NHL EXPERT PICKS ‏@NHLexpertpicks 9m9 minutes ago
Tyson Barrie will have a strong arbitration case, #Avs don't want to pay large and are aggressively shopping the young D-man.

With do respect, pegging him last year didn't take much insight... Maatta was on the shelf and DP had already poope the bed and Harry was traded. When we acquired him he was at the bottom of the top D prospects.
- brienstel

Yeah... no... Last year, as in last SEASON. When each of the 3 got a 10-15 game stint up here at the start of that season.


So, with all do respect, you dumb.

NHL EXPERT PICKS ‏@NHLexpertpicks 9m9 minutes ago
Tyson Barrie will have a strong arbitration case, #Avs don't want to pay large and are aggressively shopping the young D-man.
- znagle58

Malkin +DP for Duchene+Barrie

Rumor has it (so probably less than 25% chance of being true) that flowers agent is pissed he was only given one chance in the playoffs. Also that he wasn't put in right once he was cleared to play. No reports of flower being angry, but his agent is. Again its all rumor so probably not true.
- Zac_O

I guarantee his agent has been lobbying on his behalf. I mean fleury probably sad he's not playing, but understands its the right call. But the agents job is to represent the interest of fleury and fleury's interest are best served by playing. The people you hire to represent you get to do things that you can not.

Who do we have biting for Cullen's spot on the roster? Sundqvist can't do what Cullen does. Not next year and I'm not sure his ceiling is above 38 year old cullen production.

I'd prefer to resign Cullen and trade Fehr. Also frees up a million in cap.
- sditulli

You have been banging the trade Fehr thing for quite a while. He isn't a problem. Then again, you are all for dealing our third best defenseman too - presumably to get DP in the lineup. Big time risk there.

Let me preface the statement by saying Cullen is the best bargain in all of the NHL. He exceeded all expectations and gave us much more. That said, Cullen hasn't been a factor to me for the last four games really. Is he beginning to show his age? Don't know. I have a better idea what to expect from Fehr than I do Cullen next year to be honest. I believe he turns 40- in November, Cullen that is.

Great stuff here from Rupp and Whitney for the Players Tribune:
https://t.co/gMHyDgjWch
Sid is a terminator.

You have been banging the trade Fehr thing for quite a while. He isn't the problem.

Let me preface the statement by saying Cullen is the best bargain in all of the NHL. He exceeded all expectations and gave us much more. That said, Cullen hasn't been a factor to me for the last four games really. Is he beginning to show his age? Don't know. I have a better idea what to expect from Fehr than I do Cullen next year to be honest. I believe he turns 40- in November, Cullen that is.
- Oneonta Penguin

I havent been huge on Fehr. I thought he would be a Rupp 2.0. But after seeing guys like Rust, Wilson, Kuhn I dont think he's really needed, but he's not a problem either like you said. Just kind of a surplus of bottom 6 guys at this point.

I love Cullen and he's fun to root for. This is a very long season for a 39 yr old. Im not sure much will be left for next year. Much like Guerein. That said, it's 4th line minutes. Guerin was asked to be a 1st like F. Thats a bit too much to ask. Either way, if he can come back with the same motivation thats great, but he might choose to retire on top.

I havent been huge on Fehr. I thought he would be a Rupp 2.0. But after seeing guys like Rust, Wilson, Kuhn I dont think he's really needed, but he's not a problem either like you said. Just kind of a surplus of bottom 6 guys at this point.

I love Cullen and he's fun to root for. This is a very long season for a 39 yr old. Im not sure much will be left for next year. Much like Guerein. That said, it's 4th line minutes. Guerin was asked to be a 1st like F. Thats a bit too much to ask. Either way, if he can come back with the same motivation thats great, but he might choose to retire on top.
- sammy87

Well there is a good difference between Cullen and Guerin, and as you pointed out, its usage and time on ice. Bill got top line minutes... lets say ~17 a game or more.

Cullen... 10-12 most of the year. Its not been as hard on his body.

Great stuff here from Rupp and Whitney for the Players Tribune:
https://t.co/gMHyDgjWch
Sid is a terminator.
- tpcg402

That is awesome! Thanks for that!

You have been banging the trade Fehr thing for quite a while. He isn't a problem. Then again, you are all for dealing our third best defenseman too - presumably to get DP in the lineup. Big time risk there.

Let me preface the statement by saying Cullen is the best bargain in all of the NHL. He exceeded all expectations and gave us much more. That said, Cullen hasn't been a factor to me for the last four games really. Is he beginning to show his age? Don't know. I have a better idea what to expect from Fehr than I do Cullen next year to be honest. I believe he turns 40- in November, Cullen that is.
- Oneonta Penguin

You put words in my mouth.

I'm pro resigning Cullen and Schultz.

That is most likely going to require someone to be traded. I've just looked at the potential cap casaulties - Fleury, Fehr, Daley, Kunitz.

Kunitz is probably preferred.

Well there is a good difference between Cullen and Guerin, and as you pointed out, its usage and time on ice. Bill got top line minutes... lets say ~17 a game or more.

Cullen... 10-12 most of the year. Its not been as hard on his body.
- Guile

I think age matters more for giving out term. For one year deals extrapolating from the previous year is fine.

You put words in my mouth.

I'm pro resigning Cullen and Schultz.

That is most likely going to require someone to be traded. I've just looked at the potential cap casaulties - Fleury, Fehr, Daley, Kunitz.

Kunitz is probably preferred.
- sditulli

Ideally we need to clear ~4 mil. If we decide that we don't want to or can't move one of Fleury, Kunitz, or Daley, then we'll have to move both Fehr and Cole. Moving a player one year removed from signing a contract with us after solid performances sits poorly with me. Cole was putrid at the beginning but he's been very good since entering back into the lineup, and Fehr hasn't done anything wrong even if he has been unspectacular. I think losing both of those players would be harder to stomach than just one of the afore mentioned players.

Ideally we need to clear ~4 mil. If we decide that we don't want to or can't move one of Fleury, Kunitz, or Daley, then we'll have to move both Fehr and Cole. Moving a player one year removed from signing a contract with us after solid performances sits poorly with me. Cole was putrid at the beginning but he's been very good since entering back into the lineup, and Fehr hasn't done anything wrong even if he has been unspectacular. I think losing both of those players would be harder to stomach than just one of the afore mentioned players.
- Victoro311

Curious...how often does a team clear cap space (which is their obvious need) and not take anything the opposing team would like to clear in return? For example, Hawks needed to clear cap and they got $1million by trading for Scuds and Daley. I dont think its as easy as just saying Oh we dont need Kunitz someone will take him for a 5th....

Curious...how often does a team clear cap space (which is their obvious need) and not take anything the opposing team would like to clear in return? For example, Hawks needed to clear cap and they got $1million by trading for Scuds and Daley. I dont think its as easy as just saying Oh we dont need Kunitz someone will take him for a 5th....
- sammy87

Technically the Hawks had the potential to clear a nice chunk of cap space by getting us to retain 1.1 mil of Scuderi's contract and then send him down to the AHL for 900k cap savings. It's all about finding the right deal. I don't expect to clear 100% of the contract, but I'm confident that there'd be takers for at least most of He contract especially if you dumb down the asking price.

Take the Hawks' cap dump of Patrick Sharp, for example. They wanted something that would also adress a need, and thus their cap saving was minimal for the most part. If they were willing to essential give Sharp away like they were with Daley, they could have recuped a lot more cap.

At this point, when I talk about trading these guys, my primary concern is cap space. It was different a few weeks ago when I thought we would have 3mil to monkey around with, but we don't anymore. These aren't guys who have extensive NTC except for maybe Fleury, but Fleury is also very moveable in my oppinion, so that shouldn't be too hard to find the right deal.

You put words in my mouth.

I'm pro resigning Cullen and Schultz.

That is most likely going to require someone to be traded. I've just looked at the potential cap casaulties - Fleury, Fehr, Daley, Kunitz.

Kunitz is probably preferred.
- sditulli

No, I don't. You have rolled this drum for a while. Trade Daley; trade Fehr. Sure, people need to be moved to accommodate resigns, but it would be dumb to move Daley.

Potential cap casualties - Bennett, Fleury, Kunitz, Lovejoy (because he will probably move onto a bigger contract). I wouldn't be stunned if Cole is a potential trade candidate.

Trading Daley in lieu of putting DP in the lineup is cause for a disaster. JMO.

No, I don't. You have rolled this drum for a while. Trade Daley; trade Fehr. Sure, people need to be moved to accommodate resigns, but it would be dumb to move Daley.

Potential cap casualties - Bennett, Fleury, Kunitz, Lovejoy (because he will probably move onto a bigger contract). I wouldn't be stunned if Cole is a potential trade candidate.

Trading Daley in lieu of putting DP in the lineup is cause for a disaster. JMO.
- Oneonta Penguin

Trade Cole for Depres

(Apparently, Dumoulin took a little bit of a pay cut when he signed 2 yrs last yr - maybe lack of bonuses) - did not kno dat

No, I don't. You have rolled this drum for a while. Trade Daley; trade Fehr. Sure, people need to be moved to accommodate resigns, but it would be dumb to move Daley.

Potential cap casualties - Bennett, Fleury, Kunitz, Lovejoy (because he will probably move onto a bigger contract). I wouldn't be stunned if Cole is a potential trade candidate.

Trading Daley in lieu of putting DP in the lineup is cause for a disaster. JMO.
- Oneonta Penguin

Ok since I don't do anything at work I got on cap friendly for a while. Without any further contracts the following roster has a $70,149,999 cap hit good for 1.25 mil in extra cap space:

Sheary-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Malkin-Sprong
Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel
Kuhnhackl-Fehr-Rust
Wilson

Dumoulin-Letang
Maatta-Daley
Pouliot-Cole

Fleury
Murray


Several issues here:

1) There's no 7th defenseman.

2) Danny Sprong's very low cap hit is penciled into a top 6 role that we just can't bank on.

3) Derrick Pouliot


Honestly this isn't a horrible situation at all. If we make no moves, we're taking a couple risks, but Kunitz-Malkin-Rust is becoming a proven commodity that we can fall back on if Sprong doesn't work. That would make the fourth line some combination of Fehr, Kuhnhackl, Wilson, and Sundqvist which isn't great, but you know what it's still fine. I'm OK with taking the Pouliot risk if our top 4 is a strong unit of Letang, Dumoulin with one more year under his belt, a healthy Maatta, and Daley. That bottom pairing can just be sheltered.

Still, that defense is one injury away from being a nightmare and I really really want Schultz back to begin with. It also would be nice to aquire one more top 9 forward. For this to happen we have to make a move and the obvious candidate here is Fleury. But like I've been saying, we're not in a bad cap situation at all.

Ok since I don't do anything at work I got on cap friendly for a while. Without any further contracts the following roster has a $70,149,999 cap hit good for 1.25 mil in extra cap space:

Sheary-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Malkin-Sprong
Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel
Kuhnhackl-Fehr-Rust
Wilson

Dumoulin-Letang
Maatta-Daley
Pouliot-Cole

Fleury
Murray


Several issues here:

1) There's no 7th defenseman.

2) Danny Sprong's very low cap hit is penciled into a top 6 role that we just can't bank on.

3) Derrick Pouliot


Honestly this isn't a horrible situation at all. If we make no moves, we're taking a couple risks, but Kunitz-Malkin-Rust is becoming a proven commodity that we can fall back on if Sprong doesn't work. That would make the fourth line some combination of Fehr, Kuhnhackl, Wilson, and Sundqvist which isn't great, but you know what it's still fine. I'm OK with taking the Pouliot risk if our top 4 is a strong unit of Letang, Dumoulin with one more year under his belt, a healthy Maatta, and Daley. That bottom pairing can just be sheltered.

Still, that defense is one injury away from being a nightmare and I really really want Schultz back to begin with. It also would be nice to aquire one more top 9 forward. For this to happen we have to make a move and the obvious candidate here is Fleury. But like I've been saying, we're not in a bad cap situation at all.
- Victoro311

If Fleury is moved I want a decent back up signed for good support behind Murray. I cant personally come up with any names but someone thats an above average back up. How much would that even be? 2-3 mil a year? Thats not a huge savings from Fleury but if it gives enough to Sign Schultz it might be worth it.

No, I don't. You have rolled this drum for a while. Trade Daley; trade Fehr. Sure, people need to be moved to accommodate resigns, but it would be dumb to move Daley.

Potential cap casualties - Bennett, Fleury, Kunitz, Lovejoy (because he will probably move onto a bigger contract). I wouldn't be stunned if Cole is a potential trade candidate.

Trading Daley in lieu of putting DP in the lineup is cause for a disaster. JMO.
- Oneonta Penguin

Your an idiot. Bennett saves zero cap he's basically at a minimum. Lovejoy clears very little cap since we need to replace him. He's a 1 million salary so very tough to find any dman under that costs. Fleury has potential. Kunitzt too. Both will clear a good chunk of cap. cole clears some cap at 2.1 (versus minimum salaries 600-900k). Fehr doesn't clear much cap either.

Yeah... no... Last year, as in last SEASON. When each of the 3 got a 10-15 game stint up here at the start of that season.


So, with all do respect, you dumb.
- Guile

Doesn't sound very respectful but whatever works.

I meant last season. And pegging him last season doesn't take much insight either, imo.

Great stuff here from Rupp and Whitney for the Players Tribune:
https://t.co/gMHyDgjWch
Sid is a terminator.
- tpcg402

Dan Cleary: "was the longest training session in my life - I never touched the puck once"!

Curious...how often does a team clear cap space (which is their obvious need) and not take anything the opposing team would like to clear in return? For example, Hawks needed to clear cap and they got $1million by trading for Scuds and Daley. I dont think its as easy as just saying Oh we dont need Kunitz someone will take him for a 5th....
- sammy87

Hurricanes are 20m or so below the 'cap floor' - there's an organisation that will take on cap space especially if it's short term.