Armchair GM 2018-2019

[CarltonTheBear]

Michael Russo of the Athletic is saying that before Galchenyuk was dealt to Arizona the Coyotes and Wild were discussing a Domi+Dvorak for Niederreiter+Zucker+Ennis deal. And holy-heck that would have been an awful deal for Minnesota.

If Tavares doesn't work out and we've got the cap space to take on that Ennis contract the Wild should be the first team we're calling.

 

[Kin]

So with all the talk re: Tavares...what's everyone's plan B? Given that the odds are still pretty good he doesn't come here, are their UFA's out there to look seriously at besides him? If he doesn't sign do Bozak or JVR become guys you look to bring back? Are there trades you consider you wouldn't elsewise?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

So with all the talk re: Tavares...what's everyone's plan B? Given that the odds are still pretty good he doesn't come here, are their UFA's out there to look seriously at besides him? If he doesn't sign do Bozak or JVR become guys you look to bring back? Are there trades you consider you wouldn't elsewise?

My personal plan-B would be to move Nylander to the 3C spot and look into what it would cost to bring in a guy like Wayne Simmonds or Nino Niederreiter, both of whom are rumoured to be available.

 

[Kin]

My personal plan-B would be to move Nylander to the 3C spot and look into what it would cost to bring in a guy like Wayne Simmonds or Nino Niederreiter, both of whom are rumoured to be available.

I would very much enjoy a line highlighted by Simmonds and Kadri.

 

[Frank E]

What about Stastny?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

What about Stastny?

Nah, hard pass. He's a good player and all but he just wouldn't be worth the $6-7mil AAV he'll likely command. A team more desperate for C's will get him.

 

[Kin]

What about Stastny?

Maybe it's just me but he seems like the kind of guy who would only go to a preferred market. Or, if he did go elsewhere, it would be because of a bidding war. Either way, he doesn't move the needle enough to give him a market value offer in my opinion.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I brought him up last season too but there's talk that Tyler Myers might be available again (because the Jets need room to potentially re-sign Stastny). That'd be another plan-B type option if we aren't using cap space on Tavares. He has 1-year left at $5.5mil.

 

[Coco-puffs]

So with all the talk re: Tavares...what's everyone's plan B? Given that the odds are still pretty good he doesn't come here, are their UFA's out there to look seriously at besides him? If he doesn't sign do Bozak or JVR become guys you look to bring back? Are there trades you consider you wouldn't elsewise?

My personal plan-B would be to move Nylander to the 3C spot and look into what it would cost to bring in a guy like Wayne Simmonds or Nino Niederreiter, both of whom are rumoured to be available.

I'm fully on board with this.  Although, I'd still want some more depth at C.  As of right now, we're at Matthews-Kadri-Nylander-Lindholm.  It be nice to have someone (not Bozak, not Stastny) who can play wing and slide into the middle if an injury occurs- someone better than Marleau at playing the middle at that.  Riley Nash would be nice, but that still might be too big of a contract to hand out.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm fully on board with this.  Although, I'd still want some more depth at C.  As of right now, we're at Matthews-Kadri-Nylander-Lindholm.  It be nice to have someone (not Bozak, not Stastny) who can play wing and slide into the middle if an injury occurs- someone better than Marleau at playing the middle at that.  Riley Nash would be nice, but that still might be too big of a contract to hand out.

A guy like Mark Letestu might be a reasonable/cheap option at 4C.

 

[AvroArrow]

What about Stastny?

Nah, hard pass. He's a good player and all but he just wouldn't be worth the $6-7mil AAV he'll likely command. A team more desperate for C's will get him.

Not that it's the be-all-end-all, but that one guys model had him around 5.5M, if I remember correctly.  I'd take Stastny at 5.5 depending on term.  Heck, I'd take that even IF we got Tavares, then I'd trade Kadri in a package for a top4 dman.

Edit:

Stastny 3yrs @ 5.41M <-- yes please - I'd turn around and trade Kadri for a Dman

 

[Frank E]

Anyone else think that there might be a lack of sandpaper in the lineup, now that Komarov is likely out of the picture?

 

[Coco-puffs]

I'm fully on board with this.  Although, I'd still want some more depth at C.  As of right now, we're at Matthews-Kadri-Nylander-Lindholm.  It be nice to have someone (not Bozak, not Stastny) who can play wing and slide into the middle if an injury occurs- someone better than Marleau at playing the middle at that.  Riley Nash would be nice, but that still might be too big of a contract to hand out.

A guy like Mark Letestu might be a reasonable/cheap option at 4C.

Yeah, or Derek Ryan.  If Kadri gets injured though, then either Lindholm or Letestu/Ryan would have pick up the minutes of 3C.  Thats why I like Riley Nash.  He's probably better suited to a 3rd line role, whether its wing or center:

Johnsson - Matthews - Kapanen
Marleau - Kadri - Marner
Hyman - Nylander - Nash
Moore (Trevor) - Lindholm - Brown

If any of your Top 3 C's get injured, Nash can slide over to the middle.

 

[herman]

Anyone else think that there might be a lack of sandpaper in the lineup, now that Komarov is likely out of the picture?

Have you not seen Marner's rabbit punch on the fringes of scrums (scra?)?

 

[bustaheims]

Anyone else think that there might be a lack of sandpaper in the lineup, now that Komarov is likely out of the picture?

I think the need for "sandpaper" is often overstated. While it would be great to bring in someone who can contribute some of that style, it shouldn't be a focus or that a player's prime contribution.

 

[Kin]

I know I'm personally already fretting about who the Leafs have who'll get suspended in next year's playoffs.

 

[Frank E]

Anyone else think that there might be a lack of sandpaper in the lineup, now that Komarov is likely out of the picture?

Have you not seen Marner's rabbit punch on the fringes of scrums (scra?)?

Sure, Kadri and Marner then.

 

[bustaheims]

Sure, Kadri and Marner then.

Johnsson and Kapanen both have the kind of speed and tenacity that lends to being effective pest type players who forecheck well. Hyman brings some sandpaper, too, as does Brown. It's there. It's just that there's no one currently on the roster who provides it as their primary skill - and that's a good thing.

 

[Frank E]

Anyone else think that there might be a lack of sandpaper in the lineup, now that Komarov is likely out of the picture?

I think the need for "sandpaper" is often overstated. While it would be great to bring in someone who can contribute some of that style, it shouldn't be a focus or that a player's prime contribution.

I don't think I'm overstating it, and Dubas had some guys that had a more physical style with the Marlies.

I think it's definitely an element that is missing from the lineup today...I'm not advocating going full Don Cherry here, I'm just discussing if it may be something they should look to add.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I really think the sandpaper that Komarov provided the team last season was overstated. Not once did I ever remember thinking "man, his physical play tonight really made a difference". I think it was more evident in his first season with the team.

I do think the team could use a bigger forward though, hence my Niederreiter/Simmonds posts.