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Ladd's last Home Game, Drouin Still a Target? |
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Andrew Ladd will be playing tonight and it certainly means he will probably be in the starting five so expect a bit of emotion and perhaps a farewell ovation for the only Jets 2.0 captain. Ladd's career as a Jets has never been one that is flashy or spectacular more so it has been workman-like and effective. That simply is the best way to describe Ladd, or another way, solid play with moments of brilliance.
While it is not know what deal is still on the table for Ladd, the last one being a six-year for $6 million per year that was turned down by Ladd's side, most in Winnipeg have concluded the captain will be traded. That includes most media and fans.
Doing a retrospective of Ladd's career as a Jet can come later if and when he is moved but right now it's more important to consider the return. The rumours and speculation as as follows:
- One team has offered a first round pick and prospect
- The ask is a first round pick, prospect and/or low level roster player
- The ask is a blue chip prospect and picks
- One team has offered a first round pick and prospect.
Somewhere in there lies the truth but we don't know what it is exactly. What we can think about is this news that came out today from Chris Nichols quoting Darren Dreger:
Let's play GM and if I'm Steve Yzerman and staring at my cap situation I need a young player coming back that can play now or later but matches Drouin's potential upside. So all eyes turn to Jacob Trouba. Forget about Ehlers, the point in looking at Drouin is that you want him and Ehlers together to recreate the Halifax Mooseheads magic.
What if the Ladd piece came into play? Perhaps the Jets need to move Ladd to a team that can give them something Yzerman and the Lightning want? It would be a three-way deal or a quick turn around but Ladd might be that piece to get things rolling.
The speculated suitors for Ladd are the Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks.
So who has the right assets?
LA would be fascinating to see as they have no cap space and many of their contracts are not anything the Jets would or should want. Chicago would be basically asked for Marko Dano and then negotiate around a return (a pick) for if Ladd re-signs or goes away as UFA. Florida can take on the cap space with 26 million available at the deadline but would the want to part with Lawson Crouse? That's who the Jets could be asking for as a prospect. Pittsburgh, like LA, has cap issues and they too would have to part with salary in some fashion- see anything there the Jets want? Me either but perhaps prospect and picks works, or not.
San Jose is my dark horse team but again the salary cap comes into the issue. Could they send Spaling to Winnipeg to make room for Ladd- yes but then the cost moves up as that's giving the Sharks cap relief and the Jets get no return- so more picks and prospects.
And then there is Anaheim. Lots of cap space a player signed for term with a salary almost identical to Ladd's and plays defines, oh and shoots left. Cam Fowler is who many have suggested would be the return. The problem with Cam Fowler is his advanced numbers are in a downward trend. In that he is looking more like Stuart than he is Trouba. Yes the Jets have depth problems on the left side but it's going to get awfully crowded on the D-line when Stuart comes back. It might make some sense but not enough IMO, unless the Jets know what has caused Fowler to regress and how to fix it, but that seems unlikely to me.
So back to Tampa and Steve Yzerman. He can't take cap space right now unless he unloads Brayden Coburn, he who was drafted by the Thrashers but he's not going to take Ladd for him either. If 3.5 million of Coburn's 4.5 million salary is applied to Stamkos next year the Lighting are in the exact same position as this year with the cap and have six RFAs and one UFA to deal with too.
For Chevy to make a deal with Yzerman more than a few things have to happen now or after.
As it pertains to Drouin I would be surprised if a move happened at the deadline. What appears more likely is that if Chevy and Yzerman have had discussions the Jets' moves now would likely be towards getting the assets to make a Drouin trade work later, such as at the draft.
Jets fans want to see what the future looks like now, they've been relatively patient for five years and with Ladd all but certain to be leaving they want to know what the title of the next chapter is in Jets 2.0. Take solace that it's coming, but I'd suspect Chevy is open to many titles and names right now based on the trade market. He also knows he doesn't have to name the chapter too, he can start writing it now and put a name on later this year once it's complete.
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