TSN: Predators Exploring Possibilty of Moving a Center

[Ryan Michaels]

I'm surprised some are still defending Kyle Turris, he's about to get bought out, the ship is sinking, get off the boat. He's not good offensively, he's nothing special defensively, he's the type of center who would fit on very few good teams and he's old and overpaid. Maybe you dump him with assets to a bad team as a stopgap but the dude is not a desirable asset at all.

 

[Big Muddy]

What's the asking price on Bonino?

Probably top 50 pick or a decent prospect.

Didn't know where to stick this, but an article from TSN yesterday had some interesting info about the current market conditions for players.

"The message was simple yet still jaw-dropping. When asked to size up the trade market as a whole, this is how one NHL general manager framed it on Wednesday:

The number of franchise-changing players available or being talked about each day is astonishing,” the GM said. “It’s just that no one has any room for them.

There are now more than 50 names in play on the latest TSN Trade Bait board.

Each team has an incredible number of balls in the air between pushing to clear cap space, managing internal budgets, being unable to afford restricted free agents and juggling the free agent market ......."

So, as the article says, between teams needing to dump players, RFAs, UFAs, there is a glut of players available on the market now. Most teams first challenge is to try to find ways of dumping players to clear cap space.

While this info is not intended to focus on every single player that may be available, its definitely a factor to keep in mind when discussing trade proposals for the majority of players and teams. Some of the proposals that push big returns neglect the actual, current, market conditions.

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

Outside Bonino our centers are underperforming. Their trade values are not that high, but as the article says, the lack of available centers may end up being a leverage that brings them up.

Perfect 3C who can step in for 2C role in case of injuries. He's playing very responsible and safe game in the offensive zone and would have tools to chip in some more points than he has so far in his career. Wouldn't feel comfortable with him as 2C, but with that intention it doesn't matter I guess. One of the bright spots last season and I hope we keep him.



If we're trading for or signing a left handed dman it'd be for the 3rd pair. Caphit of 4.5M and widely criticized defensive abilities makes him a bad fit there.

Yandle has a NMC and would need to be protected for the expansion draft. That's a non-starter, unfortunately.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I'm surprised some are still defending Kyle Turris, he's about to get bought out, the ship is sinking, get off the boat. He's not good offensively, he's nothing special defensively, he's the type of center who would fit on very few good teams and he's old and overpaid. Maybe you dumb him with assets to a bad team as a stopgap but the dude is not a desirable asset at all.

Turris is good offensively. Granted, he is good in more of a complementary way, in that he can skate and think and make plays at a top-6 level, but definitely benefits from having wingers who are the real drivers. But if he was any better than that, he'd be a 1st line center, not a 2nd line one.

I still don't think of him as a "desirable" asset, just because of his softness, basically. I'm a little old school like that. But that's me. Just on offense alone, though, he's entirely reasonable. And rather than fitting on " very few good teams", he's more like a player who would fit better on worse teams who don't actually need a be-all-and-end-all solution in that spot. Give him more icetime and more PP time and he'll produce. He's not old at all, and doesn't look or play like he is. He was the same player at 30 as he was at 25. I don't want him on my team, mind you. But he's still a better player than these threads are giving him credit for.

 

[Gh24]

Yandle has a NMC and would need to be protected for the expansion draft. That's a non-starter, unfortunately.

Oops forgot to mention the number one reason why that doesn't make sense. Thanks!

 

[BatVader]

Pass the Duchy on the left hand side..

Cost of Duchene to Winnipeg?

 

[1909]

Turris is the one they should get rid of.

 

[Fig]

Pass the Duchy on the left hand side..

Cost of Duchene to Winnipeg?

I feel like Ryjo matches better with the Jets and the Preds are more likely to move on from him than Duchene... but that's just me.

 

[GJB]

Weird that a couple years ago you would think Nashville was loaded at center with Duchene, Johansen and Turris. Weird how they have become all chronic underachievers.

 

[BatVader]

I feel like Ryjo matches better with the Jets and the Preds are more likely to move on from him than Duchene... but that's just me.

Jets really need a lefty at C, which is why I was targeting Duchene... plus I’ve been a fan of his from day 1 and it would be nice to cheer for him instead of against him for a change....lol

 

[Ryan Michaels]

Turris is good offensively. Granted, he is good in more of a complementary way, in that he can skate and think and make plays at a top-6 level, but definitely benefits from having wingers who are the real drivers. But if he was any better than that, he'd be a 1st line center, not a 2nd line one.

I still don't think of him as a "desirable" asset, just because of his softness, basically. I'm a little old school like that. But that's me. Just on offense alone, though, he's entirely reasonable. And rather than fitting on " very few good teams", he's more like a player who would fit better on worse teams who don't actually need a be-all-and-end-all solution in that spot. Give him more icetime and more PP time and he'll produce. He's not old at all, and doesn't look or play like he is. He was the same player at 30 as he was at 25. I don't want him on my team, mind you. But he's still a better player than these threads are giving him credit for.

Right I agree with this assessment but an overpaid over 30 who will produce in the top 6 but wouldn't play in a decent top 6 who isn't a defensive specialist...is a pretty useless asset. Like I said they can probably pay to give him to a crappy team, otherwise someone will give him a shot with a buy out. But that's a pretty tough asset to not think very negatively of.

 

[BatVader]

Weird that a couple years ago you would think Nashville was loaded at center with Duchene, Johansen and Turris. Weird how they have become all chronic underachievers.

Makes you wonder if there’s something going on behind the scenes

 

[Fig]

Weird that a couple years ago you would think Nashville was loaded at center with Duchene, Johansen and Turris. Weird how they have become all chronic underachievers.

I would speculate it's an ironic situation. Ryjo languished because he was over worked at one point, but then Nashville ended up with too many cooks in the kitchen so to speak, so everyone (not just Ryjo) languished. I think you see the remainder guys bounce back hard after moving one of them.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Right I agree with this assessment but an overpaid over 30 who will produce in the top 6 but wouldn't play in a decent top 6 who isn't a defensive specialist...is a pretty useless asset. Like I said they can probably pay to give him to a crappy team, otherwise someone will give him a shot with a buy out. But that's a pretty tough asset to not think very negatively of.

I only object to the "pay to give him to a crappy team" part, really. Why do that? He's an ok player. No need to pay to move him. If there isn't a market for him, it's fine to just keep him in the Preds' current situation. He has tangible value to us still. Buying him out would only signify a troubling cashflow issue with the team, due to Covid, basically. And that would be a problem that is much more worrisome than anything related to Turris in isolation. I dislike him as a player, and even I don't think "very negatively" of him.

 

[Tetsuo]

Turris is good offensively. Granted, he is good in more of a complementary way, in that he can skate and think and make plays at a top-6 level, but definitely benefits from having wingers who are the real drivers. But if he was any better than that, he'd be a 1st line center, not a 2nd line one.

I still don't think of him as a "desirable" asset, just because of his softness, basically. I'm a little old school like that. But that's me. Just on offense alone, though, he's entirely reasonable. And rather than fitting on " very few good teams", he's more like a player who would fit better on worse teams who don't actually need a be-all-and-end-all solution in that spot. Give him more icetime and more PP time and he'll produce. He's not old at all, and doesn't look or play like he is. He was the same player at 30 as he was at 25. I don't want him on my team, mind you. But he's still a better player than these threads are giving him credit for.

He'd be a perfect fit on Detroit tbh. He and Mantha had chemistry back in the WC, as Mantha can actually drive play and Turris is a good complimentary player. He would automatically be a top 6 player for Detroit so icetime is no obstacle lol. He's softer than silk but 4 years isn't so bad for a stop-gap 2C, only real problem is his contract. Detroit can take all of it on but they are effectively the only team that can (no internal cap, Zetterberg LTIR and they are under the Cap floor still). Hard to see Stevie not taking Poile to the cleaners if they are truly desperate to move salary. If Nashville will buy him out they should just retain 25% and maybe get an actual asset back for him. Saves them $8M on a buyout, and it would only be 4 years vs 8.

 

[Soundgarden]

I would speculate it's an ironic situation. Ryjo languished because he was over worked at one point, but then Nashville ended up with too many cooks in the kitchen so to speak, so everyone (not just Ryjo) languished. I think you see the remainder guys bounce back hard after moving one of them.

I think Johansen is more dependent on his line mates producing too. He can be good for 40-50 assists a year, but if Forsberg is going to be missing 10-15 games every season or Arvidsson plays with a busted knee like he did this season his play is going to slip. I don't think it was a coincidence that Arvidsson got healthy and then the JOFA line scored almost the entirety of our goals vs. Dallas and Arizona.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

He'd be a perfect fit on Detroit tbh. He and Mantha had chemistry back in the WC, as Mantha can actually drive play and Turris is a good complimentary player. He would automatically be a top 6 player for Detroit so icetime is no obstacle lol. He's softer than silk but 4 years isn't so bad for a stop-gap 2C, only real problem is his contract. Detroit can take all of it on but they are effectively the only team that can (no internal cap, Zetterberg LTIR and they are under the Cap floor still). Hard to see Stevie not taking Poile to the cleaners if they are truly desperate to move salary. If Nashville will buy him out they should just retain 25% and maybe get an actual asset back for him. Saves them $8M on a buyout, and it would only be 4 years vs 8.

Might as well just wait it out, though. If there's any chance the Preds do buy out Turris, just wait and sign him for 1-2 years at $2-3M instead if you can.

I still don't see the Preds buying him out. But this far into the window, you might as well just wait it out. We're not taking any Abdelkaders or Nielsens back, so it can't hurt to wait.

 

[Ryan Michaels]

I only object to the "pay to give him to a crappy team" part, really. Why do that? He's an ok player. No need to pay to move him. If there isn't a market for him, it's fine to just keep him in the Preds' current situation. He has tangible value to us still. Buying him out would only signify a troubling cashflow issue with the team, due to Covid, basically. And that would be a problem that is much more worrisome than anything related to Turris in isolation. I dislike him as a player, and even I don't think "very negatively" of him.

I look at Tyler Bozak in St. Louis as the rare case of this type of player fitting well. Even then, despite winning a cup, finishing first in the West, and Bozak's making over 1 million less, Bozak is likely to be dumped in the offseason. And Bozak worked in the secondary scoring first/not good defensively role because ROR was a Selke winning 1C, most teams want a great defensive player in that role. There is no way there will be a market for him, as mentioned above it's theoretically possible to move him with significant retention and get something....nothing great mind you but like a 3rd...in a flat cap world that contract is an anchor.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I think Johansen is more dependent on his line mates producing too. He can be good for 40-50 assists a year, but if Forsberg is going to be missing 10-15 games every season or Arvidsson plays with a busted knee like he did this season his play is going to slip. I don't think it was a coincidence that Arvidsson got healthy and then the JOFA line scored almost the entirety of our goals vs. Dallas and Arizona.

Hm. I don't know. Johansen might be dependent on his linemates TO PRODUCE, but he's not as dependent on them to just be a good player. I still feel like Johansen provides some physical presence and 2-way play. He actually makes his linemates better because he can do things that they can't. It can look like he's in "cruise control" at times, but quietly he is usually still minding his responsibilities, finishing his checks, playing a more rounded overall game.

But you know he has the skill to be a #1C, so that makes us frustrated that he doesn't seem to bring that part of his game with any consistency. So we get on him on that basis. But he's still a solid player even with that omnipresent frustration factor.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I look at Tyler Bozak in St. Louis as the rare case of this type of player fitting well. Even then, despite winning a cup, finishing first in the West, and Bozak's making over 1 million less, Bozak is likely to be dumped in the offseason. And Bozak worked in the secondary scoring first/not good defensively role because ROR was a Selke winning 1C, most teams want a great defensive player in that role. There is no way there will be a market for him, as mentioned above it's theoretically possible to move him with significant retention and get something....nothing great mind you but like a 3rd...in a flat cap world that contract is an anchor.

But the Blues need cap space (if they still want Pietrangelo anyway). The Preds don't. The Preds will probably play $5M under the cap in 2020-21 even with Turris. Playing $9M under the cap is no special advantage. Unless real money is an issue for the franchise.

 

[Rebels57]

They've tried 3 times now to acquire a #1 Center and 3 times they have failed.

Stop drafting defensemen and draft nothing but Centers until one hits.

 

[Ryan Michaels]

But the Blues need cap space (if they still want Pietrangelo anyway). The Preds don't. The Preds will probably play $5M under the cap in 2020-21 even with Turris. Playing $9M under the cap is no special advantage. Unless real money is an issue for the franchise.

Sure, I guess we're talking about two different things now. You're saying they don't need to pay someone to take Turris which is fine. I'm saying of they wanted to move Turris they'd have to pay someone to take him. Both can be true. I would suggest there's a reasonable argument for paying to dump him to allocate the money elsewhere while the Press solid core is still in their prime but that's a different talk for a different time.

 

[jukon]

Yandle has a NMC and would need to be protected for the expansion draft. That's a non-starter, unfortunately.

The NMC can be nullified if Yandle agrees to waive it to come to Nashville.

 

[Snowman]

The NMC can be nullified if Yandle agrees to waive it to come to Nashville.

Is that for sure? I read that the NTC/NMC stays intact even if the player accepts a trade with the new CBA.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

They've tried 3 times now to acquire a #1 Center and 3 times they have failed.

Stop drafting defensemen and draft nothing but Centers until one hits.

Two times... well in recent times anyway... Johansen and Duchene. Trading for Turris was entirely to fill the vacant #2C spot. And they immediately deployed him exclusively in a #2C role after acquiring him. Well, for one successful season, anyway...