Marchenko placed on waivers, contract to be terminated

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/HockeyAgent1/status/897126209447964673

Yeeeeaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Seems likely this is leading to a mutual termination of his deal. I had a feeling that this would happen.

UPDATE:

https://twitter.com/mirtle/status/897145923876392960

Mirtle confirms what we already expected.

 

[herman]

KHL + Olympics?

What's the Cap implication for us?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

KHL + Olympics?

What's the Cap implication for us?

If it is a mutual termination, his contract (1 year left at $1.45mil) is kaput. Cap hit gone.

Would also get us an extra SPC slot of course too.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

An interesting little note, he was listed on his former Russian teams roster a few weeks ago, kind of expected this.

 

[herman]

If it is a mutual termination, his contract (1 year left at $1.45mil) is kaput. Cap hit gone.

Would also get us an extra SPC slot of course too.

And slightly more elbow room for Liljegren on the Marlies.

 

[herman]

An interesting little note, he was listed on his former Russian teams roster a few weeks ago, kind of expected this.

Yeah, KHL makes the most sense for everyone involved.

There is a scheduled media thing at 1 pm tomorrow regarding this (provided Marchenko clears).

There is also this speculation:
https://twitter.com/MikeInBuffalo/status/897130616868790274
www.twitter.com/MikeInBuffalo/status/897130616868790274

And the timing of this waiving suggests the former is on the table.

Re: Will Butcher
https://sports.yahoo.com/learned-will-butcher-sweepstakes-begins-140510291.html

 

[bustaheims]

This move has been speculated since June. Nice to see it finally coming to fruition.

 

[Zee]

Wow, the Marchenko era is over.

 

[AvroArrow]

Good - didn't think he was worth his contract last year.  And with increased competition for spots this year, he was just in the way.

 

[Frank E]

I'd have to think that they're going to need a little more depth if Marchenko is out.

So that contract spot is likely to be used for some kind of NHL serviceable d-man.

 

[Zee]

I'd have to think that they're going to need a little more depth if Marchenko is out.

So that contract spot is likely to be used for some kind of NHL serviceable d-man.

No worries, Howard Berger already suggested we convert William Nylander to an all-star defenceman, sort of like Red Kelly in reverse.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I'd have to think that they're going to need a little more depth if Marchenko is out.

So that contract spot is likely to be used for some kind of NHL serviceable d-man.

I don't think they need more depth.

They may sign Butcher and give him a shot at the Marlies top 4 or Leafs 7th spot.

They have 6 guys already and that's not including any of the "blue chips" on the Marlies.

There will be a slight chance they go back to the Polak well and he and Marincin will alternate as the 7th.

If they add another piece though, I suspect it'll be a guy who improves the top 4.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I don't think they need more depth.

They may sign Butcher and give him a shot at the Marlies top 4 or Leafs 7th spot.

They have 6 guys already and that's not including any of the "blue chips" on the Marlies.

There will be a slight chance they go back to the Polak well and he and Marincin will alternate as the 7th.

If they add another piece though, I suspect it'll be a guy who improves the top 4.

Really depends on how close the two Swedes are to the NHL. If they aren't realistic options for the big club then the depth is pretty shallow. Especially for righties. If either Zaitsev or Carrick get hurt Babcock would have to use FIVE left-handed defencemen. FIVE!

I do fully expect Polak to get some sort of chance at earning a spot. Either through a PTO with the big club or with the Marlies if he can't find anywhere else to play. Or maybe Franson begs Lou hard enough for a contract.

 

[herman]

Gardiner - Zaitsev
Rielly - Hainsey
Marincin - Carrick
? - ?

Unless he's an absolute tire fire, Rosen is an easy call to make as he can play both sides and cycle up and down, being waiver-exempt, alternating with Holl (as a reward move). I think Valiev gets the look on the left side having already played a short spell previously and not being projected for top-4 duties like Dermott. If we get Butcher, he could split time with Marincin.

If Polak comes back as anything more than 7th, I'd be disappointed. Let's say last season was the shelter season; this year, I'd like to know what we really have at the edges of the roster.

 

[Frank E]

So they've subtracted Polak and Hunwick, now Marchenko, and they've added Hainsey.

Rielly - Hainsey
Gardiner - Zaitsev
Marincin - Carrick
Dermott/Borgman/Rosen

I'm not feeling too excited about this group...like, Marincin couldn't crack the roster very often last season, and after him it's a bunch of guys that didn't play in the NHL last year.

I have to think they're not done with this.

 

[cabber24]

I don't think they need more depth.

They may sign Butcher and give him a shot at the Marlies top 4 or Leafs 7th spot.

They have 6 guys already and that's not including any of the "blue chips" on the Marlies.

There will be a slight chance they go back to the Polak well and he and Marincin will alternate as the 7th.

If they add another piece though, I suspect it'll be a guy who improves the top 4.

Really depends on how close the two Swedes are to the NHL. If they aren't realistic options for the big club then the depth is pretty shallow. Especially for righties. If either Zaitsev or Carrick get hurt Babcock would have to use FIVE left-handed defencemen. FIVE!

I do fully expect Polak to get some sort of chance at earning a spot. Either through a PTO with the big club or with the Marlies if he can't find anywhere else to play. Or maybe Franson begs Lou hard enough for a contract.

I wonder if he will continue to do illustrations for Rober Munsch?

Early this summer Lou said not forget about the 2 Swedes they signed during a radio interview on the FAN590. I imagine these guys can at the very least be considered depth dmen.

I am ready to move on from Polak...

 

[bustaheims]

I'd have to think that they're going to need a little more depth if Marchenko is out.

So that contract spot is likely to be used for some kind of NHL serviceable d-man.

I don't think they'll be in a rush to do anything with the contract spot or in terms of adding a d-man. Unless they feel an NCAA free agent has a really strong chance of cracking the NHL in the next two seasons, or a top 4 d-man is available, the type of guy they'll need to fill the spot if they're not thrilled with their existing options will be readily available on waivers at the end of training camp.

 

[Kin]

I'd have to think that they're going to need a little more depth if Marchenko is out.

So that contract spot is likely to be used for some kind of NHL serviceable d-man.

What depth was he realistically providing that couldn't be addressed via the waiver wire?

 

[Frank E]

I'd have to think that they're going to need a little more depth if Marchenko is out.

So that contract spot is likely to be used for some kind of NHL serviceable d-man.

What depth was he realistically providing that couldn't be addressed via the waiver wire?

Well, none.

But I wasn't arguing that they needed to keep him.  I was just suggesting that they'll need to add a d-man, and that addition will take up the contract spot.

 

[herman]

I don't think Marchenko being on the payroll was changing their mind about wanting to improve the roster. This just makes it easier.