I think biggest weakness atm is D too. I just think getting yakupov is a low risk/high reward kind of play. we lose very little and gain a POTENTIAL great top 6 winger. it is just like lottery tbh.
- martox

I would pay no more than than DP for him then I agree. A deal that was Fehr+DP-Yak+pick/prospect might make sense. Clears out cap, bumps Rust to the 3/4 line. I think it would free cap to resign Shultz who > DP. Pens still need a LW though.

edmonton does not have that kind of defense either YET. larson is a shutdown/2 way defensemen. he does not change the way they get the puck up to the forwards that much. edmonton needs puck movers tbh
- martox

I was always under the impression that Larsson was the most talented guy on Jersey at pushing the puck up.

I would pay no more than than DP for him then I agree. A deal that was Fehr+DP-Yak+pick/prospect might make sense. Clears out cap, bumps Rust to the 3/4 line. I think it would free cap to resign Shultz who > DP. Pens still need a LW though.
- sammy87

Issues for other days TBH. I just can't think of any feasible way of acquiring a LW this offseason since JR seems to have no interest in moving Fleury. Our best hope is that Simon or Guentzel who everyone projects as a LW not a C in the NHL just run rough shot through the preseason and take a spot. Only reason we're even talking about Yak is because reports say he's essentially free and has a pretty cheap cap hit in terms of a top 6 winger.

I personally think that we can stand to add a RW as well. Both of Malkin's wingers remain a question and Hornqvist only has two years under contract left and it's not outlandish to think he could be exposed in expansion.

I was always under the impression that Larsson was the most talented guy on Jersey at pushing the puck up.
- Victoro311

larsson is like a HURT maatta tbh. he is good defensivly but not that good of a puck mover. but he is or rather WAS the best puck mover on defense on the devils yes.
I just don't like the deal tbh. having larsson is good for the oilers no doubt. they are a better team now but they gave up to much for to little. they could/should have gotten much more for hall

Rutherford should look into siging Kyle Quincey. Shouldnt cost much, is only 30, has some size and isnt bad.

Issues for other days TBH. I just can't think of any feasible way of acquiring a LW this offseason since JR seems to have no interest in moving Fleury. Our best hope is that Simon or Guentzel who everyone projects as a LW not a C in the NHL just run rough shot through the preseason and take a spot. Only reason we're even talking about Yak is because reports say he's essentially free and has a pretty cheap cap hit in terms of a top 6 winger.

I personally think that we can stand to add a RW as well. Both of Malkin's wingers remain a question and Hornqvist only has two years under contract left and it's not outlandish to think he could be exposed in expansion.
- Victoro311

I don't think the market was very good for MAF. IF there was a deal, it would have happened. Who knows Murray could fall apart this season.

I don't think the market was very good for MAF. IF there was a deal, it would have happened. Who knows Murray could fall apart this season.
- sammy87

always good to be on the secure side tbh.

larsson is like a HURT maatta tbh. he is good defensivly but not that good of a puck mover. but he is or rather WAS the best puck mover on defense on the devils yes.
I just don't like the deal tbh. having larsson is good for the oilers no doubt. they are a better team now but they gave up to much for to little. they could/should have gotten much more for hall
- martox

Agree 100%. Don't like the trade for either team to be honest. Yeah if you're Shero and you get offered Hall for Larsson you can't say no, but I feel like the Devils aren't a better team now and the trade could end up being pointless unless Shero fast tracks the rebuild. With the poopty assets Jersey has I just don't see it.

Meanwhile the Oilers got pennies on the dollar for Hall. The F were they thinking? Gotta imagine Eberle would have gotten that done, right? Or RNH?

I don't think the market was very good for MAF. IF there was a deal, it would have happened. Who knows Murray could fall apart this season.
- sammy87

No idea what they offered but the flames enquired about MAF and gave up two seconds for Eliot. Gotta think they were willing to give up a smidge more for MAF. I 100% believe The Old Man didn't want to move him. As far as the team next year thats fine. All we really have to do is sign some depth defensemen to push DP and insure against injury. But moving forward into expansion MAF still being on the team terrified me. I really hope one of Dallas' goalies has a season ender or Eliot poops the bed in Calgary to open up a trade possibility by the deadline.

Not taking contracts into consideration I think if Weber and Subban were the same age Id rather have Weber.

The Hall for Larsson is still making me scartch my head. Larsson is good and getting better. He's definitely a top 4 currently and borderline top 2. The thing is though Hall is a great talent. One of the better wingers in the whole world. How could they not get more for him? I think they could not only gotten a better D-man for him put also picks and/or prospects. Its pretty crazy. Shero has some sort of black magic voodoo thing going for him, he has to.

Not taking contracts into consideration I think if Weber and Subban were the same age Id rather have Weber.

The Hall for Larsson is still making me scartch my head. Larsson is good and getting better. He's definitely a top 4 currently and borderline top 2. The thing is though Hall is a great talent. One of the better wingers in the whole world. How could they not get more for him? I think they could not only gotten a better D-man for him put also picks and/or prospects. Its pretty crazy. Shero has some sort of black magic voodoo thing going for him, he has to.
- MattStrat

You know that EDM is desperate for D. If they want a top 4 Dman...one of Hall, RNH, Eberle were going the other way. No body is giving up a top 4 for Yak. NJD has a good C with Palmeri, so that rules out RNH. Hall>Eberle so its a pretty easy deal for NJD to ask for. They didnt have to trade a Dman. Any other GM would have done the same.

Agree 100%. Don't like the trade for either team to be honest. Yeah if you're Shero and you get offered Hall for Larsson you can't say no, but I feel like the Devils aren't a better team now and the trade could end up being pointless unless Shero fast tracks the rebuild. With the poopty assets Jersey has I just don't see it.

Meanwhile the Oilers got pennies on the dollar for Hall. The F were they thinking? Gotta imagine Eberle would have gotten that done, right? Or RNH?
- Victoro311

You have to love the trade for NJD unless you think Larrson becomes a poor mans 1d.

NJD acquired an asset that you can't go out and acquire without finishing last in the league. Edmonton acquired an asset -a 3/4D - that you can sign every year in free agency for a around 5.5/6. Larrson = replaceable. Hall - can't acquire.

Surprised this deal was so poor. Seemed like a lot of defenseman were on the trade market. And Edmonton had a ton of non-core gets to move for a 3/4D. Anaheim is still going to move a dman and Shat is still on the market.

No, Chiarelli is a bad GM for his body of work in Boston (Kessel, Seguin, et. al.) and now in Edmonton (Hall, Reinhart). Context, dude. Unless you think Chiarelli has been making good moves all along, then never mind.
- T-Train

I don't think Chiarelli is a good GM at all, I just don't understand bringing up him firing Sullivan 10 years ago when talking about how bad he is since firing Sullivan then was a good move, Sullivan wasn't a good coach 10 years ago so why would you bash Chiarelli by pointing out a good move he made? Just a really silly argument.

Rutherford should look into siging Kyle Quincey. Shouldnt cost much, is only 30, has some size and isnt bad.
- joescullz

-1 for being left handed. +1 for the beard. At the same price, is he a better option than Schultz?

Jamie McGinn is about the biggest fish I could see us getting in on, even he would require moving some salary. And he has had some injury issues so a bit of a gamble.

did you see the hero chart comparisons for adam larsson vic?

last year we were talking about acquiring Kessel, Oshie, Saad, etc. Now we are talking about being hopeful to sign Ben Lovejoy/Justin Schultz. What a difference a year makes.

Not complaining, I'll take the cup 100 times out of 100..... but this is going to be a boring offseason

Back to the Fleury to Dallas talk for a minute. I didnt realize Lehtonen and Niemi both have a NTC...so we would have the same exact issue in the expansion draft. We can't take either goalie back.

Back to the Fleury to Dallas talk for a minute. I didnt realize Lehtonen and Niemi both have a NTC...so we would have the same exact issue in the expansion draft. We can't take either goalie back.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

think nmc was auto protected not ntc. I probably (frank)ed up big time with that statement

Average state income tax in the US is 3%, plus you can claim union dues (in PA anyway, not going to claim to be a tax expert). Therefore the state income argument in the US is null and void. I just looked up Ontario it has a 13% state tax which is larger than any in the US, but it is still about half of the 25% drop you and others are claiming. Granted Canada has tax and dollar value troubles but players are paid in US money and not Canadian dollars so he would be receiving approximately $15M Canadian instead of $10M US thereby reducing some of that state tax burden.

Sorry I just don't buy the state tax argument, way overblown.
- Thunderbolt

I don't claim to be a tax expert either, I'm more just going off of what I hear and I know in other professional leagues(especially the NBA) the no income tax in places like FLA and Tex are perceived to have a big impact on players net salaries. I did find this on Michigan's income tax since Detroit was considered a likely destination, I have no clue what it means but maybe someone else can break it down.

Federal Tax Rates:

Tax bracket rates of 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35%, and 39.6% remain in effect.
Personal exemption amount: $4,050 (increased from $4,000 for 2015).
25% federal supplemental rate (for withholding on supplemental wages up to $1 million). Rate for supplemental withholding on wages over $1 million is 39.6%.

State of Michigan Tax Rate:

Income tax withholding rate: 4.25%
Personal exemption amount: $4,000

did you see the hero chart comparisons for adam larsson vic?
- martox

Yeah dude, I saw them

Yeah dude, I saw them
- Guile

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand he confirms it. guile is vics alt

Back to the Fleury to Dallas talk for a minute. I didnt realize Lehtonen and Niemi both have a NTC...so we would have the same exact issue in the expansion draft. We can't take either goalie back.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Niemi's NMC doesn't kick in until 2017-18. So he could be exposed to the expansion draft.

pretty much everyone hated on schultz just when we got him including myself
- martox

Dont bother. Sammy hates Russians. Thats why hes always banging the "trade Malkin" drum.

I'm late to the party here, but holy cow Montreal is dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb.... Weber's gonna be a bad contract in two to three years. Subban on that d core? Holy (frank)! Subban, Jossi, Ekholm, Ellis... By far the best D in the league now. I also saw that Weber despite being significantly older has only played 11 more career games than Suban. What in the F was Montreal thinking?

Obviously Shero got rediculous value for Adam Larsson, but am I the only one who thinks this really doesn't help the Devils all that much? Who the (frank) do they have on the back end to lynch pin their offense now? Hall is going to have the exact same problem in Jersey he had in Edmonton now of not having anyone who can get him the puck. Regardless, terrible trade for the Oilers.
- Victoro311

I see the trade pretty much the same way, NJ got the better player but they may have actually made the team worse by doing so, a lot hinges on Shero does between now and the start of the season, if he finds a way to trade or sign 2 good defenseman then they'll be ok, if they take their roster as is into next season I think they will be worse than they were this year unless Schneider has a Vezina caliber season.

I see the trade pretty much the same way, NJ got the better player but they may have actually made the team worse by doing so, a lot hinges on Shero does between now and the start of the season, if he finds a way to trade or sign 2 good defenseman then they'll be ok, if they take their roster as is into next season I think they will be worse than they were this year unless Schneider has a Vezina caliber season.
- jaydogg1974

Schnieder had a Veznia caliber season this year. He and Corey Crawford were massive snubs.