Agreed, I think those 2 are the 2 best who might be available via UFA. Raanta too is good. That's at least 3 good options on FA
Good job for the stats
When you mean hire a short term UFA goalie.. My guess is that you mean a better one then Condon? That would be the logic because after this year Condon have 2 years left like you suggest we should give to another UFA.
I agree we need better goaltending.
Thanks. lol I know it's ridiculous but that is exactly why I hated the Condon extension the second it was signed. He's the average back-up (maybe even below average) but the problem is that Anderson is not in his prime anymore so we need a goalie that can push Andy and get the bulk of starts to help the team win games. We are getting out of the Hammond's deal but now stuck with another overpaid back-up
Or Anderson's?? We need a better stop gap than Anderson/Condon. If we have better goaltending, a new coach and better bottom 6 personnel, this is a playoff team. Upgrading our bottom 6 is relatively easy just don't spend any money on guys like Burrows/Thompson.
Smith Pageau White
Pyatt Brown Formenton/McCormick
This bottom 6 is much better than what we having been throwing on the ice all season long.
Trade Cody Ceci for a #2 Center and we are back in business in no time.
Problem is Andy's contract is 2 times more expensive. But a team could still be interested as he has a solid track record and could bank on him rebounding. He has great pair of eyes (believe me your eyes is the most important asset for a goalie), and seems to be in pretty good shape (6'2, 187 lbs). If he can find back his confidence and play behind a more structured team defense (like the Sens in 2016-17), he could rebound nicely
But you're right, just with solid goaltending and a more adapted to the "new NHL" coaching and this team is right away much better. Another problem is playing everybody in the "right chair"
The forward line-up for next year looks like this for now :
Hoffman-Duchene-Ryan (the first 2 are close to elite and Ryan can produce when healthy)
Smith-Pageau-Stone (was a very good line 2 years ago, Stone can bring the best out of those 2)
Dzingel-White-Gaborik
Pyatt-Paul-Burrows
McCormick
- Brown, White, Chlapik and Batherson are all centers but pretty young. Will one of them be ready for a #2 C role? Brown has the ability but it's hard to say if he will be ready. Let's say he is ready to impress.
- I think Smith will be traded and replaced by younger/cheaper, while getting a decent asset or two.
- The top-5 pick that we should get should be a great young forward but will he make the team right away? Let's say they draft Zadina and he makes the team
- Burrows should be traded (with a bit of retention) or at least buried
- Gaborik might play next year and then retire or get bought out (it will be cheaper then). I think he can still contribute decently in the bottom-6 based on his high skill-level and hockey IQ alone. I find that he is a great passer too, and can help the 2nd PP.
- Let's say they also finally understand that with an up-tempo style, Nick Paul can be a very good 4th liner in the NHL.
Based on that :
Hoffman-Duchene-Ryan
Zadina-Pageau-Stone
Dzingel-Brown-White
Pyatt-Paul-Gaborik
McCormick
With Chlapik, Batherson, Formenton, Gagne, Perron, etc getting a bit closer to the NHL. That forward group could become very good in a hurry depending on how the young guys develop.
If I am trading Ceci, I am not trading him for a #2C (we just traded Brassard for futures, so that would be stupid). No, if I am trading Ceci, I include him in a package to get a very good LD (max 26 y/o). The package would look like Ceci + Claesson/Harpur + pick + forward prospect, the pieces depend on how good that D-man is. RD are harder to find so it might be possible that a team has many quality LDs but are lacking on RDs.
VerygoodLD-Karlsson
Chabot-Wideman
Borowiecki-Jaros
Claesson/Harpur