Exactly. See, there are sane people on this board that understand player values and why other teams have no inclination moving a young gun like Bennett for spare parts.
- Oneonta Penguin

Every fan base has them

Calgary is now tied to Varly as well. For people asking why you don't start off with outlandish asking prices like the 6th or Bennett, this is why. The longer you take to actually insnare Calgary's attention with something worth their time, the longer they have to devote their attention to other options.

So there are plenty solid to great options out there for left wingers that are RFA's.

Many will probably be qualified but is there any creative ways to land one of these guys? Anyone who you can see not being signed or a team willing to trade at a discount (since they aren't signed)

Kreider
Hoffman
Schwartz
Zucker
Pulkinnen
Lowry
Reider

So there are plenty solid to great options out there for left wingers that are RFA's.

Many will probably be qualified but is there any creative ways to land one of these guys? Anyone who you can see not being signed or a team willing to trade at a discount (since they aren't signed)

Kreider
Hoffman
Schwartz
Zucker
Pulkinnen
Lowry
Reider
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I think the only guy that's realistic on that list is Pulkinnen because he's on bust watch and qualifies as a change of scenery guy.

Kreider could be on the move due to cap constraints, but the Rangers won't trade him to us and they'll get much better offers than whatever we bring to the table.

Only way we have a shot at Hoffman is if Ottawa's internal budget strikes, they view Fleury as a top 10 goalie in the league, and are desperate to upgrade from Anderson. I don't really see that happening.

Zukcer's one of the few things that isn't the problem in Wildland.

Lowry, maybe, but he seems like a bottom 6 guy, which we just don't need.

No reason for the Yotes to get rid of Reider. He's part of the youth movement in the desert that is looking oh so promising.

Calgary is now tied to Varly as well. For people asking why you don't start off with outlandish asking prices like the 6th or Bennett, this is why. The longer you take to actually insnare Calgary's attention with something worth their time, the longer they have to devote their attention to other options.
- Victoro311

I just simply dont think Calgary is the only team that would be interested in Fleury. I'm not nearly as worried about this as you are. No need to make a panic move right now. This could easily be GM mind games. "Oh look were interested in Bishop and Varlamov now, better panic and trade Fleury for less"

I think the only guy that's realistic on that list is Pulkinnen because he's on bust watch and qualifies as a change of scenery guy.

Kreider could be on the move due to cap constraints, but the Rangers won't trade him to us and they'll get much better offers than whatever we bring to the table.

Only way we have a shot at Hoffman is if Ottawa's internal budget strikes, they view Fleury as a top 10 goalie in the league, and are desperate to upgrade from Anderson. I don't really see that happening.

Zukcer's one of the few things that isn't the problem in Wildland.

Lowry, maybe, but he seems like a bottom 6 guy, which we just don't need.

No reason for the Yotes to get rid of Reider. He's part of the youth movement in the desert that is looking oh so promising.
- Victoro311

Yeah, they're good players which is why these teams likely want to keep them all. But similiar to how we are with Schultz, RFA's can still end up elsewhere if they can't work it out with their team. And we'll have plenty of cash if we trade Fleury. Just thinking out loud.

Regarding Lovejoy at 1.8 X 3...

Lovejoy was solid for us and I don't see him falling off a cliff in 3 years since his game is based on sound positioning rather than athleticism or physicality. That being said, He was so solid partly because he was so damn cost effective at 1.2 mil. He played above his pay grade. You give him anything over 1.5 mil and how he played this past year is right around pay grade and he becomes a neutral at best instead of a positive.

That being said, our defensive depth is bad. Say we resign Schultz, that still only leaves us with 7 NHL defensemen, which sounds normal at first, but then when you realize we don't have any reliable call ups in WBS you start to worry. Bengtsson is a complete unknown, Prow looks like he's a year away from being able to handle call up duty, and after that we have hot garbage. There are a couple of ways to solve this issue:

1) Trade for one or two near NHL ready prospects that are waver exempt. Even if they're not blue chippers this can be costly.

2) Find one or two of Kevin Porter's defensive counterparts to sign for WBS. Since NHL defensemen are a commodity that is constantly in high demand, finding a vet that's good enough to be a useful call up but won't get plucked off the waiver wire by another team needing defensive depth is rare. See Warsofsky, David.

3) Take advantage of team friendly contracts that allow you to fit more than 7 defensemen under the cap.

#3 is where Lovejoy taking a home town discount comes into play. Having a defenseman who is valued at north of 2 mil making south of 2 mil is how you get option #3 to work. Signing, Lovejoy and Schultz at team friendly contracts and having DP on ELC would let us have 8 NHL defensemen, which takes the pressure off of our subpar call up pool, as having more than 3 starting defensemen injured at the same time is unlikely (knock on wood).

Since we don't have anyone but Bengtsson and Prow in the pipeline and anyone we may draft this year and in the future will take a while to develop, I'd honestly ask Lovejoy if he'd consider taking a fourth year for a discounted AAV that gets him down to 1.5 mil. Because defensive depth isn't going to be an issue just this year.
- Victoro311

Good post. Another gold star for you.

I just simply dont think Calgary is the only team that would be interested in Fleury. I'm not nearly as worried about this as you are. No need to make a panic move right now. This could easily be GM mind games. "Oh look were interested in Bishop and Varlamov now, better panic and trade Fleury for less"
- YouMeAndDupuis9

So what other teams would be wanting to take a 32 year old goalie with 3 years left & not send a bad contract back? Just curious. Sometimes your first deal is your best deal.

Calgary is now tied to Varly as well. For people asking why you don't start off with outlandish asking prices like the 6th or Bennett, this is why. The longer you take to actually insnare Calgary's attention with something worth their time, the longer they have to devote their attention to other options.
- Victoro311

Let me preface this by saying I don't believe for a moment that Ruth asked for the 6th overall pick for Fleury. No sane GM can honestly ask for that given a few things tied to this. I think someone floated it out there for someone to run with. It was floated out there for a reason.

Still think Fleury is Calgary's best play. He is the cheapest to acquire. Still has term left on his contract, which is a good one and can still compete at a high level. Again, James Reimer is out there to be had for free assets, but he blows.

I can't take Varlamov to Calgary seriously. However, I have to believe Colorado is looking to move him.

If this rumored 6th overall pick for Fleury is true, Jim is an idiot as far as this MAF thing. Yes, I get it. There has to be a starting point of a negotiation. You try to get the best result. However, the 6th overall pick is outlandish. He isn't worth that.

So what other teams would be wanting to take a 32 year old goalie with 3 years left & not send a bad contract back? Just curious. Sometimes your first deal is your best deal.
- Kevin R

We aren't taking back a poopty contract for him, nor should we.