Matt Karash: 10 targets for a top 4 defenseman

Ferst?
What about Letang? They have to be pretty good trading partners after the Staal/Sutter trade and the Pens are going to have a tough time holding onto Tangers.

I would definitely prefer trading you Myers over Ehrhoff. Funny because Myers is so much younger. I really want your #5 pick though. I would consider Ehrhoff and the #16. Two top-8 picks would ease the pain of losing him.

Buffalo wants whoever falls to #5 whether it is Nichushkin, Drouin, Barkov. they do want to trade up

We would prefer to give you Sekera but Ehroff isnt going anywhere soo....

If Meszaros can stay healthy he'd be a solid add, especially for something as small as a sixth. Whether he can stay healthy is another discussion.

Ferst?
What about Letang? They have to be pretty good trading partners after the Staal/Sutter trade and the Pens are going to have a tough time holding onto Tangers.
- beastyman1

A couple problems in my mind:

1) While he is not horrible defensively, his leans offense. Especially if the Canes are going to spend ~$7M/year, I think they would want a player with more pure shutdown ability.

2) The size and uncertainty of the salary might also deter them. $7M for how long?

And that is only after you trade a bunch of stuff just to get him. Too much cost across the board.

If Meszaros can stay healthy he'd be a solid add, especially for something as small as a sixth. Whether he can stay healthy is another discussion.
- BulliesPhan87

It will be interesting to see if Philly botches this. Meszaros should command a better return. But with Streit now in the mix, you can easily see a scenario where they wait too long and then have to do a fire sale to make the number.

I don't get why teams don't want to buy low on Myers. D salaries are skyrocketing and this guy will be a star again. I have absolutely no doubt about that. I'd take him over the Hoff any day.

To be honest I think you'd be better off getting Leopold on a 2 year deal. When he is right is a very good defenseman.

I don't get why teams don't want to buy low on Myers. D salaries are skyrocketing and this guy will be a star again. I have absolutely no doubt about that. I'd take him over the Hoff any day.

To be honest I think you'd be better off getting Leopold on a 2 year deal. When he is right is a very good defenseman.
- Slump Buster

Are salaries for non-franchise players really skyrocketing though? Josi and Voynov just signed for $4M/year. They are the same 23 years old that Myers is, and are coming off good seasons NOT a step backwards.

It will be interesting to see if Philly botches this. Meszaros should command a better return. But with Streit now in the mix, you can easily see a scenario where they wait too long and then have to do a fire sale to make the number.
- CarolinaMatt63

I don't think the Flyers are in a position to ask for much in a Meszaros trade, what with his injuries. For a team with space, I think he's totally worth the gamble. With the money tied up in our blueline, though? The Flyers don't have that luxury.

I'd be stunned if the return on Andrej was more than a 4th.

Jordan Staal to Vancouver for Edler

It will be interesting to see if Philly botches this. Meszaros should command a better return. But with Streit now in the mix, you can easily see a scenario where they wait too long and then have to do a fire sale to make the number.
- CarolinaMatt63

I think the big question mark is Grossmann's health. Last I heard a month ago he was not progressing from his concussion issues as well as expected.

Are salaries for non-franchise players really skyrocketing though? Josi and Voynov just signed for $4M/year. They are the same 23 years old that Myers is, and are coming off good seasons NOT a step backwards.
- CarolinaMatt63

I'm talking more about the free agents as that is how you most likely would be acquring a defenseman. Was Myers terrible last year? Yeah, and that is why it wouldn't cost as much to get him. This guy will be a once-in-a-generation defenseman again.

Jordan Staal to Vancouver for Edler
- B_A_Baracus

Tlusty

If you're looking to keep Skinner AND the 5 pick (which should be Plan A), then the Flyers should absolutely be the target. They're over the cap and currently have 7 defenseman making $3.5mil+ per season.

Unless he is going fishing for a true top 2 dman, call #1 should be to the Flyers.

At the same time, the phone line should be open to see if Buf or Edm is willing to overpay for the 5 pick. If we're getting $1.25 to $1.50 on the $1 for the 5 pick, we should absolutely pull the trigger.

I'm talking more about the free agents as that is how you most likely would be acquring a defenseman. Was Myers terrible last year? Yeah, and that is why it wouldn't cost as much to get him. This guy will be a once-in-a-generation defenseman again.
- Slump Buster

Once in a generation? I can name 7 guys just from his 2008 draft that I like better -- Doughty, Pietrangelo, Karlsson, Carlson, Bogosian, Voynov, Josi.

Matt Karash: 10 targets for a top 4 defenseman
- CarolinaMatt63

Good luck getting Wideman or Gio for what you offered.

Gio and our 6th for the 5th and a 2nd?

Once in a generation? I can name 7 guys just from his 2008 draft that I like better -- Doughty, Pietrangelo, Karlsson, Carlson, Bogosian, Voynov, Josi.
- CarolinaMatt63

Would you have said that about Doughty after his rookie year? Look, the guy was terrible last year but he was the closest thing to Chara that we're going to see. He was dominant in both ends of the rink (I love Karlsson but he is at best average in his own zone). Once again, you're talking as if we only have one year to go on. He was spectacular in the past and he will be again. His ceiling is incredible. Also, keep in mind that he has only been playing hockey for 12 years and there had to be some adjustment to grow into that frame. I think part of his problem is that his rookie year he played purely on instinct and once he started thinking about things he had to make an adjustment. Lots of young D struggle when they are young. My point is that I think you guys could buy low right now and get a steal.

I'd be stunned if the return on Andrej was more than a 4th.
- BulliesPhan87

I think thats a win-win for both teams.

Once in a generation? I can name 7 guys just from his 2008 draft that I like better -- Doughty, Pietrangelo, Karlsson, Carlson, Bogosian, Voynov, Josi.
- CarolinaMatt63

the most over used thing in hockey

competely agree (except for josi) with that value you can get nhl dman and some more.

And if you want Erhoff you can have him just hope your nets a bigger than ours.

I'm talking more about the free agents as that is how you most likely would be acquring a defenseman. Was Myers terrible last year? Yeah, and that is why it wouldn't cost as much to get him. This guy will be a once-in-a-generation defenseman again.
- Slump Buster

Bit extreme, he was never a "once-in-a-greneration" player to begin with.

I know that Bergevin likes McBain and Habs need a right handed Dman so I wonder if a deal between habs and Hurricanes couldn't be worked out.

It will be interesting to see if Philly botches this. Meszaros should command a better return. But with Streit now in the mix, you can easily see a scenario where they wait too long and then have to do a fire sale to make the number.
- CarolinaMatt63

Not botching it up means the Flyers showing patience. Ya think that's really going to happen? The only way I see Meszaros commanding more than a late pick, or at best a conditional pick based on games played or whatever if that's allowed, is if he proves himself healthy in the preseason and 1st half of the season and is moved closer to the deadline. However, since I see the Flyers moving a d-man long before then (this offseason), I think it's safe to say it's either Meszaros for nothing or Coburn.

I think the big question mark is Grossmann's health. Last I heard a month ago he was not progressing from his concussion issues as well as expected.
- Quetzalcoatl

Grossmann is certainly a big question mark as well. As of now, you have an aging Timonen, Schenn, Streit, and Coburn on board as your top 4. Meszaros and Grossmann are major question marks. Gustafsson hopefully grabs a top 6 spot with the way he played the end of last season and at the Worlds. Gervais is your #7. Yet, fans are itching to trade Coburn because of his down season. I can only imagine how our D looks if Grossmann and Meszaros aren't back (which Homer should operate under the assumption that this is the case) and Coburn is moved (presumably for a forward and/or pick).

Are salaries for non-franchise players really skyrocketing though? Josi and Voynov just signed for $4M/year. They are the same 23 years old that Myers is, and are coming off good seasons NOT a step backwards.
- CarolinaMatt63

To me, the entire reason, emphasis on entire, that Voynov is not making $5M or more is due to the decreased cap and new CBA. If this were the old CBA, you would see him and guys like him making at least $1M more per year.

If Myers had signed his deal now, he would be making $4.5M per at most.

It was circumstances and timing that lead to the salary.