It seems Garth has a price for Nielson and view Czikas as someone who can ease the loss. I think he has to find a way to sign Okposo, even if he has too over pay a little. Can't let Okposo and Nielson walk and retain Czikas.
- ravishingone

They can though. They need money to give JT a big raise and they have several young forwards that need to step up and do a bulk of the scoring. It is not ideal to lose those two but they cant go too long term because they need to be replaced with younger guys in the not too distant future.

agree

I wonder what they consider a fair price for Nielson?
- Marc D

A lifetime's supply of apple Danish

They can though. They need money to give JT a big raise and they have several young forwards that need to step up and do a bulk of the scoring. It is not ideal to lose those two but they cant go too long term because they need to be replaced with younger guys in the not too distant future.
- YuenglingJagr

They have some strong forward prospects gathered the last 2 years as well. They're not ready though. They may have to take a step back losing some guys to take 2 steps forwards the next year. Or just go wild in free agency lol.

You bet opposing coaches are afraid of Coots. They try to game plan around him to avoid having their stars out against them. Because not only can he shut them down scoring wise...he out possesses, out chances, and out scores the other team's stars.
- Mononoke

So dominant

They have some strong forward prospects gathered the last 2 years as well. They're not ready though. They may have to take a step back losing some guys to take 2 steps forwards the next year. Or just go wild in free agency lol.
- Mononoke

Yeah I think they assumed/hoped Nelson, Lee, and Strome produced more as a group than they have to ease that transition. I believe that signing Okposo or Nielson for too much money or term will be just as bad as letting them walk though

They can though. They need money to give JT a big raise and they have several young forwards that need to step up and do a bulk of the scoring. It is not ideal to lose those two but they cant go too long term because they need to be replaced with younger guys in the not too distant future.
- YuenglingJagr

Okposo is only 28, I wouldn't consider him old. JT will get paid, but I think Okposo can get done for around $6 million/yr. Maybe I'm under valuing what he will get on the open market, I don't know.

agree

I wonder what they consider a fair price for Nielson?
- Marc D

Ive heard they will take almost anyone that wears a visor correctly

Okposo is only 28, I wouldn't consider him old. JT will get paid, but I think Okposo can get done for around $6 million/yr. Maybe I'm under valuing what he will get on the open market, I don't know.
- ravishingone

I didnt consider him old, but I dont think there is a good reason to pay a 32 year old okposo when you have to pay Strome, Nelson, Lee, Prince?, Pulock, De Haan, along with Barzal, Ho Sang, Dal Colle, Beauvillier before that 6 year contract expires.

I do not think they want to let either of them walk, but I also think they have some hard limits on contracts

pens have been missing that out of jordan staal since he left. it has such a positive trickle down (or up, however you choose to look at it) effect on the entire lineup.
- stayinthefnnet

Yea their hurting without Staal

Yea their hurting without Staal
- Just5

Staal got it worst tho. Leaves to play with brother, brother gets traded. Ends up playing for a bottom feeder

So dominant
- Tomahawk

Yeah, it's rough having to deal with those Malkin and Crosby guys and having to fit pieces around them.
- jmatchett383

try getting them to run a powerplay....

AMIRITE

Yea their hurting without Staal
- Just5

well thats what i mean. they have it structured so they have another third line, that causes gameplan concerns.

its a different type of line, but couturier does that too. all im saying is that while it might not be "dominant" in the traditional sense, he is certainly influential.

getting to send coots out there and have him grind it down consistently when the other teams top line is out there and drive play the other way has quite an impact.

Staal got it worst tho. Leaves to play with brother, brother gets traded. Ends up playing for a bottom feeder
- DeflatedPucks

He got 60 million so I think he is doing alright

He is the next Wheels/Umberger.

I find my scapegoats early.

Honestly though I think they eye 3C for Konecny in the future. Don't see anyone appealing in FA this year or next really.
- flyer_nutter

not even Frans??

not even Frans??
- sjk540

Frans? His name is Steven.

He got 60 million so I think he is doing alright
- YuenglingJagr

Taxes bro. Taxes. He's got 300k.

Frans? His name is Steven.
- Mononoke

ooh there's your new 3C!

He got 60 million so I think he is doing alright
- YuenglingJagr

Family's important right?

(im referring to the 3 Staals not that runt of the litter piece of sh!t Ahler)

Frans? His name is Steven.
- Mononoke

still on that train? i wouldnt mind it if we were still in that win now mentality, but the way Hexy has things going, it seems counter intuitive. then again, Hexy did say we needed more up front, maybe this was his plan all along, to get a 26 year old scorer in his prime, without giving up assets. that 10 mil a year is gonna look terrible in the second half of the contract.

still on that train? i wouldnt mind it if we were still in that win now mentality, but the way Hexy has things going, it seems counter intuitive. then again, Hexy did say we needed more up front, maybe this was his plan all along, to get a 26 year old scorer in his prime, without giving up assets. that 10 mil a year is gonna look terrible in the second half of the contract.
- sjk540

On what train? I'm not on any train. I have pitched a tent outside his Tampa apartment building.

On what train? I'm not on any train. I have pitched a tent outside his Tampa apartment building.
- Mononoke

oh (frank). you seriously want this, guns blazing?

oh (frank). you seriously want this, guns blazing?
- stayinthefnnet

Guns blazing? Why would I want this guns blazing? I feel like the local authorities would be less accepting of me living in my tent in an alleyway adjacent to Stammer's -- I call him Stammer -- if I had guns blazing. I made a fire last night to cook a possum I found, but that's as far as I will go.

Guns blazing? Why would I want this guns blazing? I feel like the local authorities would be less accepting of me living in my tent in an alleyway adjacent to Stammer's -- I call him Stammer -- if I had guns blazing. I made a fire last night to cook a possum I found, but that's as far as I will go.
- Mononoke

2 things. how big of a deal would you go for him?

then, if you get him, how would you line it up?

giroux/stammer/coots down the middle

oooooor

giroux/stamkos one line, then coots/jake on another.

2 things. how big of a deal would you go for him?

then, if you get him, how would you line it up?

giroux/stammer/coots down the middle

oooooor

giroux/stamkos one line, then coots/jake on another.
- stayinthefnnet

option one I think.