Matt Karash: Playing Canes GM Jim Rutherford (Pt 1): Cam Ward/goalies? Room to improve?

Matt Karash: Playing Canes GM Jim Rutherford (Pt 1): Cam Ward/goalies? Room to improve?
- CarolinaMatt63

Cam Ward for Sam Gagner

The biggest question is who would want Cam Ward with the issues you outlined at $6.3M for the next two seasons and what would you get in return.

Would it even matter much what you would get with what you would be saving by getting rid of his salary?

The biggest question is who would want Cam Ward with the issues you outlined at $6.3M for the next two seasons and what would you get in return.

Would it even matter much what you would get with what you would be saving by getting rid of his salary?
- kingcong39

Both good questions. My hunch is that there is a market for Ward with a couple of the teams hurting in net. Edmonton is a real interesting option for multiple reasons. I think management there is reaching the point where they need to move aggressively to make a playoff push. You can't rebuild forever. The current D and G are not going to get it done. I think they are about up to the point where they realize they are better off failing trying than standing pat. If he can refind his game, Ward is up to the pressure of this task. He is also a Western Canadian kid who might relish the chance to play closer to home and get a fresh start. There are a couple other teams that are in a bad enough place in net that they might accept upside with risk.

Ward and Miller are interesting in different ways. Miller is obviously playing better right now, but his contract is up at the end of the season. A contender who feels confident that they can keep him might pay a lot for him, but he is of no use to teams not competing for the playoffs this year. The positive (and a risk at the same time) with Ward is that he is locked in for 2 more years.

Canes have multiple places where they could upgrade with the $. If a deal is done, I think it will come down to getting the best return possible and less about trying to fill a specific role. Canes could use a 2nd trade to fill specific holes especially if they take less salary back in the deal.

Cam Ward for Sam Gagner
- Reveen

My bet is that it will take 1 of the big 3 forwards to get Ward.

Ruutu has some variety of NTC, but I think something like Ruutu+___ for Gagner could make sense. Edm might even be able to get Riley Nash who is a decent young option for a checking line center if they sent a lower-tier pick or prospect back. Ruutu's role is decreasing right now, but he still offers the potential for a more physical forward to complement all of the skill that Edm has on its top 2 lines.

Didn't Nash start in Edm? I doubt that organization would trade for him again. After all, they aren't the Hurricanes .

I think you hit the nail on the head, Matt. If you're going to trade Ward, it's a pure case of shopping him to the highest bidder. I wouldn't look to fill specific needs. I think if the Canes are still in the hunt at the deadline, you can rent a C3 or another depth Dman. Ideally, the return you want for Ward is a top 6 forward/elite C3 or a top 2 pairing D. If you can't get that, you punt the goalie situation until the offseason perhaps.

Well, looks like the Oilers need a goalie now...

It almost feels like something is going down. The entire Twitter feed surrounding the Canes has been really quiet all day. The team, Chip, everyone.

I'm bracing for Ward for Hemsky. Once JR gets a bug about a guy, he can't quit. See, JML, for example.

So much for the Ward paranoia. Scrivens to EDM.

So much for the Ward paranoia. Scrivens to EDM.
- Gossler1

Interesting. There was way too much build up for this to just be Ben Scrivens. No offense to him, but he's not exactly the proven primetime player that I would think the Edmonton fan base would expect. He is a local guy so maybe that played into it.

Canes clearly want a big return for Ward, and EDM was not prepared to make a deal of that magnitude at this time. The Scrivens move seems like a half measure to get them through until the summer and then investigate the starting goalie market then.

I think that it would be best for the club in the long run. As much as I would hate to see Wardo leave but let's face it if JR can get a top six forward in return or more, I say do it.

My bet is that it will take 1 of the big 3 forwards to get Ward.

Ruutu has some variety of NTC, but I think something like Ruutu+___ for Gagner could make sense. Edm might even be able to get Riley Nash who is a decent young option for a checking line center if they sent a lower-tier pick or prospect back. Ruutu's role is decreasing right now, but he still offers the potential for a more physical forward to complement all of the skill that Edm has on its top 2 lines.
- CarolinaMatt63

I agree and Imo JR isn't gonna wait...Oh wait a minute JR CAN'T wait until the deadline as the Canes will be out of contention possibly and, him out of a job and, sure there are other goalies available after the season BUT, as there is a strong goalie market this summer a Goalie like Halak will get waaay overpaid and, he has no Cup or Con Smyth. Ryan Miller sure but, he's 4yrs older than Ward so, unless he stay's in Buffalo he isn't the long term answer for a team either.

Ward has been dinged up but, no major problems other than mainly lost confidence behind a barrage of 30 GPG for his whole career and, Imo he can return to top form with a good set of Dmen in front of him. The issue in Carolina is his cap figure as the reason for the trade talk along with top 6/9 forward depth which is the big problem.

So much for the Ward paranoia. Scrivens to EDM.
- Gossler1

I don't think Scrivens pre-empts anything. He gets Oilers through 2013-14 if needed, but at $550k, if a better option comes along Edm can just eat the small investment or possibly trade him at the deadline to recoup original draft pick or maybe a slightly lower 1.

Hemsky would not be the Ward deal as a rental. He will actually probably have pretty good value at the trade deadline. There are a bunch of teams that will be in the market for a scoring wing who is (importantly) a rental - Pit, Ott, etc.

If I had to guess, I think the tap dance that has been going on for awhile is Edm trying to make Gagner (signed for 2 more years) the key piece and then layer on some futures and Rutherford insisting that it was to be 1 of the big 3 forwards to even get started.