Matt Karash: Forslund offers clues to JR's cryptic free agent comments

Hainsey as an offensive puck moving defenceman? No goals in two years (unless you count the deflections into his own net) here in Winnipeg.

You want him? You can have him!

Elias Lindholm will sign a contract with Carolina today. Hopefully he will stay another year in SEL and Brynäs.

I am very intrigued to see how Carolina fills out this team. They seem to have too much Top End contracts and very little on the depth end of things... I really like the top line, but I am not sure if Skinner is needed at his salary. I would be curious to see what kind of return they could get moving him. I doubt it would ever happen though.

I really like the Semin/Staal/Tlusty line. Seems very dominant when they are dedicated to backchecking and not cheating too much. They are one of the best lines I have ever seen forechecking and controlling the boards.

But I really think if they could move Skinner for a top 2 defensemen this team would be better off, particularly if they could free up some space for some decent bottom six players that can penalty kill. I love Staal/Semin on the PK from a fantasy perspective, but not sure it is their best use all the time.

I don't follow the Canes all that close other than watching their games, so I am not sure what the fans would agree with a lot of this, but it is my observation.

One final note, I don't think you can ever trust Pitkanen's health. I like him when he is on his game, but it is the minority of the time, and if you can move him for another asset I think it maybe best.

Matt, what would you think of a Gleason for Luca Sbisa swap? The Ducks have too many skating defensemen and not enough stay-at-home types like Sekera and Faulk.Boudreau tried to turn Luca into a stay-at-home type last season but his instinct is to jump in the play and he was often out of position. Might help both teams. I don't know how the money works out though.

I failed to follow Ryan Whitney's career when he left the Pens, but what happened in stops in Anaheim and Edmonton that dropped this guy so far from the level he seemed at one time to play at? Or was it the team and pairing in Pitt?

=

But I really think if they could move Skinner for a top 2 defensemen this team would be better off, particularly if they could free up some space for some decent bottom six players that can penalty kill.
- Peterg

As a Canes fan I agree. I would prefer we sell Skinner while he is hot. If the return was a solid top 2 d-man and left room for some FWD depth, I would be all over it. It seems like he would be the odd man out at some point on this team anyways. Why not ship him now before injury risk. He plays a bit recklessly and I wouldn't be surprised to see another concussion. (hopefully not)

I'm just concerned JR would be hesitant because of his connection to the fan base. He's like the Justin Bieber of Raleigh, NC.

Per Chip, it is Hainsey.

Hainsey as an offensive puck moving defenceman? No goals in two years (unless you count the deflections into his own net) here in Winnipeg.

You want him? You can have him!
- Muskwa

My thoughts exactly!!!! Power play quarterback! pffft........lmao

A healthy Joni Pitkanen is leaps and bounds better than Ron Hainssey. This swap would only make sense if Pitkanen is truly hurt or if it essentially means dealing Pitkanen for Hainssey and Jagr.

Would much rather JR held Joni and if the team isn't playoff bound, trade his expiring contract at the deadline. Would bring back a much better return than whatever he'd get for him now.

A healthy Joni Pitkanen is leaps and bounds better than Ron Hainssey. This swap would only make sense if Pitkanen is truly hurt or if it essentially means dealing Pitkanen for Hainssey and Jagr.

Would much rather JR held Joni and if the team isn't playoff bound, trade his expiring contract at the deadline. Would bring back a much better return than whatever he'd get for him now.
- Gossler1

I would tend to agree, although what are the chances Pitkanen is 100% at the deadline?? Do you want to take that chance?

Per my Twitter post when the blog went up, I also have dibs on the 2nd shoe being that Jagr (or possibly Morrow) would be signed within 48 hours after a Hainsey/Pitkanen maneuver.

The net would be something like:
--Pitkanen yields a medium prospect or pick + a bottom 6 roster forward and with the injury risk is unfortunately as much of a risk/salary dump as anything else.
--Hainsey comes for a reasonable $3Mish cap hit which saves ~$1.5M.
--The savings make the wiggle room to sign Jagr or possibly Morrow.

When you net it out, the Canes get safer on the blue line with a healthy Hainsey and add 2 veteran forwards (including a big one) and only increase salary by only by about $2.5M in the process.

Personally, I would vote no on this. I like the idea of adding another veteran forward or 2, so we do not have an AHL bottom 6. But I think swapping Hainsey for Pitkanen completely loses track of priority #1 to start the summer which was to improve the top 4 defensively. I fear that Hainsey looks more like McBain or Corvo than the good version of Joni Pitkanen (realizing that between injuries and lapses the good version of Pitkanen has been hard to find the past couple years).

Seconding Matt. I would vote no on this too. I don't see how this improves the D in scope that JR was aiming to do it before the season (total revamp. Huge improvement). All of these half measure trades should have be skipped in favor of an aggressive deal at the draft to move up and get Seth Jones. Fortune favors the bold and JR was anything but bold in Jersey that day.

The preds were not going to let go of that at the 4 spot.