Roster Speculation Part XI...$teven $tamko$?? Pony up for PK?

[Der Jaeger]

Although it's been hammered on time and again, what is TM looking for?

With that question in mind, I listed the following keepers on D from a guessing standpoint.

Ristolainen
Bogosain
McCabe

Gorges?
Pysyk?

Then there is Weber. He's had a good season, is he gone?

My guesses.
Risto and Bogo RD 1 and 2 pairing, and McCabe graduates to the 2nd pairing LD next season.
So who's cooked long enough in the system, Leduc?
I guess that is my point, I don't see anyone stepping in next season from the system.

Trade for a top pair LD, fill in 5/6?

I'd use this off season to reload on the back end. Here's what I think the blue line looks like:

xxx - Ristolainen
yyy - Pysyk
zzz - Bogosian

xxx: I'd like to see Murray offer sheet Maatta or Lindholm. Lindholm is the better player, but Maatta could be easier to get given the Pens cap situation.

yyy: I think McCabe gets a shot at that spot

zzz: Gorges

I'd love to see Murray stack the deck by drafting a defenseman in the first round (Chychrun, Juolevi) and trade for a promising defenseman about to make the AHL-to-NHL jump (e.g.: Lindell). With Guhle and Borgen in the pipeline,

Something like these moves turns a weakness into a strength in one off-season.

 

[Jim Bob]

Going back to LHD situation, what's the overall feel on McCabe. I know he's been underwhelming for alot of the year, but long term, where do you see him fitting? Is he a top 4 guy or will he get regulated to a bottom pair once our depth is better?

Ideally, he's the 3rd LHD. But, I think he can grow into a solid 2nd LHD.

 

[Der Jaeger]

I am curious what his offensive numbers would be if Bylsma used a two d-man PP unit instead of 4 forwards all the time.

Probably more assists feeding Ristolainen and Eichel on the left side of the set. I haven't paid attention enough to his shot to remember if it'd be an asset. Probably there for more decision making.

I am a fan of the 4 forward PP.

 

[TehDoak]

Although it's been hammered on time and again, what is TM looking for?

With that question in mind, I listed the following keepers on D from a guessing standpoint.

Ristolainen
Bogosain
McCabe

Gorges?
Pysyk?

Then there is Weber. He's had a good season, is he gone?

My guesses.
Risto and Bogo RD 1 and 2 pairing, and McCabe graduates to the 2nd pairing LD next season.
So who's cooked long enough in the system, Leduc?
I guess that is my point, I don't see anyone stepping in next season from the system.

Trade for a top pair LD, fill in 5/6?

I think you go two pronged for LHD. At the deadline, try to grab someone stuck behind depth with upside. Dallas, Pittsburgh, and Anaheim are all good places where they've got good depth on LHD. We can give them an extended look in top 4 minutes and plan from there.

Once you've got a better idea, you look at the UFA pool and you look at cap strapped teams. Is there a team that needs to dump a salary we can take on? Is there a team that bombs in the playoffs that wants to start a rebuild? The UFA pool isn't too bad on LHD. Gologoski, Yandle, Coburn, Quincey, Hamhuis, and maybe even Campbell if he hits the market. All would be upgrades to Gorges on the top pairing IMHO. We likely avoid offersheets, though, the threat of one could break someone loose.

I certainly think there are options out there. LHD tends to be easier to fill than RHD. I do think we grab a D-man early in the draft, though, that certainly won't be a piece we'll see at the NHL level for a few years.

 

[Husko]

Although it's been hammered on time and again, what is TM looking for?

With that question in mind, I listed the following keepers on D from a guessing standpoint.

Ristolainen
Bogosain
McCabe

Gorges?
Pysyk?

Then there is Weber. He's had a good season, is he gone?

My guesses.
Risto and Bogo RD 1 and 2 pairing, and McCabe graduates to the 2nd pairing LD next season.
So who's cooked long enough in the system, Leduc?
I guess that is my point, I don't see anyone stepping in next season from the system.

Trade for a top pair LD, fill in 5/6?

Because he has played so well in that capacity this year?

 

[stokes84]

McCabe has taken a big step forward recently. I don't think projecting him to the 2nd pair is a stretch at all.

 

[Husko]

McCabe has taken a big step forward recently. I don't think projecting him to the 2nd pair is a stretch at all.

I think it's a huge gamble if you have any expectation of competing for the playoffs next year. What if you go into the season and suddenly he reverts to McCabe from the first 3/4 of the season? Good teams don't just assume unproven kids can assume major roles on the team.

 

[stokes84]

I think it's a huge gamble if you have any expectation of competing for the playoffs next year. What if you go into the season and suddenly he reverts to McCabe from the first 3/4 of the season? Good teams don't just assume unproven kids can assume major roles on the team.

We're not a good team. We are a team that is climbing, and sometimes you need those players to take the next step to become a good team. It's part of the process.

 

[Sabre Dance]

McCabe is 22. He is inconsistent. Why can't we show any patience? At worst he is a bottom pair LHD. But he has shown signs of being a 2nd pair LHD.

We need to find a solid LHD D to pair with Ristolainen. Behind them we can be patient and see.

 

[TehDoak]

I think it's a huge gamble if you have any expectation of competing for the playoffs next year. What if you go into the season and suddenly he reverts to McCabe from the first 3/4 of the season? Good teams don't just assume unproven kids can assume major roles on the team.

We're not a good team. We are a team that is climbing, and sometimes you need those players to take the next step to become a good team. It's part of the process.

They key is competition. Currently, McCabe (and Gorges) have none. Which is why I think we need to add 2 LHD, one young (maybe even in the AHL currently) and one UFA. Move on Franson (or Pysyk) either at TDL or Draft. Go into next year with one top 4 spot reserved for whatever UFA we sign, the other two spots have it be a battle between Gorges, McCabe, and another young d-man.

 

[Sabre Dance]

I think it's a huge gamble if you have any expectation of competing for the playoffs next year. What if you go into the season and suddenly he reverts to McCabe from the first 3/4 of the season? Good teams don't just assume unproven kids can assume major roles on the team.

His inconsistent play is normal for any 22 year old. Ristolainen hasn't played like a #1 all year, should we worry?

 

[Captain Holt]

I'd much rather see them somehow move Bogosian and keep Pysyk. $5.1 isn't THAT much where someone wouldn't want him.

1 >P.K. Subban
P.K. Subban
Defenseman $9,000,000
2 >Shea Weber
Shea Weber
Defenseman $7,857,143
3 >Ryan Suter
Ryan Suter
Defenseman $7,538,462
4 >Kris Letang
Kris Letang
Defenseman $7,250,000
5 >Brian Campbell
Brian Campbell
Defenseman $7,142,875
6 >Drew Doughty
Drew Doughty
Defenseman $7,000,000
7 >Zdeno Chara
Zdeno Chara
Defenseman $6,916,667
8 >Alex Pietrangelo
Alex Pietrangelo
Defenseman $6,500,000
>Erik Karlsson
Erik Karlsson
Defenseman $6,500,000
10 >Mike Green
Mike Green
Defenseman $6,000,000
>Johnny Boychuk
Johnny Boychuk
Defenseman $6,000,000
12 >Brent Seabrook
Brent Seabrook
Defenseman $5,800,000
13 >Brent Burns
Brent Burns
Defenseman $5,760,000
14 >Andrei Markov
Andrei Markov
Defenseman $5,750,000
>Tobias Enstrom
Tobias Enstrom
Defenseman $5,750,000
>Matt Niskanen
Matt Niskanen
Defenseman $5,750,000
>Dougie Hamilton
Dougie Hamilton
Defenseman $5,750,000
18 >Marc Staal
Marc Staal
Defenseman $5,700,000
19 >Duncan Keith
Duncan Keith
Defenseman $5,538,462
20 >Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Defenseman $5,500,000
>Tyler Myers
Tyler Myers
Defenseman $5,500,000
>Dan Girardi
Dan Girardi
Defenseman $5,500,000
>James Wisniewski
James Wisniewski
Defenseman $5,500,000
>Brooks Orpik
Brooks Orpik
Defenseman $5,500,000
>Jeff Petry
Jeff Petry
Defenseman $5,500,000
>Matt Carle
Matt Carle
Defenseman $5,500,000
>Andrej Sekera
Andrej Sekera
Defenseman $5,500,000
>Nick Leddy
Nick Leddy
Defenseman $5,500,000
29 >Jay Bouwmeester
Jay Bouwmeester
Defenseman $5,400,000
30 >Mark Streit
Mark Streit
Defenseman $5,250,000
>Dennis Wideman
Dennis Wideman
Defenseman $5,250,000
32 >Dustin Byfuglien
Dustin Byfuglien
Defenseman $5,200,000
33 >Zach Bogosian
Zach Bogosian
Defenseman $5,142,857
34 >Andrew MacDonald
Andrew MacDonald
Defenseman $5,000,000
>Alexander Edler
Alexander Edler
Defenseman $5,000,000
>Andy Greene
Andy Greene
Defenseman $5,000,000
37 >Chris Pronger
Chris Pronger
Defenseman $4,941,429
38 >Marc Methot
Marc Methot
Defenseman $4,900,000
39 >Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Defenseman $4,850,000
40 >Justin Faulk
Justin Faulk
Defenseman $4,833,333
41 >Niklas Kronwall
Niklas Kronwall
Defenseman $4,750,000
42 >Ryan McDonagh
Ryan McDonagh
Defenseman $4,700,000
43 >T.J. Brodie
T.J. Brodie
Defenseman $4,650,000
44 >Jason Garrison
Jason Garrison
Defenseman $4,600,000
>Alex Goligoski
Alex Goligoski
Defenseman $4,600,000
>Kevin Bieksa
Kevin Bieksa
Defenseman $4,600,000
47 >Anton Stralman
Anton Stralman
Defenseman $4,500,000
>Fedor Tyutin
Fedor Tyutin
Defenseman $4,500,000
>Dan Hamhuis
Dan Hamhuis
Defenseman $4,500,000
>Francois Beauchemin
Francois Beauchemin
Defenseman $4,500,000
>Dan Boyle
Dan Boyle
Defenseman $4,500,000
>Braydon Coburn
Braydon Coburn
Defenseman $4,500,000
53 >Chris Tanev
Chris Tanev
Defenseman $4,450,000
54 >Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson
Defenseman $4,357,143
55 >Dmitry Kulikov
Dmitry Kulikov
Defenseman $4,333,333

 

[Husko]

His inconsistent play is normal for any 22 year old. Ristolainen hasn't played like a #1 all year, should we worry?

There's a difference between 'worrying' and not wanting to go into the season relying on a kid who has struggled in a top 6 capacity to be your second pairing LHD.

God this conversation stinks of deja vu. Maybe it was when we let Connolly go and didn't replace him? I'm not sure, but I swear we've all been down this road before.

 

[Sabre Dance]

I'd much rather see them somehow move Bogosian and keep Pysyk. $5.1 isn't THAT much where someone wouldn't want him.

1 >P.K. Subban
P.K. Subban
Defenseman $9,000,000
2 >Shea Weber
Shea Weber
Defenseman $7,857,143
3 >Ryan Suter
Ryan Suter
Defenseman $7,538,462
4 >Kris Letang
Kris Letang
Defenseman $7,250,000
5 >Brian Campbell
Brian Campbell
Defenseman $7,142,875
6 >Drew Doughty
Drew Doughty
Defenseman $7,000,000
7 >Zdeno Chara
Zdeno Chara
Defenseman $6,916,667
8 >Alex Pietrangelo
Alex Pietrangelo
Defenseman $6,500,000
>Erik Karlsson
Erik Karlsson
Defenseman $6,500,000
10 >Mike Green
Mike Green
Defenseman $6,000,000
>Johnny Boychuk
Johnny Boychuk
Defenseman $6,000,000
12 >Brent Seabrook
Brent Seabrook
Defenseman $5,800,000
13 >Brent Burns
Brent Burns
Defenseman $5,760,000
14 >Andrei Markov
Andrei Markov
Defenseman $5,750,000
>Tobias Enstrom
Tobias Enstrom
Defenseman $5,750,000
>Matt Niskanen
Matt Niskanen
Defenseman $5,750,000
>Dougie Hamilton
Dougie Hamilton
Defenseman $5,750,000
18 >Marc Staal
Marc Staal
Defenseman $5,700,000
19 >Duncan Keith
Duncan Keith
Defenseman $5,538,462
20 >Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Defenseman $5,500,000
>Tyler Myers
Tyler Myers
Defenseman $5,500,000
>Dan Girardi
Dan Girardi
Defenseman $5,500,000
>James Wisniewski
James Wisniewski
Defenseman $5,500,000
>Brooks Orpik
Brooks Orpik
Defenseman $5,500,000
>Jeff Petry
Jeff Petry
Defenseman $5,500,000
>Matt Carle
Matt Carle
Defenseman $5,500,000
>Andrej Sekera
Andrej Sekera
Defenseman $5,500,000
>Nick Leddy
Nick Leddy
Defenseman $5,500,000
29 >Jay Bouwmeester
Jay Bouwmeester
Defenseman $5,400,000
30 >Mark Streit
Mark Streit
Defenseman $5,250,000
>Dennis Wideman
Dennis Wideman
Defenseman $5,250,000
32 >Dustin Byfuglien
Dustin Byfuglien
Defenseman $5,200,000
33 >Zach Bogosian
Zach Bogosian
Defenseman $5,142,857
34 >Andrew MacDonald
Andrew MacDonald
Defenseman $5,000,000
>Alexander Edler
Alexander Edler
Defenseman $5,000,000
>Andy Greene
Andy Greene
Defenseman $5,000,000
37 >Chris Pronger
Chris Pronger
Defenseman $4,941,429
38 >Marc Methot
Marc Methot
Defenseman $4,900,000
39 >Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Defenseman $4,850,000
40 >Justin Faulk
Justin Faulk
Defenseman $4,833,333
41 >Niklas Kronwall
Niklas Kronwall
Defenseman $4,750,000
42 >Ryan McDonagh
Ryan McDonagh
Defenseman $4,700,000
43 >T.J. Brodie
T.J. Brodie
Defenseman $4,650,000
44 >Jason Garrison
Jason Garrison
Defenseman $4,600,000
>Alex Goligoski
Alex Goligoski
Defenseman $4,600,000
>Kevin Bieksa
Kevin Bieksa
Defenseman $4,600,000
47 >Anton Stralman
Anton Stralman
Defenseman $4,500,000
>Fedor Tyutin
Fedor Tyutin
Defenseman $4,500,000
>Dan Hamhuis
Dan Hamhuis
Defenseman $4,500,000
>Francois Beauchemin
Francois Beauchemin
Defenseman $4,500,000
>Dan Boyle
Dan Boyle
Defenseman $4,500,000
>Braydon Coburn
Braydon Coburn
Defenseman $4,500,000
53 >Chris Tanev
Chris Tanev
Defenseman $4,450,000
54 >Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson
Defenseman $4,357,143
55 >Dmitry Kulikov
Dmitry Kulikov
Defenseman $4,333,333

I like having a big physical athletic D like that.

 

[Captain Holt]

Meh... Injuries/Boneheadedness turn me off. I think you can find physicality for cheaper.

 

[stokes84]

There's a difference between 'worrying' and not wanting to go into the season relying on a kid who has struggled in a top 6 capacity to be your second pairing LHD.

God this conversation stinks of deja vu. Maybe it was when we let Connolly go and didn't replace him? I'm not sure, but I swear we've all been down this road before.

He's also been really good at times. He's a rookie for goodness sake.

 

[Husko]

He's also been really good at times. He's a rookie for goodness sake.

Exactly. He's young. He's still developing. That's why if we want to compete next year penciling him in for 20 minutes a night probably isn't a good idea. This argument is so ridiculous.

X: McCabe shouldn't be counted on as a top 4 dman next season.
Y: Stop worrying, he's developing fine, he's still young, have patience
X: That's great, still believe in him, just don't want him as a top 4 dman...
Y: He's young of course he's being inconsistent, that happens

 

[Sabre Dance]

Meh... Injuries/Boneheadedness turn me off. I think you can find physicality for cheaper.

Injuries are the concern, similar to Kane. Kane a more consistent player though. Bogosian is a big athletic player, not easy to find. I think once he settles into a role on the team he will flourish.

 

[TehDoak]

I'd much rather see them somehow move Bogosian and keep Pysyk. $5.1 isn't THAT much where someone wouldn't want him.

I like having a big physical athletic D like that.

Meh... Injuries/Boneheadedness turn me off. I think you can find physicality for cheaper.

I'm not opposed to moving Bogo, the issue your going to run into is his NMC and then, of course, finding a replacement. He's gotten better as the season has progressed. I think he was rushed back and force fed minutes he wasn't quite ready for. He takes himself out of position to be physical which has led to a few goals against.

He's still on the right side of 30, locked up reasonably, and seems relatively happy here. If a team wants to overpay, I'm listening, but I'm not in a hurry to move him out either.

 

[Sabre Dance]

Exactly. He's young. He's still developing. That's why if we want to compete next year penciling him in for 20 minutes a night probably isn't a good idea. This argument is so ridiculous.

X: McCabe shouldn't be counted on as a top 4 dman next season.
Y: Stop worrying, he's developing fine, he's still young, have patience
X: That's great, still believe in him, just don't want him as a top 4 dman...
Y: He's young of course he's being inconsistent, that happens

Why can't Gorges slide down?

xxxx - Ristolainen
Gorges - Pysyk
McCabe - Bogosian

Guhle in the mix. Plus our 1st this year.

 

[Husko]

Why can't Gorges slide down?

xxxx - Ristolainen
Gorges - Pysyk
McCabe - Bogosian

Guhle in the mix. Plus our 1st this year.

Absolutely none. In my ideal world McCabe, Georges (if he isn't traded), Weber (if he's brought back), and potentially others are competing for spots on the left side. I'm just not going into the season counting on McCabe to suddenly be a competent 20 minute a night dman.

 

[TehDoak]

Why can't Gorges slide down?

xxxx - Ristolainen
Gorges - Pysyk
McCabe - Bogosian

Guhle in the mix. Plus our 1st this year.

Guhle has a ticket straight to Rochester next year, likely for the full year.

I HIGHLY doubt any D-men are going straight from the draft to the NHL. There's no Ekblad in this years draft class.

 

[Husko]

Guhle has a ticket straight to Rochester next year, likely for the full year.

I HIGHLY doubt any D-men are going straight from the draft to the NHL. There's no Ekblad in this years draft class.

One more year in juniors

 

[Icicle]

Trade Reinhart for Subban. Sign Stamkos. Let draft picks fill in the depth. Sign UFA forwards short-term to fill in development gaps. No more gifting 2nd line wingers 5 year contracts for them to just disappear immediately after payday. Let the youth push short-term UFAs.

Stamkos-ROR-Ennis/UFA
Bailey/Faschig/UFA-Eichel-Girgs
Folingo-Larrson-Kane
Deslau-UFA-Gionta/Moulson

Subban-Risto
McCabe-Pysyk
Gorges-Bogo
Franson

The UFA slots are very easy to find and aren't even necessary, especially if you believe in Schaller. You can focus the top 3 rounds of the draft the next few years on either defense or wing and not worry about centers/goalies, which are always a stretch at those picks anyway. The entire defense would be locked up long-term except for Gorges, which is the easiest position to replace. The team isn't deep enough to survive injuries, but no theoretical moves are going to fix that in any short order without extreme success on draft picks.

 

[UnleashRasmus]

Trade Reinhart for Subban. Sign Stamkos. Let draft picks fill in the depth. Sign UFA forwards to fill in development gaps.

Not sure what you're seeing. The UFA class this year is underwhelming to say the least. Reinhart has had a breakthrough season. While Subban is an elite talent, he may have a NTC or NMC at the bare minimum. The cap management would go down the toilet.