Speculation: Eklund/Garrioch - Sharks are looking for D man

[hohosaregood]

Honestly haven't watched the Sharks much this season, but despite the fact he's my 2nd favourite player, Couture has been really disappointing for me.



I've said this for a while now, but Toronto fans seem against it. I think it'd be a great move for both sides.

Couture's probably back on track by the looks of it. Last couple of games, he's looked sharp.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

What does Edmonton get in this deal aside from a guy with arguably negative value?

They get rid of a guy that is on an expiring contract. Like I said before.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Couture's probably back on track by the looks of it. Last couple of games, he's looked sharp.

All it took was his first goal. Funny how that works. He has been on fire since.

 

[CanadienShark]

Couture's probably back on track by the looks of it. Last couple of games, he's looked sharp.

That's good to hear. I reiterate, I've barely watched any hockey this season. Too stressed out about other things.

They get rid of a guy that is on an expiring contract. Like I said before.

Right... maybe the Isles should move Boychuk - getting rid of a guy on an expiring contract, right? That's a terrible philosophy, when Petry has value and is one of their better d-men. Unless it's clear that he's going to leave, don't trade a guy who helps you to do what you're trying to achieve. Kennedy does not hold value, and isn't worth Petry, even if he's an impending UFA.

 

[hohosaregood]

That's good to hear. I reiterate, I've barely watched any hockey this season. Too stressed out about other things.



Right... maybe the Isles should move Boychuk - getting rid of a guy on an expiring contract, right? That's a terrible philosophy, when Petry has value and is one of their better d-men. Unless it's clear that he's going to leave, don't trade a guy who helps you to do what you're trying to achieve. Kennedy does not hold value, and isn't worth Petry, even if he's an impending UFA.

Well...that's basically why Boston moved Boychuk.

 

[CanadienShark]

Well...that's basically why Boston moved Boychuk.

No, that's not exactly why. They moved him because of his expiring contract AND the fact that he was due for a raise they couldn't afford. If they had to cap space, you better bet they'd have kept him.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Its the same for Petry and he doesn't want to be in Edmonton.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

I've said this for a while now, but Toronto fans seem against it. I think it'd be a great move for both sides.

I'm against it too. We're swapping one PMD for another and one offensive presence for another and the same problem exists but it swaps sides. Think about the pairings in that scenario. We have no guarantees already with Mueller and him being swapped with guys like Irwin or Hannan on the left side of that third pairing. Then we're sticking Fedun in the lineup who isn't an NHL'er at this point. So we're still asking someone who is likely not ready or capable to play on the 2nd pairing or we're asking Mueller and Fedun to pair off on the 3rd pair.

Those are not good options.

 

[CanadienShark]

I'm against it too. We're swapping one PMD for another and one offensive presence for another and the same problem exists but it swaps sides. Think about the pairings in that scenario. We have no guarantees already with Mueller and him being swapped with guys like Irwin or Hannan on the left side of that third pairing. Then we're sticking Fedun in the lineup who isn't an NHL'er at this point. So we're still asking someone who is likely not ready or capable to play on the 2nd pairing or we're asking Mueller and Fedun to pair off on the 3rd pair.

Those are not good options.

I see your point, but it's much easier to fill a #3 RHD role when we could run our top 4 pretty heavily if we had 3-4 arguable top pairing d-men. Then we could shelter the 3rd pairing of Mueller - XXXX or easily fill that hole.

Realistically, we could run Vlasic-Braun for about ~25 minutes/game, Gardiner-Burns for about ~20-23 minutes and shelter our 3rd pairing. Obviously special teams would muddle those numbers, but I'm just giving rough numbers here. I'd rather have a hole in the bottom pairing RH spot than the second pairing LH spot, especially when we have atrocious LHD depth while we have great RHD depth.

 

[Coily]

Speaking of Defensemen and trades.

Carolina might move Sekera, UFA, Carolina is rumored to become the Oilers in terms of rebuilding.

One can hope.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Speaking of Defensemen and trades.

Carolina might move Sekera, UFA, Carolina is rumored to become the Oilers in terms of rebuilding.

One can hope.

Carolina has 2 points in 6 games. They don't need to trade anyone to start their rebuild.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Yeah but I assume they'll be shipping out contracts like Sekera and Staal etc.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

I see your point, but it's much easier to fill a #3 RHD role when we could run our top 4 pretty heavily if we had 3-4 arguable top pairing d-men. Then we could shelter the 3rd pairing of Mueller - XXXX or easily fill that hole.

Realistically, we could run Vlasic-Braun for about ~25 minutes/game, Gardiner-Burns for about ~20-23 minutes and shelter our 3rd pairing. Obviously special teams would muddle those numbers, but I'm just giving rough numbers here. I'd rather have a hole in the bottom pairing RH spot than the second pairing LH spot, especially when we have atrocious LHD depth while we have great RHD depth.

In general, it is easier to replace 3rd pairing on both sides but obviously we have an issue filling the left side right now. lol Running the top four heavy is not a good long-term strategy and it will catch up to them eventually. But if we're talking about lose depth on the right side to cover that part on the left, we're left with the same problem. You need to be able to have three pairings that can be relied on for their roles...not two. I mean, if there's a second trade set up to replace Demers, I would probably be more for it but not when the tentative replacement is Fedun and especially when his partner is not going to be reliable.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Yeah but I assume they'll be shipping out contracts like Sekera and Staal etc.

As per Capgeek they are paying him 1.75M this year and his cap hit is 2.75M. I don't know if thats really a contract worth shipping out. I would think they should be trying to extend him (last year of his contract) unless he has 0 interest in that. In that case they ship him out at the TDL. He would cost a pretty penny though I bet. 1st round 2015 +.

Staal on the other hand is a brutal contract. I don't want him at 9M+ per.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Carolina has 2 points in 6 games. They don't need to trade anyone to start their rebuild.

They would trade them to get more future assets especially Sekera in a rental situation in what is generally a weak supply trade market.

 

[CanadienShark]

In general, it is easier to replace 3rd pairing on both sides but obviously we have an issue filling the left side right now. lol Running the top four heavy is not a good long-term strategy and it will catch up to them eventually. But if we're talking about lose depth on the right side to cover that part on the left, we're left with the same problem. You need to be able to have three pairings that can be relied on for their roles...not two. I mean, if there's a second trade set up to replace Demers, I would probably be more for it but not when the tentative replacement is Fedun and especially when his partner is not going to be reliable.

Agreed, I don't want a hole on either side, but if I had to pick my poison, the choice is easy. I feel as though acquiring a #6 for cheap a là Weaver would be easier than filling our #2 LHD spot. I do not want to see both Fedun and Mueller in the lineup if we intend to compete, but having Fedun as the #7 could be fine. But we'd need a good veteran RHD. I can't think of anyone off the top of my head right now, but there will absolutely be some available soon. In an ideal situation though, we could pick up Sekera without losing a roster player.

 

[FeedingFrenzy]

Well...that's basically why Boston moved Boychuk.

He was moved because Bos is in CAP hell.. And they have some good youngsters.