Speculation: Trade Ideas and Free Agency

[TZM]

I want Brodin to get a "bridge" contract. He was brilliant last year and before his injury, afterwards he's been decent but not spectacular. Maybe a two-year, $10m deal or something, and then if he plays like he should, get one of those 5-7 year deals at $7m per.

This. Except I'd offer 3 years and $12 million.

 

[Bookman]

This. Except I'd offer 3 years and $12 million.

Or 4 at 3.5 per.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Parise - Stastny - Coyle
Neiderreiter - Granlund (if healthy) - Pominville
Cooke - Koivu - Mitchell
Zucker - Haula - Fontaine

Suter - Girardi
Brodin - Scandella (or Spurgeon)
Dumba - Spurgeon (or Scandella)
Stoner

Harding
Backstrom

 

[Minnesota]

Stastny's honestly not very good anymore.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Stastny's honestly not very good anymore.

Still he's on pace for 9 more goals than Koivu this year. Wish we could figure out what to do with the 1st line center.

 

[Crimson Live]

I'm coming up with ~ $21-$22m in cap space, taking Dumba and Haula off of capgeek, and adding $6m to the $14 that they are already showing.

I don't think Fontaine has done anything to earn over a million bucks. $1m max. Nino's deal, your probably spot on, but I'm thinking it'll be closer to 3 years.

Not a big Orpik fan; if we're comfortable giving him $3m, perhaps we should set our sights a bit higher.

Parise - Koivu - Coyle
Vanek ($7) - Granlund - Pominville
Neiderreiter - Haula - Fontaine ($1)
Cooke - Brodziak - Mitchell

Suter - Girardi ($5)
Ballard - Brodin
Scandella - Spurgeon

Harding
Backstrom

Unless I've severely mis-calculated, that's ~$67m.

Would it not make more sense to keep playing Suter and Brodin and then play Ballard and Girardi as a shutdown pairing?

 

[tomgilbertfan]

Stastny's honestly not very good anymore.

It's been confusing that some people see him as a significant upgrade over Koivu.
Sure he's got 2 more goals than Koivu, but he has 8 less assists.

 

[thestonedkoala]

It's been confusing that some people see him as a significant upgrade over Koivu.
Sure he's got 2 more goals than Koivu, but he has 8 less assists.

He's on pace for 10 more goals this year than Koivu. I mean I hope Koivu breaks out offensively but Stastny nor Koivu seem to be the answer for our offensive woes.

 

[Minnesota]

Still he's on pace for 9 more goals than Koivu this year. Wish we could figure out what to do with the 1st line center.

He's benefitting greatly from playing with Landeskog. They're both on my fantasy team, and I've noticed a trend; when Landeskog isn't scoring, neither is Stastny. To clarify, Landeskog is pretty consistent; he produces points regardless of who he plays with. On the contrary, I rarely remember seeing Stastny score without Landeskog playing a part.

Plus, isn't he regarded as one of the most frustrating players in the NHL? Does a lot of things pretty good, but nothing really well?

 

[tomgilbertfan]

Stastny isn't a bad player but he's definitely not someone I would want to overpay in free agency to acquire.

 

[Minnesota]

He's on pace for 10 more goals this year than Koivu. I mean I hope Koivu breaks out offensively but Stastny nor Koivu seem to be the answer for our offensive woes.

Bring back Gabby! We could probably get him for cheap.

oh god please no

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Would it not make more sense to keep playing Suter and Brodin and then play Ballard and Girardi as a shutdown pairing?

It would be an option. I said in another thread that, eventually, it might be best for Brodin's development to be separated from Suter. Don't get me wrong, he couldn't have had a better introduction to the league than playing along side him, but I kind of want to see him forced to be the best player on a pairing for an extended period of time. Suter is always going to play against the opposition's best, so I was thinking that pairing him and Girardi together would allow them to do that, and it would also allow Brodin to better develop his all-around game playing against 2nd lines, not the Getzlaf/Perry's of league. Just a thought.

 

[Minnesota]

I'm hearing Isles fans are getting frustrated with Vanek. He's struggling to produce - even while paired with Tavares.

I'm definitely beginning to have second thoughts about the Wild acquiring him...

 

[thestonedkoala]

His injuries I think got to Stastny. Used to be great. Now. Meh

 

[tomgilbertfan]

I'm hearing Isles fans are getting frustrated with Vanek. He's struggling to produce - even while paired with Tavares.

I'm definitely beginning to have second thoughts about the Wild acquiring him...

Heatley has only 2 less goals than Vanek this year.

 

[Avder]

Heatley has only 2 less goals than Vanek this year.

That's pretty scary.

To be fair tho, this is the Islanders we are talking about.

 

[Minnesota]

Heatley has only 2 less goals than Vanek this year.

Definitely something to ponder.

Also, Heatley has been spending the majority of his season in our bottom six.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I've gone back and forth on the Vanek thing more times than I can count, and I'm sure I will continue to do so up until July. On one hand, this team still needs to add talent in the 'goal scoring' department and I"m pretty sure a team with Parise/Suter/Koivu/Pominville/Brodin isn't going to be fighting it out for a top 5 pick any time soon. On the other, adding another large 30+ year old forward contract is worrisome and could really handicap us if the salary cap doesn't go quite where expected.

At this point, I'd hold fast on a Pominville-type contract, adjusted for cap inflation. 5 years ~ $6m per at the most. If he really wants to "come home" to play, he should have to meet us close to halfway and leave some money on the table.

 

[mezcal]

Never been a fan of going for Vanek, still not now. Wouldn't be good for this team, our cap, and he isn't exactly what we need. IMO he is very overrated.

 

[grN1g]

i do not care about these islander comments on vanek, if hes trying to be here next summer im signing him, if hes willing to work on a fair deal and leave some money on the table.

The name alone along with the others we already have just makes us that much more attractive for future FA's. The idea is we become so attractive FA's leave money and years on the table for a chance to win with us.

we've always had the fans and market, just never the attractive players and consistent winning, now's our chance and i think its a big mistake to pass on vanek because your worried he might not pan out as expected.

last edit: we all knew parise wasn't going to be a 40g 90pt player with us, like we all knew suter wouldn't put up more than 5-6g 40-50pts a year. We don't have the luxury of playing in the eastern conference boys.

 

[slovakia18]

Don't Panic. Wen Vanek have a run that year he score 20-25 to the end of season.
I think in 50 Games is many possible.

 

[TZM]

Signing Vanek would mean it would be a lot harder to pursue any elite center/winger in the near future. Vanek will have too many tempting offers instead of taking a discount and less years to play for the Wild.

 

[TheInstigator]

Signing Vanek would mean it would be a lot harder to pursue any elite center/winger in the near future. Vanek will have too many tempting offers instead of taking a discount and less years to play for the Wild.

I still think you gotta account for Vanek having a huge RFA contract due to offer sheet. Once you're rich, maybe you reevaluate your priorities.

 

[Avder]

I don't know. The more info that we get on Vanek the more I think we should only sign him if we get him at a discount and we should focus more on a top-4 D.

Once again tho, he is languishing on the Islanders.

 

[Minnesota]

Don't the Islanders score more than the Wild?