Paul McCann: Classy Guy and Monday Morning Random Playoff Notes

He will be missed.

He will be missed.
- up-n-ya

True, but it's time for everyone to move on. You don't keep a coach because he's a great guy. If that was the main criteria then Trotz would have a job for life.

True, but it's time for everyone to move on. You don't keep a coach because he's a great guy. If that was the main criteria then Trotz would have a job for life.
- Predaceous[/quote

Trotz did a great job and yes it's time for everyone to move on.

Do you feel that about Weber? I am not just saying that because I am a Flyer fan and still " dream" of him playing in Philly.

The Preds need major help up front which could take time. Does Weber want a legit chance to win?

3flyerkids:

Poile will not trade Weber.

Trotz did a great job and yes it's time for everyone to move on.

Do you feel that about Weber? I am not just saying that because I am a Flyer fan and still " dream" of him playing in Philly.

The Preds need major help up front which could take time. Does Weber want a legit chance to win?
- 3flyerkids

I would not trade Weber. We wouldn't get the return for him that people think we'd get. We'd get offered some draft picks (not conducive to a quick fix) and some nice younger guys, but we wouldn't get a superstar for a superstar. No one is going to do that. Would you give up Giroux for Weber?

Preds fans want a quick fix. They want to trade our best guys to get that quick fix, but it would be a huge mistake. The Preds are on their way to having one of the best defenses in the league. We also have some great kids of our own, and now that the Defense First, Defense At All Cost coach has moved on those kids have a real chance of realizing their offensive potential. I'm willing to be patient rather than give up an elite defender who's a better goal scorer than all but one of our forwards.

Do the Av's move Ryan O'Reilly? If so what will it take to land him?

Do the Av's move Ryan O'Reilly? If so what will it take to land him?
- slash&smash

I doubt it, but I guess it depends on what's done with Stastny or vice-versa.

"Ryan is with us and he's going to be with us," Sakic told ESPN.com on Tuesday. "He's a great hockey player. We've agreed to work on a contract in the summer, both sides."

He's RFA, but his qualifying offer would be around $6.5mm I believe. The Avs may not want to pay that for him. They didn't want to pay him what he's making now. They might be enticed with a package of Wilson+. Wilson's contract is much better and he'll still be RFA next season. The question is, would the Preds want to spend the extra money on O'Reilly rather than see what Wilson has in him?

It'll be interesting to watch Wilson in a different system.

I doubt it, but I guess it depends on what's done with Stastny or vice-versa.



He's RFA, but his qualifying offer would be around $6.5mm I believe. The Avs may not want to pay that for him. They didn't want to pay him what he's making now. They might be enticed with a package of Wilson+. Wilson's contract is much better and he'll still be RFA next season. The question is, would the Preds want to spend the extra money on O'Reilly rather than see what Wilson has in him?

It'll be interesting to watch Wilson in a different system.
- Predaceous

I read somewhere that the Av's did not want to pay ROR more than Duchene. The Blues will be interesting to watch in the offseason.

I would not trade Weber. We wouldn't get the return for him that people think we'd get. We'd get offered some draft picks (not conducive to a quick fix) and some nice younger guys, but we wouldn't get a superstar for a superstar. No one is going to do that. Would you give up Giroux for Weber?

Preds fans want a quick fix. They want to trade our best guys to get that quick fix, but it would be a huge mistake. The Preds are on their way to having one of the best defenses in the league. We also have some great kids of our own, and now that the Defense First, Defense At All Cost coach has moved on those kids have a real chance of realizing their offensive potential. I'm willing to be patient rather than give up an elite defender who's a better goal scorer than all but one of our forwards.
- Predaceous

I think what you are looking at is that the majority of the teams that trade away star players try to rebuild their team and they ask for that return. In trading Weber, the Predators would be looking to bring back a young star forward in return. That trade gets harder and harder to make once you pay Weber more of his signing bonuses.

This year might be the last year trading Weber makes sense because I think they could get enough return for him for a trade to make sense, even with the signing bonuses. Even if a new GM comes in next year, I don't see management allowing him to trade Weber because 1) they would have payed over half of Weber's signing bonuses and 2) it virtually eliminates the Predators from making the playoffs for a year.

If the Predators hire a new GM and he really wants a star forward, Jones might be the best option but trades like that rarely ever happen. The most likely defenseman to go is Ellis, who should end up being a first line defenseman when it is all said and done. It makes no sense to have three right-handed defenseman on your team who all deserve to play on the first line. I expect that problem to be fixed before Jones gets a new contract. Kudos to Poile and the scouting staff for even having that problem, though. Definitely not a bad problem to have.

Do the Av's move Ryan O'Reilly? If so what will it take to land him?
- slash&smash

I think the biggest question is : Whom is going to be the next coach? That is what is going to help drive our roster. If it is Housley I don't see the roster changing much. If someone else...I foresee changes.

I doubt it, but I guess it depends on what's done with Stastny or vice-versa.



He's RFA, but his qualifying offer would be around $6.5mm I believe. The Avs may not want to pay that for him. They didn't want to pay him what he's making now. They might be enticed with a package of Wilson+. Wilson's contract is much better and he'll still be RFA next season. The question is, would the Preds want to spend the extra money on O'Reilly rather than see what Wilson has in him?

It'll be interesting to watch Wilson in a different system.
- Predaceous

Wilson's trade value would get the Preds some picks/prospects. Why in the world would ANY GM give up a legit player for a player that has done nothing but underperform in this league. ROR is twice the player Wilson is.

If a trade for ROR involves Wilson...there will be a large + going with Wilson. The guy has done nothing in this league.

Wilson's trade value would get the Preds some picks/prospects. Why in the world would ANY GM give up a legit player for a player that has done nothing but underperform in this league. ROR is twice the player Wilson is.

If a trade for ROR involves Wilson...there will be a large + going with Wilson. The guy has done nothing in this league.
- nikoli1206

Ditto. I think he prefers being in front of a camera that being on the ice.

Wilson's trade value would get the Preds some picks/prospects. Why in the world would ANY GM give up a legit player for a player that has done nothing but underperform in this league. ROR is twice the player Wilson is.

If a trade for ROR involves Wilson...there will be a large + going with Wilson. The guy has done nothing in this league.
- nikoli1206

-He was close to a point per game player before he went down with a shoulder injury last season.
-He was playing great the season before that until Trotz inexplicably benched him for the playoffs because Poile got too many players at the deadline.
-He's still young, and still has a ton of potential
-He wasn't playing at his natural position until Legwand was traded
-He was in Trotz's system
-He's signed to a very reasonable salary
-He'll be RFA instead of UFA when his contract runs out

I think there are still a lot of people out there who think his potential can be tapped with a different coach/change of scenery. I still see a lot of upside with Wilson and think he could be a nice part of a trade package.

-He was close to a point per game player before he went down with a shoulder injury last season.
-He was playing great the season before that until Trotz inexplicably benched him for the playoffs because Poile got too many players at the deadline.
-He's still young, and still has a ton of potential
-He wasn't playing at his natural position until Legwand was traded
-He was in Trotz's system
-He's signed to a very reasonable salary
-He'll be RFA instead of UFA when his contract runs out

I think there are still a lot of people out there who think his potential can be tapped with a different coach/change of scenery. I still see a lot of upside with Wilson and think he could be a nice part of a trade package.
- Predaceous

19 points in 25 games is a good run...it hardly proves that the player can maintain that pace. I am willing to bet you can find runs like that by players that are FAR less impressive than Wilson. He is no where near a point per game player.

He has has four years to establish himself and failed to prove he is worthy of a first line spot. How long do we keep calling it potential instead of calling him a bust?

He had the Eighth most goals on an offensively challenged club this year. Eric (frank)ing Nystrom had four more goals than he did.

Maybe Wilson does have a breakout year in a different system...but all signs point towards the same crap we have seen for over four seasons.

-He was close to a point per game player before he went down with a shoulder injury last season.
-He was playing great the season before that until Trotz inexplicably benched him for the playoffs because Poile got too many players at the deadline.
-He's still young, and still has a ton of potential
-He wasn't playing at his natural position until Legwand was traded
-He was in Trotz's system
-He's signed to a very reasonable salary
-He'll be RFA instead of UFA when his contract runs out

I think there are still a lot of people out there who think his potential can be tapped with a different coach/change of scenery. I still see a lot of upside with Wilson and think he could be a nice part of a trade package.
- Predaceous

I want to see what Wilson can do under a new coach. I have a lot of faith in this guy. I think Trotz squelched talent like his. I hope we keep him. And not just because of my avatar.

19 points in 25 games is a good run...it hardly proves that the player can maintain that pace. I am willing to bet you can find runs like that by players that are FAR less impressive than Wilson. He is no where near a point per game player.

He has has four years to establish himself and failed to prove he is worthy of a first line spot. How long do we keep calling it potential instead of calling him a bust?

He had the Eighth most goals on an offensively challenged club this year. Eric (frank)ing Nystrom had four more goals than he did.

Maybe Wilson does have a breakout year in a different system...but all signs point towards the same crap we have seen for over four seasons.
- nikoli1206

He will have a break out year next year. Last year on his contract.

19 points in 25 games is a good run...it hardly proves that the player can maintain that pace. I am willing to bet you can find runs like that by players that are FAR less impressive than Wilson. He is no where near a point per game player.

He has has four years to establish himself and failed to prove he is worthy of a first line spot. How long do we keep calling it potential instead of calling him a bust?

He had the Eighth most goals on an offensively challenged club this year. Eric (frank)ing Nystrom had four more goals than he did.

Maybe Wilson does have a breakout year in a different system...but all signs point towards the same crap we have seen for over four seasons.
- nikoli1206

What signs? He was improving every year until he had the shoulder issues. We all know Trotz's system isn't conducive to putting anyone on the map in the scoring dept.

I also think he'll do much better at his natural position in a more offensively oriented system.

He was the one guy Chiarelli asked for when Poile wanted to trade for Kessel. I'd be willing to bet there are still plenty of GMs who might view him as someone who could benefit from a change in scenery.

What signs? He was improving every year until he had the shoulder issues. We all know Trotz's system isn't conducive to putting anyone on the map in the scoring dept.

I also think he'll do much better at his natural position in a more offensively oriented system.

He was the one guy Chiarelli asked for when Poile wanted to trade for Kessel. I'd be willing to bet there are still plenty of GMs who might view him as someone who could benefit from a change in scenery.
- Predaceous

I think Wilson is moved this summer. What would it cost the Preds if they offer sheeted O'Reilly or Bergland?