Proposal: Nick Schmaltz for a Defenseman

[Junohockeyfan]

I’d do that deal as the Avs. We really need a 2C. And he’d be that for the next three playoff runs. Could also use a solid backup G. RyJo is such a bad fit for our roster as well. His skating limitations won’t be as problematic playing cycle hockey with Crouse.

Ryjo would cost you a 2nd to 1st to dump. Avs would need to add if Ryjo is in the deal. You don't just get to dump a capdump for free...

The shine on Byram has been tarnished. Other than one good game last night, he has been rather disappointing the last 2 x years. Avs should trade him quickly this TDL.

 

[rt]

Ok, so appealing trades offered so far where clauses don’t seem likely to interfere too much…

1. Schmaltz for Byram and RyJo (Dump)
2. Schmaltz for Xhekaj and Price (Dump)
3. Schmaltz and 2nd for Lindgren

What else?

 

[bernmeister]

Ok, so appealing trades offered so far where clauses don’t seem likely to interfere too much…

1. Schmaltz for Byram and RyJo (Dump)
2. Schmaltz for Xhekaj and Price (Dump)
3. Schmaltz and 2nd for Lindgren

What else?

Still time crushed into w'e at earliest
short feedback on bold
Rs can consider variation of Lindy
or
Lindy + 1 of Jones/Gust for picks instead of NSchm who can be flipped by AZ separately

does that extra flexibility lead to improved options for you?

til w'e

 

[McJedi]

Avs pull Byram from this thread.

Byram has 2Gs and 2As in the last two games. Anyone can have a few good games, but what's interesting about Byram's spike in production is his recent deployment. The Avs have saddled poor Byram with the brutal Ryan Johansen all season. Byram is, by far, RyJo's top deployment teammate in terms of TOI. When RyJo takes a draw, Byram is pretty much always on the ice.

But the Avs demoted RyJo to the bottom line two games ago, and Byram escaped this plug of a scrub teammate and now Byram is enjoying far greater productivity playing with ANYONE else besides RyJo.

Will be interesting to see if this holds up assuming Bednar doesn't go back to saddling Byram with the worst 2C in the NHL.

Avs are going to have to buy RyJo out this summer. At least it's only 1 year of contract term to spread over two seasons at 66% of $4MM so just $1.32MM of dead cap space affecting two different seasons.

 

[Raspewtin]

Ok, so appealing trades offered so far where clauses don’t seem likely to interfere too much…

1. Schmaltz for Byram and RyJo (Dump)
2. Schmaltz for Xhekaj and Price (Dump)
3. Schmaltz and 2nd for Lindgren

What else?

Any interest in changing that 2nd to Jack McBain?

 

[rt]

Any interest in changing that 2nd to Jack McBain?

None. He’s a core piece.

 

[John Mandalorian]

Avs pull Byram from this thread.

Byram has 2Gs and 2As in the last two games. Anyone can have a few good games, but what's interesting about Byram's spike in production is his recent deployment. The Avs have saddled poor Byram with the brutal Ryan Johansen all season. Byram is, by far, RyJo's top deployment teammate in terms of TOI. When RyJo takes a draw, Byram is pretty much always on the ice.

But the Avs demoted RyJo to the bottom line two games ago, and Byram escaped this plug of a scrub teammate and now Byram is enjoying far greater productivity playing with ANYONE else besides RyJo.

Will be interesting to see if this holds up assuming Bednar doesn't go back to saddling Byram with the worst 2C in the NHL.

Avs are going to have to buy RyJo out this summer. At least it's only 1 year of contract term to spread over two seasons at 66% of $4MM so just $1.32MM of dead cap space affecting two different seasons.

A buyout is unlikely.

 

[McJedi]

A buyout is unlikely.

Why? It’s not particularly expensive. $1.32mm of dead cap space over 2 years to free up $2.7mm in cap space next year.

RyJo is a low event buyout. The idea the Avs won’t consider it seems fishy to me vs paying assets to dump him.

I think you’d agree the likelihood Avs have RyJo on their roster next season is also unlikely.

 

[bossram]

AZ has one bazillion 2nd round picks for use in balancing value. Can also accept cap offsets.

Why not just use some of the picks on their own and not trade Schmaltz?

 

[rt]

Why not just use some of the picks on their own and not trade Schmaltz?

Still rebuilding. Don’t want to go too crazy on cashing in the draft capital. But willing to augment Schmaltz with a little bit of it.

 

[John Mandalorian]

Why? It’s not particularly expensive. $1.32mm of dead cap space over 2 years to free up $2.7mm in cap space next year.

RyJo is a low event buyout. The idea the Avs won’t consider it seems fishy to me vs paying assets to dump him.

I think you’d agree the likelihood Avs have RyJo on their roster next season is also unlikely.

The cap space is more valuable than a 2nd round pick.

 

[McJedi]

The cap space is more valuable than a 2nd round pick.

$1.32mm? Maybe. We sure gave away that Eller pick for the wrong reasons.

 

[John Mandalorian]

$1.32mm? Maybe. We sure gave away that Eller pick for the wrong reasons.

Yeah. Sunk cost. Hopefully CM has learned. But don’t get your hopes up.

 

[McJedi]

Yeah. Sunk cost. Hopefully CM has learned. But don’t get your hopes up.

The Avs don’t value picks so it won’t surprise me.

But it’s not a bad buyout by any stretch. It’s a modest one.

 

[biturbo19]

I feel like the real trick to this is figuring out is...Schmaltz a Winger or a Center? Because he seems like much more of a speedy playmaking winger to me. He's Barzal-lite...in every way. Which probably drops him below the threshold of being a real good Top-6C on any sort of truly contending team. Barring maybe Colorado, just because.

And if you take that element out of the equation...you just rarely see Wingers successfully swapped for a big Defence upgrade. They're just lower on the "premium" totem pole. It's back to the "Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson" type deal. Even if in the end, Larsson really was the better player and the one everyone is desperate for.

 

[rt]

…swapped for a big Defence upgrade…

Who said anything about that?

Re-read the OP.

 

[biturbo19]

Who said anything about that?

Re-read the OP.

I thought that was pretty well implied.

If you're just "best offer wins" on a crappy defenceman that isn't even an upgrade...then i guess go ahead with that. Giving Schmaltz away for a defenceman who isn't even an upgrade to the team.

But that seems like a mind-numbingly stupid thing to do.

 

[rt]

I thought that was pretty well implied.

If you're just "best offer wins" on a crappy defenceman that isn't even an upgrade...then i guess go ahead with that. Giving Schmaltz away for a defenceman who isn't even an upgrade to the team.

But that seems like a mind-numbingly stupid thing to do.

No, it’s fine. Arizona need a defenseman badly. I’d trade Schmaltz for pretty much anyone under 30 that’s clearly no worse than 3rd on the Yotes depth chart. Doesn’t have to be as good as Moser or Durzi. But has to be a clear step up from Stecher, Dumba, Valimaki, and Kesselring.

It should be pretty easy to make that happen. And if it did happen, I’d be pretty happy.

On a league average blueline, Durzi and Moser are basically 3rd and 4th. So, it’s really not a huge ask.

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

maybe I missed it but can anyone tell me why Soderstrom is not being given an opportunity on this defense?

 

[bernmeister]

No, it’s fine. Arizona need a defenseman badly. I’d trade Schmaltz for pretty much anyone under 30 that’s clearly no worse than 3rd on the Yotes depth chart. Doesn’t have to be as good as Moser or Durzi. But has to be a clear step up from Stecher, Dumba, Valimaki, and Kesselring.

It should be pretty easy to make that happen. And if it did happen, I’d be pretty happy.

On a league average blueline, Durzi and Moser are basically 3rd and 4th. So, it’s really not a huge ask.

Lindgren, Jones, bezillle, cap dump Leshitshow
for a 2024 2nd and two 3rds [recent upcoming ok]

helps AZ w extreme current D shortage
Bez = stopgap depth forward if you auction off NS or other

forces Rs to go Gust + Robertson short term
creates cap on off chance that helps w/now

also forces youth into our F corps

returns futures needed after rental debacles of recent yrs

 

[lanky]

maybe I missed it but can anyone tell me why Soderstrom is not being given an opportunity on this defense?

No. It's peculiar.

A year ago the GM had lots of praise for Soderstom and how he was a leader in the AHL. This year we haven't heard that praise at all, even though Soderstom is still the best defenseman on that team.

He was called up as an injury replacement and he mostly watched from the press box.

 

[TBF1972]

Most of the time?

Like how wrong the Habs fans have been over the years about:

Petry
Domi
Tatar
Drouin
Price
Weber
Allen
Anderson
Gallagher
Arima
Evans

Now Matheson, probably Savard, your 2023 draft picks.

you can name price 5 times and it wouldn't feel wrong.

 

[Kaizen]

No. It's peculiar.

A year ago the GM had lots of praise for Soderstom and how he was a leader in the AHL. This year we haven't heard that praise at all, even though Soderstom is still the best defenseman on that team.

He was called up as an injury replacement and he mostly watched from the press box.

He's out of waivers after this season so if BA was overcooking him the timer on the oven is about to chime.

It's certainly possible that he is viewed as part of next year's d core - only time will tell.

After rosters are expanded (and a body or three is moved out ) he will probably see some more NHL duty.

Success in Tucson as a team is another consideration - ideally he'll see a few games in Tempe and return to Tucson for the playoff run.

 

[HabsAddict]

We got left wingers coming out of our kazoo and a few years away ftom a few extra right wingers.

But....

We need a youngish center with at least 2C glued on his future. Is Cooley that guy? Your 1st available? If you win the lottery and in line for Celebrini, maybe Guhle would be available.

For now...lets say Barron and Harris are available.