The 2021 Offseason Thread

[mfitz804]

59 minutes ago, pumpkin cutter said:

That’s a nice team on paper. Not a fan of the 4th line of boqvist and andersson. 

Agreed, they are both trash to date. 

[Nicomo]

I’m getting really greedy now. I want Tarasenko and Saad lol. That would almost be a guaranteed playoff team. 

[mfitz804]

5 minutes ago, Nicomo said:

I’m getting really greedy now. I want Tarasenko and Saad lol. That would almost be a guaranteed playoff team. 

Yup, same. Let’s see if Fitz can pull that off. 

My only fear with Tarasenko is the cost in trade. I’m willing to give him a shot, but he is also damaged goods. 

[Nicomo]

41 minutes ago, mfitz804 said:

Yup, same. Let’s see if Fitz can pull that off. 

My only fear with Tarasenko is the cost in trade. I’m willing to give him a shot, but he is also damaged goods. 

Man, but if he stays healthy though I could see him scoring 40 playing on Jack’s wing. STL has already waited longer than they should have so I really don’t think he’ll cost anything crazy. 

[mfitz804]

8 minutes ago, Nicomo said:

Man, but if he stays healthy though I could see him scoring 40 playing on Jack’s wing. STL has already waited longer than they should have so I really don’t think he’ll cost anything crazy. 

If that’s the case, I would take a shot. 
I guess we’ll see what the Blues have in mind. 

I note also that St. Louis has about $13m in cap space with Tarasenko. Getting his $9.5m off the books gives them a nice cushion, should there be anyone worthy remaining as a UFA. 

[jagknife]

For some reason I felt like I remember Saad being often hurt between his time on Chicago and CBJ but man was I wrong:

6 years of 78 games or more including 3x 82 games.

0.59 point per game player

Not knocking Vlady but if we can’t make the pieces work, and Saad wants to come here, man this team could have one of the most successful off-seasons in a while, and it’s only day 2 of free agency.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

8 hours ago, SterioDesign said:

guys we could literally have this team... still have like 4-5m free (i was generous on the sharangovich and kuokkanen contracts) then get back 9m with subban leaving. Then Tarasenko off the book the next season after. Right when some of your young guys like holtz and mercer might be ready. Of course that's assuming we dont send any of those players in a tarasenko trade

Not saying this will happen. But just the fact that it could technically happen just shows that weaponizing the cap can work

I know this isn't likely to happen, but based on the above, I would absolutely consider bringing back Zajac on a one-year deal, to be the 3C (keep McLeod on the 4th line)...absolutely no longer than that though.  And not at his old cap hit.  

If Coleman's AAV ($4.9 million) is a reasonable comparable for Saad, I've gotta think Saad gets more...probably over $5 million AAV.  

Edited July 29, 2021 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

16 minutes ago, mfitz804 said:

If that’s the case, I would take a shot. 
I guess we’ll see what the Blues have in mind. 

I note also that St. Louis has about $13m in cap space with Tarasenko. Getting his $9.5m off the books gives them a nice cushion, should there be anyone worthy remaining as a UFA. 

Was reading around (the Athletic) and the chatter is that the Blues have diminished his trade value by waiting too long to move him.  Not really sure how much they should expect to get either...he's played in 34 games the last two seasons and his cap hit is sizable enough for teams not to want to give up much...he's definitely a risk.  I think they're looking at something like a 2nd-rounder and a lower pick coming back.  His shoulder still makes me nervous, but given that his cap hit isn't going to stop the Devils from making other moves and that he'd only be here for two years...I'd probably go for it.

[SterioDesign]

1 hour ago, mfitz804 said:

Yup, same. Let’s see if Fitz can pull that off. 

My only fear with Tarasenko is the cost in trade. I’m willing to give him a shot, but he is also damaged goods. 

i don't think he'd cost that much. Not many team can take him, he has a NTC or has to waive plus they have to get rid of him for cap reason. Plus the injury thing, he won't cost much

[DevilMinder]

If Tarasenko can regain 80% of his previous play it will be worth it. I have young hockey friends who idolize him, he will be a boon to the Devils offense.

[Nicomo]

44 minutes ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

I know this isn't likely to happen, but based on the above, I would absolutely consider bringing back Zajac on a one-year deal, to be the 3C (keep McLeod on the 4th line)...absolutely no longer than that though.  And not at his old cap hit.  

No thanks. Especially after his comments about “not fitting in there” or wtv he said once he got to NY. 

[2ELIAS6]

I’m definitely with the camp on acquiring sanko, I feel like this is almost a no brainer if it’s not something unreasonable going back to them. 2 years left, if he performs he greatly contributes to getting this team to finally turn the corner. If he’s damaged goods, what have we honestly lost..

Edited July 29, 2021 by 2ELIAS6

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

27 minutes ago, Nicomo said:

No thanks. Especially after his comments about “not fitting in there” or wtv he said once he got to NY. 

If you think about it, it's already a different locker room, with possibly more changes forthcoming.  It's not going to be a room almost strictly full of kids.  

I can understand fans wanting to move on or taking a "been there, done that" viewpoint...not like there aren't other players out there you could bring in to be a 3C for a year.  But Zajac does still do some things well, and as we saw at times last year, even provided some offense...you could do worse at 3C than him.  So I remain open to the idea (and it will be just that, because I'd be very surprised if he was brought back), but can definitely understand why many fans wouldn't be.  

[mfitz804]

Zajac and Saad were also not far apart stats wise last season. 20 points in 46 games for Travis, 24 points in 44 games for Saad. 

I think the argument in favor of Saad is that he had a 21 goal season the year before and he is significantly younger. 

[Nicomo]

3 minutes ago, mfitz804 said:

Zajac and Saad were also not far apart stats wise last season. 20 points in 46 games for Travis, 24 points in 44 games for Saad. 

I think the argument in favor of Saad is that he had a 21 goal season the year before and he is significantly younger. 

Yeah, Zajac hasn’t been a 20 goal scorer in over a decade. Saad otoh has been 5x since 2015. And it would have been 6 if not for the shortened season last year. A guy that can score goals and play on the top line is a much bigger priority to me than 3C. Not that it would really be an either or situation. 

[SterioDesign]

went through Saad's highlights videos last night. And im shocked at the amount of "meh" goals he got lol not to take away credits or wtv. But soooo many like... fainted shots that somehow goes in or weird goals lol Its amazing that he's been able to stay consistent at mostly scoring goals like this

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

6 minutes ago, Nicomo said:

Yeah, Zajac hasn’t been a 20 goal scorer in over a decade. Saad otoh has been 5x since 2015. And it would have been 6 if not for the shortened season last year. A guy that can score goals and play on the top line is a much bigger priority to me than 3C. Not that it would really be an either or situation. 

Yeah, I'm suggesting Zajac in addition to Saad and/or Tarasenko...not as a cheaper option if the Devils can't get those players.  To me they have nothing to do with each other.  And I have no issue with Saad on a multi-year deal.  Given the cap space and what figures to be a low cost to acquire, I can understand the Devils signing up for two years of Tarasenko too.  Zajac would strictly be a one-year experienced stopgap, who can hopefully be replaced from within by youth.

Zajac was a 20+ goal scorer what, twice?  Many years ago?  I would never bring him in expecting that many goals.  Saad I would expect 20+ from, especially during his first few years here (if healthy).  

[Nicomo]

5 minutes ago, SterioDesign said:

went through Saad's highlights videos last night. And im shocked at the amount of "meh" goals he got lol not to take away credits or wtv. But soooo many like... fainted shots that somehow goes in or weird goals lol Its amazing that he's been able to stay consistent at mostly scoring goals like this

Tarasenko’s certainly aren’t. If we can only have one of them I’d probably rather go with him. Not only for his upside, but the much safer 2 year deal compared to wtv Saad is going to get. 

[SterioDesign]

 

#caphellisonlyamyth

[devlman]

A power play w Hamilton quarterbacking, and Tarasenko sniping goals has me thinking how truly awful our power play has been for so long.

Remember, our 5v5 play was decent last year. We landed in the standings where we did because of special teams. We improve that significantly and we are playoff-bound.

The Dougie signing also takes work load off of Severson and Subban. Maybe that extra capacity helps them on the penalty kill. Graves for sure will help on the PK with his shot blocking.

Add in the continued development of our young core and this team will compete.

Edited July 29, 2021 by devlman

[devlman]

2 minutes ago, SterioDesign said:

 

#caphellisonlyamyth

Man, Sakic has gone from king of the GMs to looking really bad this off-season - The mess with Landeskog, losing their starting goalie, trading away a first and Timmins for the very average Kuemper, and now losing Saad. 

[Nicomo]

6 minutes ago, SterioDesign said:

 

#caphellisonlyamyth

Tbf MB3 asked for an example of a team losing one of their absolute best players. What’s Saad, maybe the 5th best on that Avs team (MacKinnon, Makar, Rantanen, Landeskog)? 

Edited July 29, 2021 by Nicomo

[SterioDesign]

3 minutes ago, Nicomo said:

Tbf MB3 asked for an example of a team losing one of their absybest players. What’s Saad, maybe the 5th best on that Avs team (MacKinnon, Makar, Rantanen, Landeskog)? 

and i provided that pointing out Vegas losing Fleury who literally just won the vezina for them and there's even a full interview video of Kelly McCrimmon, explaining how the trade went down, the communication he had with Fleury, why the news got out before they could tell him and why he was traded and sure enough, the cap and them having to shed his salary to be able to make other moves was the reason. Bam.

And even then, you don't need to lose a top top player to be in cap hell. There's many scenarios of cap hell.

Edited July 29, 2021 by SterioDesign

[Nicomo]

1 minute ago, SterioDesign said:

and i provided that pointing out Vegas losing Fleury who literally just won the vezina for them and there's even a full interview video of Kelly McCrimmon, explaining how the trade went down, the communication he had with Fleury, why the news got out before they could tell him and why he was traded and sure enough, the cap and them having to shed his salary to be able to make other moves was the reason. Bam. 

Eh, not the strongest example of a core player really considering he’s 36 years old. 

[mfitz804]

30 minutes ago, Nicomo said:

Yeah, Zajac hasn’t been a 20 goal scorer in over a decade. Saad otoh has been 5x since 2015. And it would have been 6 if not for the shortened season last year. A guy that can score goals and play on the top line is a much bigger priority to me than 3C. Not that it would really be an either or situation. 

You could make the argument that he was never a prototypical "20 goal scorer", he did it twice playing with Parise on his wing, while Parise had his two career years in terms of scoring. I think Zajac's numbers those years were artificially inflated, which is supported by the fact that he went immediately down to 13 goals the next year playing without Parise (due to his injury) and he didn't score 20 in his first two and last eleven seasons. 

Edited July 29, 2021 by mfitz804