Vegas? Of course. But at this cost I'm not sure. If it happens I'll be really excited and welcome him with open arms. But I'll be apprehensive about the ramifications. If we had a better prospect pipeline, I'd be singing a different song.
I get what you're saying. But time and time again its shown that quantity for quality deals always favour the team that gets the quality. None of those "5 pieces" are sure things. As rosy as it looks right now for them, they most likely don't become stars, maybe they become solid contributors, but its also likely they dont get even get there. We've been through enough prospects that looked great but ultimately didn't cut it. Good prospects are easy to come by. You have a chance every June to draft them. You almost never have a chance to get a 27 year old generational talent. Like I'm telling you, it's very likely you never have a player wear Vegas jersey who would be as good as Karlsson.
Not to mention that having a talent like Karlsson will attract other talent. If Vegas makes a bid for Tavares it would be alot more convincing for him to join if Karlsson is there to welcome him.
Has no one watched EK65 play this year? It's insane to trade for a guy that looks downright awful at the moment. I hope he recovers because he's a fun player to watch, but his great days could be gone forever. If he needed more time to recover, then he shouldn't be playing until he feels good again. Even he said himself that there's a different feeling in his foot and will never go away, but he sounded like he could get used to it. But watching him play says otherwise. Giving up the assets required to get him is too risky. For what the asking price is, it better be a sure thing.
Gee I don't know, are the Lightning and Predators idiots run by bad management who can't scout other players?
The only EK that might get traded Monday is Kane
If Vegas has proven anything is that a team full of decent to good pieces can be as good or better than one with elite pieces but not as much depth.I get what you're saying. But time and time again its shown that quantity for quality deals always favour the team that gets the quality. None of those "5 pieces" are sure things. As rosy as it looks right now for them, they most likely don't become stars, maybe they become solid contributors, but its also likely they dont get even get there. We've been through enough prospects that looked great but ultimately didn't cut it. Good prospects are easy to come by. You have a chance every June to draft them. You almost never have a chance to get a 27 year old generational talent. Like I'm telling you, it's very likely you never have a player wear Vegas jersey who would be as good as Karlsson.
Not to mention that having a talent like Karlsson will attract other talent. If Vegas makes a bid for Tavares it would be alot more convincing for him to join if Karlsson is there to welcome him.
Well he’s not wrong. Karlsson has basically been a Brent Burns this year instead of the the guy that ends his career with a legacy like Lindstrom and Borque.
He just isn’t even trying...which I understand because the team is a dumpster fire. But, it’s primarily his skating that is the worry.
Healthy Karlsson is maybe the best package of agility / acceleration / speed in a single player in all of time (pre-Cooke and last seasons foot surgery) Just watch that highlight video. Inhuman acceleration.
Without his skating...he’s just Brent Burns. A pure offense / powerplay specialist who can’t play defense.
With his skating, he’s an automatic breakout, and a A level defender. People really hate on his defensive game, but when he is on, he is an elite defender. He can gamble all he wants because he can catch any player in the league, he is adept at creating turnovers with his skating / stick skills, and he is surprisingly wiry strong which helps him in puck battles.
Playing him with Schmidt on his other side is right around the best players he’s ever had on his pair. The guy has played with Filip Kuba and Marc Methot all his pro career. I’d say this year’s Schmidt is better than both of those guys. McNabb would look very good there too if you wanted to keep Schmidt - Miller, which would be a great second pair and feast on weaker match-ups offensively.
The foot is a major, major concern though if signing him to a 12x7 year contract. I would have the team doctors evaluate the hell out of him to see if he could ever get back to his post-Cooke 90% level or so.
I’m conflicted. You are either getting the #3 player in the league, or getting a decent #1 d-man who needs to be sheltered defensively. I am also really hesitant to give up Glass. I think he will at least be a superb 2C who is a coaches dream playing a 200 foot game. Suzuki, I have more worries about translating to the pro’s. He has great hockey sense, but I think he more realistically ends up on the wing due to an average defensive game and average size / strength.
Here's my starting deal for Karlsson and Ryan
Max Lagace
Erik Brannstrom
2018 4th (Van)
2019 2nd (NYI), 3rd (WPG)
If his foot is buggered, I cant see him asking for $12mil. McPhee will have this year and likely part of next to make that determination.
That’s an automatic no from Ottawa. Dorion and Melnyk would be publicly lynched for letting a superstar go for that.
As I said, "starting deal". Remember, we are taking a horrendous contract back.
Bobby Ryan at 25% retention is a better deal than Neal at 7x7 which he could very well get this summer. As long as Bobby is healthy he's worth 5m per.
I'd take Neal 10 times out of 10 before taking Bobby Ryan.