When you remove one of Martin or Ehrhoff, likely Martin. Tack on Adams, Bortz, Griess, and Sill, along with the hopefully impending departure of Sutter, that'll leave ~ 11.1 million to spend without a cap raise. Add on Staal at 6.0, and we've got 5.1 to resign guys like Comeau, Bennett, and Downie.

Harrington will be due for a raise in a year. As will the rest of your young defense. Hence leading to further depth issues due to 54% of your cap being tied into 5 players.
- rangerdanger94

And that wont be an issue when Sutter is asking for $4.5-5M on his next contract???

Or when we pick up some mediocre 3rd line C in FA for $5M?

"Oh, but what about Sundqvist?"....I guess I didn't realize Sundqvist is an absolute guarenteed stud 3rd line center, even though he plays wing and hasn't even played a game in North America.

I can't see Carolina taking back Sutter. At his best, he's put up 40 points while not playing in a shutdown role or hitting anything hard enough where he's not on his butt. If Francis is smart about it (and the rumors have any legs) he'll be looking at prospects and picks. Dumoulin, Sundqvist, and the 2016 first seems like a lot but might be more realistic. Then the cap space thing needs to be figured out. Moving Martin would help if it's for picks but with Ehrhoff sidelined indefinitely....

And then what do you do with Sutter? 3.3 for the next two years, I don't see anyone taking that on, unless his last name truly sways someone like MacT.
- Topshelf Mountain

All depends on if Francis wants someone more NHL ready back in the deal, and does he do more of a rebuild or retool. So yes I could see him wanting what you proposed instead of having Sutter in the deal so we'd have to ship him out in another deal. I don't think it would be as hard as some of us think just because we are all down on him. Sundqvist would be replaceable if we do go for Jordan, which is why I am ok with sending him the other way.

Yesterday I proposed trading Scuds for whatever low pick to any of the contenders who need D help not on his limited no trade clause. Then moving that pick and maybe another with Sutter and Dumoulin/Harrington for Staal. Since we would have a hole on D and are already trading with Carolina why not try to pick up Sekera as a rental if we can fit him. Maybe offer Sundqvist or Zatkoff if they are really looking to move Ward, plus a pick.

Perron Crosby Hornqvist
Kunitz Malkin Comeau
Spalling Staal Bennett
Adams Lapierre Downie

Letang Martin
Erhoff Sekera
Despres Pouliot

But its like you guys are forgetting Sutter is awful and he makes those guys even worse.

Put it this way. On a scale of 1-10 for contract value lets say Staal is a 7.5. Sutter would be a -3.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Staal is a 50 point, 2-way centre that can control the puck and dominate against elite competition.

$6 million is a very reasonable contract for that. In two seasons he'll be underpaid.

When you remove one of Martin or Ehrhoff, likely Martin. Tack on Adams, Bortz, Griess, and Sill, along with the hopefully impending departure of Sutter, that'll leave ~ 11.1 million to spend without a cap raise. Add on Staal at 6.0, and we've got 5.1 to resign guys like Comeau, Bennett, and Downie.
- Topshelf Mountain

And when one of your top-9 players get injured and you have $60,000 in cap space to call someone up?

Trust me, as a Flyers fan, I know the perils of the cap.

And that wont be an issue when Sutter is asking for $4.5-5M on his next contract???

Or when we pick up some mediocre 3rd line C in FA for $5M?

"Oh, but what about Sundqvist?"....I guess I didn't realize Sundqvist is an absolute guarenteed stud 3rd line center, even though he plays wing and hasn't even played a game in North America.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

It's a constant issue. Players on ELC negotiate raises and sometimes those raises backfire in terms of value for a team. You tie money up into a few players and are forced to let important role players walk for nothing.

It's why properly drafting and keeping a stacked prospect pool in all positions is important in the salary cap era. You need to have a player on a cheap ELC ready to step in when you have a salary cap casualty, something the Hawks have done well at.

But its like you guys are forgetting Sutter is awful and he makes those guys even worse.

Put it this way. On a scale of 1-10 for contract value lets say Staal is a 7.5. Sutter would be a -3.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Sutter is terrible but his contract is short term and for a lot less dollars. No one wanted staal at 6 mil prior to the trade. Now you do? I'm not against staal just understanding it could be very detrimental to our depth. You name guys who have never proved they can succeed at the nhl level. Staal would be here for 7 more years and we would have to pay all of those young guys a raise during that oeriod

Staal is a 50 point, 2-way centre that can control the puck and dominate against elite competition.

$6 million is a very reasonable contract for that. In two seasons he'll be underpaid.
- BINGO!

When was he a 50pt center? 3 years ago I love staal and on Carolina 6 mil is ok but here that's 25 mil on your top 3 centers

And that wont be an issue when Sutter is asking for $4.5-5M on his next contract???

Or when we pick up some mediocre 3rd line C in FA for $5M?

"Oh, but what about Sundqvist?"....I guess I didn't realize Sundqvist is an absolute guarenteed stud 3rd line center, even though he plays wing and hasn't even played a game in North America.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH..........o crap...... hahahahahaha



I crapped my pants in the middle of that, still worth it.

All depends on if Francis wants someone more NHL ready back in the deal, and does he do more of a rebuild or retool. So yes I could see him wanting what you proposed instead of having Sutter in the deal so we'd have to ship him out in another deal. I don't think it would be as hard as some of us think just because we are all down on him. Sundqvist would be replaceable if we do go for Jordan, which is why I am ok with sending him the other way.

Yesterday I proposed trading Scuds for whatever low pick to any of the contenders who need D help not on his limited no trade clause. Then moving that pick and maybe another with Sutter and Dumoulin/Harrington for Staal. Since we would have a hole on D and are already trading with Carolina why not try to pick up Sekera as a rental if we can fit him. Maybe offer Sundqvist or Zatkoff if they are really looking to move Ward, plus a pick.

Perron Crosby Hornqvist
Kunitz Malkin Comeau
Spalling Staal Bennett
Adams Lapierre Downie

Letang Martin
Erhoff Sekera
Despres Pouliot
- ImScore71

I don't think there's a team in the league that would want Scuderi. Maybe Philly for Amac?

The asking price for Sekera is a 1st and good prospect alone. So Sekera for a 1st and Harrinngton maybe? But that's 2 for 1 which further hurts your depth 2 years down the line.

Jordan Staal MAY be traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but it feels like a long shot.

There are a lot of pieces that would need to be moved to achieve it, and for the Hurricanes to receive fair value in the form of pieces they actually want.

Jordan Staal is an excellent player and to this point still hasn't really received a fair shake in Raleigh. Up until playing on a line with his brother, he wasn't really given a whole lot to work with.

He's very very good at what he does.

Carolina won't want to part with him for nothing. They've committed to getting bigger as a team, and trading away one of the biggest and most talented guys on the tea doesn't really achieve that.
- BINGO!

I don't think anyone is disputing that. It's just Jordan Staal went to Carolina to play with his brother. If Eric is gone, would he want to stay at all? Carolina could tell him to suck it up and be a professional (and I think he would), but there is no guarantee his play won't decline if he has no interest in being there either. He also has a full NMC. So getting a major return might not be possible. If stuck with a toxic asset on the team that will only waive his NMC to a few teams (or even worse only one), you aren't left with a lot of leverage in deals either.

When was he a 50pt center?
- dbell646

In 2011/12. Also, he has a pro-rated 52 points this season and 53 in 2012/13.

But its like you guys are forgetting Sutter is awful and he makes those guys even worse.

Put it this way. On a scale of 1-10 for contract value lets say Staal is a 7.5. Sutter would be a -3.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Agreed. The players that will play with Staal, Bennett/Spaling if they aren't traded will also improve and their contracts will look better.

Think of it, Sid with Perron and Horn/Kunitz. Two "grinders" with a scorer. Both players can also score, while Sid can also grind.

Malkin with Horn/Kunitz and Comeau. Two "grinders" with a scorer. Both players again, can also score and Malkin can grind.

Staal with Bennett and Spaling, two "grinders" with a scorer* (he will be much better with Staal, Sutter kills line mates) Bennett is getting better at the grind part of the game as well and he doesn't have to play a grinder game but can chip in.

Pair that with Staal being able to move up the lineup with 87 and 71 and it looks even better.

Jordan Staal MAY be traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but it feels like a long shot.

There are a lot of pieces that would need to be moved to achieve it, and for the Hurricanes to receive fair value in the form of pieces they actually want.

Jordan Staal is an excellent player and to this point still hasn't really received a fair shake in Raleigh. Up until playing on a line with his brother, he wasn't really given a whole lot to work with.

He's very very good at what he does.

Carolina won't want to part with him for nothing. They've committed to getting bigger as a team, and trading away one of the biggest and most talented guys on the tea doesn't really achieve that.
- BINGO!

You're such a buzzkill with you and your logic

And when one of your top-9 players get injured and you have $60,000 in cap space to call someone up?

Trust me, as a Flyers fan, I know the perils of the cap.
- jmatchett383

Yeah, I was adding cap perspective to the conversation. But if the cap increases three million and guys like Kap and Wilson make the big club, we'd have a couple million to play with. Also, I think Ehrhoff walks with Martin. You could, with a lot of health and luck, be looking at a third line of Kunitz, Staal, and Dupuis.

When was he a 50pt center? 3 years ago I love staal and on Carolina 6 mil is ok but here that's 25 mil on your top 3 centers
- dbell646

His career average scoring pace is 47 points per season.

He's scoring at a 52 point pace this season.

He's averaged a 52 point pace since his second year in the league.

In 2011/12. Also, he has a pro-rated 52 points this season and 53 in 2012/13.
- jmatchett383

So proratedly he's scored 50 the past 2 years.

His career average scoring pace is 47 points per season.

He's scoring at a 52 point pace this season.

He's averaged a 52 point pace since his second year in the league.
- BINGO!

So he's a proratedly 50 pt 2 way center. I love staal just don't think we can take that cap hit

Yeah, I was adding cap perspective to the conversation. But if the cap increases three million and guys like Kap and Wilson make the big club, we'd have a couple million to play with. Also, I think Ehrhoff walks with Martin. You could, with a lot of health and luck, be looking at a third line of Kunitz, Staal, and Dupuis.
- Topshelf Mountain

I think you have to retain 1 of Ehrhoff or Martin (even with a raise, you're probably saving $3M from the pair). Also, you won't know what you have with Kapanen until training camp, some AHL time may do him some good.

Not saying it can't happen, but you should always plan for the worst case, which is not "hoping" and/or "luck."

If Jordan Staal cost 0 assets and have a $3M cap hit, that would be great. He will, and he doesn't, which makes his risky.

Jordan Staal MAY be traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but it feels like a long shot.

There are a lot of pieces that would need to be moved to achieve it, and for the Hurricanes to receive fair value in the form of pieces they actually want.

Jordan Staal is an excellent player and to this point still hasn't really received a fair shake in Raleigh. Up until playing on a line with his brother, he wasn't really given a whole lot to work with.

He's very very good at what he does.

Carolina won't want to part with him for nothing. They've committed to getting bigger as a team, and trading away one of the biggest and most talented guys on the tea doesn't really achieve that.
- BINGO!

You can have back Sutter, the rights to Martin, Harrington, and a 2016 2nd rounder for Staal and Tlusty :D

Dupuis is on a prorated pace of 53 points

So proratedly he's scored 50 the past 2 years.
- dbell646

No, he only scored 40 in all 82 last year.

I don't think anyone is disputing that. It's just Jordan Staal went to Carolina to play with his brother. If Eric is gone, would he want to stay at all? Carolina could tell him to suck it up and be a professional (and I think he would), but there is no guarantee his play won't decline if he has no interest in being there either. He also has a full NMC. So getting a major return might not be possible. If stuck with a toxic asset on the team that will only waive his NMC to a few teams (or even worse only one), you aren't left with a lot of leverage in deals either.
- jfkst1

Eric Staal isn't going anywhere. Why would he? Unless Francis simply lets him walk for nothing as a UFA at the end of next season (which isn't happening), Eric Staal will play out the vast majority of the rest of his career as a Hurricane.

No, he only scored 40 in all 82 last year.
- jmatchett383

I love the guy but acquiring him F's our depth going forward imo

Dupuis is on a prorated pace of 53 points
- dbell646

Dupuis may never play hockey again.