The Speculation Thread (Rumors, Trades, Etc)

[njdevil26]

Since the team discussion thread gets off the rails too much, this can be a place for speculation, wishful thinking, trade/signing ideas.

Click to read more...

 

[njdevil26]

I would pull the trigger on a trade for Mike Richards. I really think he could do this team some good and solidify the center depth.

Cammalleri-Zajac-Jagr
Havlat-Elias-Ryder
Henrique-Richards-Brunner
Zubrus-Josefson-Ruutu

I feel Clowe will be out a while.

Of course then you have to think about what it would take to get Richards. They are in such a crappy cap situation in LA that it's possible a good deal could be had here.

 

[Chessarmy]

If NJD is going to be a contender again, Travis Zajac can't be relied on to be the #1 center. They're going nowhere as long as that is the plan.

 

[njdevil26]

If NJD is going to be a contender again, Travis Zajac can't be relied on to be the #1 center. They're going nowhere as long as that is the plan.

I agree completely. He's a #2 center. If a number one center could be had somehow, Zajac could be 2, Richard 3, and Josefson 4. I really would like Elias and Henrique to be wingers.

 

[New Jersey Devils]

Richards would be #1/2 C, and we'd finally be able to switch Elias back to wing.

 

[DevilSlovenia]

I would pull the trigger on a trade for Mike Richards. I really think he could do this team some good and solidify the center depth.

Cammalleri-Zajac-Jagr
Havlat-Elias-Ryder
Henrique-Richards-Brunner
Zubrus-Josefson-Ruutu

I feel Clowe will be out a while.

Of course then you have to think about what it would take to get Richards. They are in such a crappy cap situation in LA that it's possible a good deal could be had here.

Wouldn't that be another lateral (or how you say it) move? Paying 3. line center the same as Zajac and neither is true number one center. The easiest way to do that would be signing Gomez and he would be a lot cheaper or playing Josefson who did it very good. Imo they need another scoring right winger but those don't grow on trees and are expensive. St. Louis is loaded with those, they could get one from them or Rattie who's in minors.

 

[njdevil26]

I also agree that Gomez should be signed and given a shot at this point.

 

[Combat Koala]

Enough of the Semins and Richards and what not. If they trade for someone it should be a young center/winger with good goal scoring abilities and speed. We don't need or want the mammoth contracts certain players carry with them. I understand they would be easier to get but you have to think of the big picture here.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I Think its hilarious that people want Richards. the WORST move we could make. MORE OLD OVERPAID FORWARDS YIPPEEEEE

 

[AfroThunder396]

Again, Mike Richards is not old, he's three months younger than Zajac.

I don't want Richards because I think he's best suited for his role he has in LA, an uber-specialist. he scores point on the PP and picking off low defensive pairings while Kopitar and friends do the heavy lifting. He'd be our 1a/1b center here and that's a lot of responsibility. I don't think he'd be nearly as productive.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Again, Mike Richards is not old, he's three months younger than Zajac.

I don't want Richards because I think he's best suited for his role he has in LA, an uber-specialist. he scores point on the PP and picking off low defensive pairings while Kopitar and friends do the heavy lifting. He'd be our 1a/1b center here and that's a lot of responsibility. I don't think he'd be nearly as productive.

by the time this year is up, he'll be closing in on 750 games. at 30 years old, thats OLD (hockey wise).

 

[AfroThunder396]

by the time this year is up, he'll be closing in on 750 games. at 30 years old, thats OLD (hockey wise).

He's going to play 100 games in the King's next 60 games? Nice deceptive presentation. "Approaching 750" sounds way worse than "He might hit 700 if he stays healthy" and "10 players from the first round of the 2003 draft have between 650-700 GP".

Until we invent a time machine, every player on the planet is getting older. That doesn't mean they're not useful. Now I don't think we should get Richards for the reasons I mentioned above, but I'm sick of players getting pigeonholed because of buzzwords and numbers on paper.

Richards has finished no lower than 4th in team scoring since the Kings acquired him, their penalty kill has been consistently excellent since he started getting big minutes, and he's usually very good at faceoffs. No major injury issues.

We could do a lot worse than him. You have to think realistically, we're not going to get prime young franchise players for the assets we have. We're not getting Eberle, we're not getting E. Kane, if you want to make this team better it's either moves like this or Lou continues to overpay mediocre UFA's.

 

[wellonegm05*]

by the time this year is up, he'll be closing in on 750 games. at 30 years old, thats OLD (hockey wise).

(mod) Most of these guys have been playing hockey since they were 3 or 4. They are used to being on the ice a ton and for the most part, on a season by season basis are in world class shape. How many games he's played thus far in his career has zero to do with him being "old". As the poster above mentioned, he is younger than our current "untouchable" number 1 center. The fact he has more games played means he was likely better at a younger ago. I for one would damn sure take Richards and his contract over Zajac and his.

 

[CKPLAYA]

Since the team discussion thread gets off the rails too much, this can be a place for speculation, wishful thinking, trade/signing ideas.

I think it would be a good idea in this thread for people to post what their expectations are for this team. For example, if you think we are in rebuild mode then why trade for Mike Richards. I think if people make clear where they think this team can go then that would make the conversation better.

 

[day1devilsfan]

Wonder what it would take to get Tomas Fleischmann here? He clearly isn't staying in Florida at the end of the year (at least I wouldn't). Have to trade cap for cap here though, maybe Florida takes Sal since they are both UFA's at the end of the year?

Fleischmann-Zajac-Cammy
Elias-Henrique-Havlat

 

[Brodeur]

I like Mike Richards, but I'd just be too worried that he's on the Mike Ricci career path. I wouldn't expect the Kings to even consider moving him until the NHL sets the cap for next year.

Wonder what it would take to get Tomas Fleischmann here? He clearly isn't staying in Florida at the end of the year (at least I wouldn't). Have to trade cap for cap here though, maybe Florida takes Sal since they are both UFA's at the end of the year?

Fleischmann-Zajac-Cammy
Elias-Henrique-Havlat

From the sounds of it, Florida would be happy to dump Fleischmann for nothing since they want to open up a permanent spot for guys like Trochek and Pirri. I'd be a little hesitant to add a guy like Fleischmann unless there's another deal to move somebody like Brunner. Otherwise that's another vet keeping a roster spot away from Josefson.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

He's going to play 100 games in the King's next 60 games? Nice deceptive presentation. "Approaching 750" sounds way worse than "He might hit 700 if he stays healthy" and "10 players from the first round of the 2003 draft have between 650-700 GP".

Until we invent a time machine, every player on the planet is getting older. That doesn't mean they're not useful. Now I don't think we should get Richards for the reasons I mentioned above, but I'm sick of players getting pigeonholed because of buzzwords and numbers on paper.

Richards has finished no lower than 4th in team scoring since the Kings acquired him, their penalty kill has been consistently excellent since he started getting big minutes, and he's usually very good at faceoffs. No major injury issues.

We could do a lot worse than him. You have to think realistically, we're not going to get prime young franchise players for the assets we have. We're not getting Eberle, we're not getting E. Kane, if you want to make this team better it's either moves like this or Lou continues to overpay mediocre UFA's.

676+~60 games remaining this season is 736. which is approaching 750. which is exactly what I said.

not deceptive at all.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

(mod) Most of these guys have been playing hockey since they were 3 or 4. They are used to being on the ice a ton and for the most part, on a season by season basis are in world class shape. How many games he's played thus far in his career has zero to do with him being "old". As the poster above mentioned, he is younger than our current "untouchable" number 1 center. The fact he has more games played means he was likely better at a younger ago. I for one would damn sure take Richards and his contract over Zajac and his.

but that isn't the argument.

 

[theoptimist]

Gionta, PDB, and Salvador+ for Getzlaf?

 

[theoptimist]

Alternate proposal:

Prudential center+ for Getzlaf?

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Alternate proposal:

Prudential center+ for Getzlaf?

only if they throw in a vial of Giguere's tears from 2003.

 

[devilsblood]

I Think its hilarious that people want Richards. the WORST move we could make. MORE OLD OVERPAID FORWARDS YIPPEEEEE

I think the calls for Gomez are crazier. Dude is on the verge of 35, hasn't been an every game player in 3 years, literally no team in the league wants to sign him, but guys want to bring him in to spark this team?

Richards would actually make this team better in the short term at least. Granted Gomez would probably pay us to play, where as Richards is signed till the turn of the decade, but strictly right now, on the ice? Not even close.

 

[Devils1029]

I think we need to be realistic an this tem is not 1 or 2 player away from being a powerhouse to the likes of an Anaheim, Chicago, LA, Montreal, or Boston. Sure, if you get into the playoffs, anything can happen as the NYR showed last year

That said, I'm curious what our 72 yr old GM's "long-term" plan is. I'd y that we should be building that in 2 years, we would be positioning ourselves with a 3-4 year window of challenging for the cup. Resigning older players doesn't fit that mold, especially for more than a 1 year stop-gap, which is what Jagr is for us. Cammy should help us get there and of course the young D will mature and enter their prime over the next 3-4 years. This will all be wasted unless we begin to focus on who will score goals for us in 3-4 years. Any trade should be geared not on what the player does now but rather what the player could be in a few years. In the meantime, we have o start clearing dead space to make room for the youth to play. Boucher has to be on this roster next year and that means unloading guys like Zubrus, Zidlicky, Ryder, Brunner, Bernier, Ruutu to make room. Moving these guys out for picks is something Lou as to do.

I also agree with comments above about Zajac and can't see how we will ever be a power house with Zajac and Henrique, two 2/3 centers playing the top line. We need a true number 1 center. They don't grow on trees but some have been available. Seguin was out there and I would have moved almost anyone in our system to get him. Talent like that is not usually found drafting 17th-20th and the kid is what 23 years old? With John Q coming up in a few years, I wonder here he fits with Zajac and Rico?

The D and goaltending appear on the right track but lets start building the forward lines.

 

[devilsblood]

I think we need to be realistic an this tem is not 1 or 2 player away from being a powerhouse to the likes of an Anaheim, Chicago, LA, Montreal, or Boston. Sure, if you get into the playoffs, anything can happen as the NYR showed last year

That said, I'm curious what our 72 yr old GM's "long-term" plan is. I'd y that we should be building that in 2 years, we would be positioning ourselves with a 3-4 year window of challenging for the cup. Resigning older players doesn't fit that mold, especially for more than a 1 year stop-gap, which is what Jagr is for us. Cammy should help us get there and of course the young D will mature and enter their prime over the next 3-4 years. This will all be wasted unless we begin to focus on who will score goals for us in 3-4 years. Any trade should be geared not on what the player does now but rather what the player could be in a few years. In the meantime, we have o start clearing dead space to make room for the youth to play. Boucher has to be on this roster next year and that means unloading guys like Zubrus, Zidlicky, Ryder, Brunner, Bernier, Ruutu to make room. Moving these guys out for picks is something Lou as to do.

I also agree with comments above about Zajac and can't see how we will ever be a power house with Zajac and Henrique, two 2/3 centers playing the top line. We need a true number 1 center. They don't grow on trees but some have been available. Seguin was out there and I would have moved almost anyone in our system to get him. Talent like that is not usually found drafting 17th-20th and the kid is what 23 years old? With John Q coming up in a few years, I wonder here he fits with Zajac and Rico?

The D and goaltending appear on the right track but lets start building the forward lines.

Welp, Brunner and Ryder are near locks not to return next year. I'm with you on trading them for whatever picks we can get this year, but either way they are gonzo.

Bernier is also pretty unlikely to return. Clowe as well.

That's 4 spots for next year.

And that's even b4 you look at Jagr and Havlat. So there is room for young guys. And it's not like we have a lot of them.

I'm still hoping to see a fairly big trade at some point. Young d-men + whatever for a good young fwd. But overall so much can happen between now and start of next year that it is hard speculate whats what.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

my worry is letting all these guys go and then Lou going out to the bargain bin and signing a ton of guys again and we do the same song and dance again next year.

look at the crop of free agents this year. they stink.