The Swamp

I know SJ is rumored to be in the mix for Tavares, but Kovalchuk would make more sense as far as trying to make it work under the cap. If so, that's a dangerous team for about two or three years and then the bill comes due and it's massive rebuild time.

brian wrote: ↑Tue Jun 19, 2018 4:00 pm I know SJ is rumored to be in the mix for Tavares, but Kovalchuk would make more sense as far as trying to make it work under the cap. If so, that's a dangerous team for about two or three years and then the bill comes due and it's massive rebuild time.

I don't believe that the future will necessarily be dire for the Sharks if they spend money now. The GM Doug Wilson has kept them in the upper echelon for a long time, so he seems to know how to do it. (No guarantees of course, cough Red Wings cough Rangers cough). They probably won't give huge term to Kovalchuk, should they sign him. And, the future is now, with Burns, Vlasic and Pavelski over 30, so I hope they go for it. Paul Martin is going to get bought out which will free cap space. Boedker's bloated contract just left town. Joel Ward and Jannik Hansen and their contracts soon to follow. And, Joe Thornton won't be around that much longer either (two years max I'd guess).

sancarlos wrote: ↑Tue Jun 19, 2018 5:13 pm

brian wrote: ↑Tue Jun 19, 2018 4:00 pm I know SJ is rumored to be in the mix for Tavares, but Kovalchuk would make more sense as far as trying to make it work under the cap. If so, that's a dangerous team for about two or three years and then the bill comes due and it's massive rebuild time.

I don't believe that the future will necessarily be dire for the Sharks if they spend money now. The GM Doug Wilson has kept them in the upper echelon for a long time, so he seems to know how to do it. (No guarantees of course, cough Red Wings cough Rangers cough). They probably won't give huge term to Kovalchuk, should they sign him. And, the future is now, with Burns, Vlasic and Pavelski over 30, so I hope they go for it. Paul Martin is going to get bought out which will free cap space. Boedker's bloated contract just left town. Joel Ward and Jannik Hansen and their contracts soon to follow. And, Joe Thornton won't be around that much longer either (two years max I'd guess).

I think we're agreeing with each other. Kovalchuk would probably be about a three-year, $22M-ish deal that they could fit under the cap for three years and then that deal drops off so it's not like doing a 7 year, $73M deal for Tavares but unless they find some idiot GM to take some of their cap space in a few years (not impossible, of course) they're going to be left with a mostly old core and no way to improve other than the farm system. The good teams can do that on the fly -- I'm not precluding it but I wouldn't want to have anything to do with trying to manage their cap from 2021 to 2024 if they sign Tavares.

Basically they SHOULD be going all-in on the next three seasons. It would borderline malpractice not to especially after re-signing Kane, but let's not pretend that the cap situation is going to be anything other than grim for quite awhile most likely.

ETA: Even that isn't the end of the world. Pittsburgh has been juggling that same situation for a few years now. But even for them it appears the bill is coming due pretty soon.

I think max term for Tavares under $10MM would be a relative steal.

I agree. I don't think he'll pass Mcdavid, but $12M/yr is probably right.

Though offer sheets are reasonably rare, I expect some GM to offer William Karlsson a 8-10M deal. The extra 2-3M VGK helped put in everybody's coffers is going to cause some inflated deals.

That's four 1st round picks. Fireable offense if that even passes through a GM's mind.

mister d wrote: ↑Wed Jun 20, 2018 2:46 pm That's four 1st round picks. Fireable offense if that even passes through a GM's mind.

I think he might get an offer sheet, but not that high. He might get the top end of the range where the compensation is a 1st, 2nd and 3rd though. I don't have time to look it up, but I think that would max out at around $6.9 or $7M a year?

ETA: I don't know if it's official yet, but looks like the top range of that compensation for 2018 is $8.1M/yr.

I don't see the point in trying to hit Vegas with a high dollar sheet knowing their cap space (and assuming you believe all GMs try to go scorched earth in retaliation). The only room someone might find is on term if they think GMGM doesn't want to commit all the way out.

mister d wrote: ↑Wed Jun 20, 2018 3:07 pm I don't see the point in trying to hit Vegas with a high dollar sheet knowing their cap space (and assuming you believe all GMs try to go scorched earth in retaliation). The only room someone might find is on term if they think GMGM doesn't want to commit all the way out.

I tend to agree, just saying that I think there might actually be an offer sheet used by someone this year and Karlsson is a legitimate possibility. You're right that the cap space in Vegas mitigates the likelihood it'll work (in addition to the other stuff you noted -- whether or not there is or isn't a "gentleman's agreement" to not use them, etc.)

All that said, a deal like 6 yrs, $48M isn't an automatic match for GMGM, salary cap space or not.

It would be really cool to see someone test Dubas with a big sheet for William Nylander.

mister d wrote: ↑Wed Jun 20, 2018 3:22 pm It would be really cool to see someone test Dubas with a big sheet for William Nylander.

And speaking of GMGM if VGK hadn't dealt their first this year for Tatar, he would have been in a perfect situation to do something like that, especially since the picks would all be at the end of each round.

Islanders have all three of their own.

mister d wrote: ↑Wed Jun 20, 2018 3:29 pm Islanders have all three of their own.

And lots of cap space, even if Tavares stays.

That would be a lot of fun. "Offer sheets are always bad except when the hockey man does it to the numbers nerd."

mister d wrote: ↑Wed Jun 20, 2018 2:46 pm That's four 1st round picks. Fireable offense if that even passes through a GM's mind.

I hope the Players' Association attacks this excessive amount of compensation next time around. Restricted free agents are awfully restricted.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Wed Jun 20, 2018 4:49 pm

mister d wrote: ↑Wed Jun 20, 2018 2:46 pm That's four 1st round picks. Fireable offense if that even passes through a GM's mind.

I hope the Players' Association attacks this excessive amount of compensation next time around. Restricted free agents are awfully restricted.

I think the system is pretty fair. If you think about the kind of RFA it would take to get an offer sheet like that it's mostly going to be the McDavid types that any team is going to match anyway more or less regardless of the compensation.

Most of the RFA offer sheets would presumably fall into that $5m to $8M a year area where the draft pick compensation would seem to be in the ballpark. I'm pretty convinced that the GMs are actually colluding to ensure that no offer sheets are made, which is probably the bigger fish for the NHLPA to fry, should they choose to do so.

The exact moment McJesus' heart broke in two.

That's funny.

Remember when the Edmonton fans would defend that trade? Now not so much. Same for the Montreal fans who at first defended Subban for Weber. Then, not so much.

So Caps will raise the banner by hosting Boston but then have to go to Pittsburgh for their home opener. Lots of folks were hoping to lift the banner against the Penguins.

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 21, 2018 10:43 am So Caps will raise the banner by hosting Boston but then have to go to Pittsburgh for their home opener. Lots of folks were hoping to lift the banner against the Penguins.

I couldn't even imagine giving a fuck. Anyone who thinks that is basically just admitting they still have an inferiority complex despite winning the Stanley Cup.

brian wrote: ↑Thu Jun 21, 2018 10:45 am

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 21, 2018 10:43 am So Caps will raise the banner by hosting Boston but then have to go to Pittsburgh for their home opener. Lots of folks were hoping to lift the banner against the Penguins.

I couldn't even imagine giving a fuck. Anyone who thinks that is basically just admitting they still have an inferiority complex despite winning the Stanley Cup.

or likes the rivalry and wants to shove it in the face of the yinzers.

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 21, 2018 10:54 am

brian wrote: ↑Thu Jun 21, 2018 10:45 am

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 21, 2018 10:43 am So Caps will raise the banner by hosting Boston but then have to go to Pittsburgh for their home opener. Lots of folks were hoping to lift the banner against the Penguins.

I couldn't even imagine giving a fuck. Anyone who thinks that is basically just admitting they still have an inferiority complex despite winning the Stanley Cup.

or likes the rivalry and wants to shove it in the face of the yinzers.

You say tomato, I say inferiority complex.

Can't imagine a team that would need to do that.

Dreger says Trotz to Islanderz is close, which I imagine doesn't hurt with Tavares which should really be all they care about.

mister d wrote: ↑Thu Jun 21, 2018 11:20 am Dreger says Trotz to Islanderz is close, which I imagine doesn't hurt with Tavares which should really be all they care about.

Trotz did sign with the Isles. But, I'd still be shocked if it keeps Tavares from going elsewhere.

Grubauer and Orpik traded to Colorado for a second-rounder.

I mean, it's obviously a win for Colorado but at least Washington got something and was able to dump some salary as well.

It's been so long, I forgot how much fun NHL offseason can be. I literally have about 4 or 5 variations of this tweet in my Twitter timeline now.

Second straight year we’ve reached well below a consensus pick in the lottery. Displeased.

6-2 170? I’m sure he’ll fill out.

rass wrote: ↑Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:17 pm 6-2 170? I’m sure he’ll fill out.

Ahhh. I remember 9th grade.

Kovalchuk to Kings 3yrs/18.75M.

I’m sure one or two will work out into legit NHL players, but given their picks, the Rangers are seemingly having a disaster draft.

BIIIIIIIIIIIIG TRADE

Flames trade Dougie Hamilton, Michael Ferland and Adam Fox to Carolina for Elias Lindholm and Noah Hannifin.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Sat Jun 23, 2018 12:50 pm BIIIIIIIIIIIIG TRADE

Flames trade Dougie Hamilton, Michael Ferland and Adam Fox to Carolina for Elias Lindholm and Noah Hannifin.

Win for Calgary. Two of Carolina's four best players imho.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Sat Jun 23, 2018 1:16 pm

degenerasian wrote: ↑Sat Jun 23, 2018 12:50 pm BIIIIIIIIIIIIG TRADE

Flames trade Dougie Hamilton, Michael Ferland and Adam Fox to Carolina for Elias Lindholm and Noah Hannifin.

Win for Calgary. Two of Carolina's four best players imho.

I think so too. Sounds like Hamilton is a huge problem in the room. Two teams have gotten rid of him now.

Adam Fox is supposed to be a great prospect but it doesnt look like the Flames can sign him.

Rams Fanny wrote: ↑Sat Jun 23, 2018 11:14 am Kovalchuk to Kings 3yrs/18.75M.

My understanding was that the Kings are cap-strapped. Wonder if another shoe will drop?

Wonder if they’re going to move Doughty before his UFA year. Because yeah their cap situation is bad but if they get a bunch of assets and dump his salary before they lose him next season could be a smart long-term play. Though that doesn’t jibe with a guy who supposedly wants to win now.

All the stat boys love the trade for Carolina.

mister d wrote: ↑Sat Jun 23, 2018 5:32 pm All the stat boys love the trade for Carolina.

Imho, Hanifan for Hamilton is a wash. Lindholm is a young scorer with upside, while Ferland is a pug who rode on the coattails of better linemates. The prospect Fox is the key to who wins in the end. But, who knows if/how he will pan out.