Matt Karash: Moving away from Jordan Staal trade: Part 4: Free agent/summer roster plan

I think every blog you have from now on should reference Jordan Staal in some way.

Canes win, Jordan Staal goes pointless in 1-0 shutout!

GM meetings go south, Rutherford angry at potential rule changes, Jordan Staal not asked to attend.

I think every blog you have from now on should reference Jordan Staal in some way.

Canes win, Jordan Staal goes pointless in 1-0 shutout!

GM meetings go south, Rutherford angry at potential rule changes, Jordan Staal not asked to attend.
- Lohaus

That's a great idea! But I'm already on that. Got anything else?

That's a great idea! But I'm already on that. Got anything else?
- CarolinaMatt63

One thing I know that works is a trick Huddle uses as well. Reference a Leaf/Flyer/Sabre or put up a logo of one of those teams... as it relates to the Canes.

Even suggest you heard from a source the Canes are interested in one of their players. Its can't miss blogging on this site!

That was a chapter in the Wealthy Barber.

One thing I know that works is a trick Huddle uses as well. Reference a Leaf/Flyer/Sabre or put up a logo of one of those teams... as it relates to the Canes.

Even suggest you heard from a source the Canes are interested in one of their players. Its can't miss blogging on this site!

That was a chapter in the Wealthy Barber.
- Lohaus

Eklund is already the king of that.. LEAFS/PHILLY IN ON EVERY PLAYER IN THE NHL (E5)

Eklund is already the king of that.. LEAFS/PHILLY IN ON EVERY PLAYER IN THE NHL (E5)
- T_Cane0

Learn from the best. People can rag on the guy all they want, he's a mast of getting people to check in and comment. It isn't easy keeping that type of attention for this many years.

Pens fan here. As an outsider looking in you are stronger with both staals down the middle. You just need one high end forward.

Tlusty e Staal Nash/Ryan
Ruutu j Staal skinner

That would be a deadly one two punch

Then when needed you can put both staals on the same line for a change of pace or to make something happen ala Crosby/malkin

Matt, The reason i see JR going after a higher-tier type forward relates to his avowal of adding a wing for Eric's line! Well his brother really is a center (who may play some w/ Eric but may be the 2nd line center). By trading Sutter we really haven't got that extra wing, we just replaced Sutter. An argument can be made that we're still in the same place, and essentially we are!
The money issue may not be a problem due to the TV contract (added money), and a potential increase in ticket revenues. (higher prices, more season tiks)

Pens fan here. As an outsider looking in you are stronger with both staals down the middle. You just need one high end forward.

Tlusty e Staal Nash/Ryan
Ruutu j Staal skinner

That would be a deadly one two punch

Then when needed you can put both staals on the same line for a change of pace or to make something happen ala Crosby/malkin
- mwalluk

We don't have the assets to get Ryan(maybe) or Nash. Nash would also be too expensive salary wise. We don't need a 7.8mil salary wing. Small market is small market and JR does a great job of getting affordable options.

Also, you forgot Jussi Jokinen.

They'll be looking for a playmaking winger like Ray Whitney basically to increase Eric's production.

Matt, The reason i see JR going after a higher-tier type forward relates to his avowal of adding a wing for Eric's line! Well his brother really is a center (who may play some w/ Eric but may be the 2nd line center). By trading Sutter we really haven't got that extra wing, we just replaced Sutter. An argument can be made that we're still in the same place, and essentially we are!
The money issue may not be a problem due to the TV contract (added money), and a potential increase in ticket revenues. (higher prices, more season tiks)
- randycane

You could be right. My hunch (and it is just a hunch) is that JR got the opportunity to actually get something done even if it was not exactly what he was looking for and he spent the money there. This is smart. Fans sometimes heap criticism on GMs for not doing stuff when they actually tried. If he does not sign with NJ before then, in a couple days Parise will get fairly similar/great offers from something like 8-12 teams. All but 1 of those GMs will come up empty. And there simply are not enough high end players for everyone who wants one to get one. At forward, it's probably Parise, Ryan and Nash (via trade), maybe Semin and Doan and who else?

So I think Rutherford spent his wing money on Staal when he got a chance to get something done rather than save his money for the free agent raffle that often loses even if you do have the money to ante up.

I think Rutherford checks on Whitney's price and term, maybe sniffs around a couple other pure offense options (i.e. Boyes) but steers clear of any bidding wars and defaults to a 3rd line center if nothing comes through reasonably priced for a reasonable term.

You could be right. My hunch (and it is just a hunch) is that JR got the opportunity to actually get something done even if it was not exactly what he was looking for and he spent the money there. This is smart. Fans sometimes heap criticism on GMs for not doing stuff when they actually tried. If he does not sign with NJ before then, in a couple days Parise will get fairly similar/great offers from something like 8-12 teams. All but 1 of those GMs will come up empty. And there simply are not enough high end players for everyone who wants one to get one. At forward, it's probably Parise, Ryan and Nash (via trade), maybe Semin and Doan and who else?

So I think Rutherford spent his wing money on Staal when he got a chance to get something done rather than save his money for the free agent raffle that often loses even if you do have the money to ante up.

I think Rutherford checks on Whitney's price and term, maybe sniffs around a couple other pure offense options (i.e. Boyes) but steers clear of any bidding wars and defaults to a 3rd line center if nothing comes through reasonably priced for a reasonable term.
- CarolinaMatt63

..but why do you dismiss my point that JR may have the"permission" to spend
considerably more? JR may indeed be able to spend enough to get one of those guys you mention, or Parenteau, Gaustad, Stempniak, Fedotenko...

While I do like the Staal pickup, Matt, you're painting a picture that feels awfully similar to last year again. Where we sign mid tier UFAs and hold money to make the hypothetical big splash at the deadline that never happens cause we are out of contention.

Focusing on the offense first. If the Canes are really serious about making a strong push to win the division (and a Cup) now, they need another top 6 forward. If we only go out and sign a budget checking center for the third line and Tlusty doesn't hit, well, now you're back to overslotting guys again (Chad LaRose, come on down!).

What we need is a Dominic Moore type, PLUS a wing who can potentially push Tlusty down a line if necessary. Then, worst case, you move a Ruutu or Jokinen down the 3rd now and now you're rolling three potentially dangerous lines. Problem is, if you went out and got a Whitney lets say, what's you're opening day first 9?

On D, this is a bit of a tricker spot. I'd almost say it's worth rolling to dice to start the year with Gleason, Pitkanen, Faulk, McBain, Harrison and Bobby Sang. Try to add a vet on a 1 year deal. And then, play wait and see for a in season trade.

I think the talent placement on this team right now dictates we spend on offense. Put together three complete lines, rather than leave a possible hole in our top 2 and spend $4mil to sign a second tier d man.

Another note: the amount of public attention the Canes have right now is as high as it's been since they've won the cup.

If there was ever a time to spend and strike while the iron was hot from both a personnel and a business standpoint, this is it.

Another note: the amount of public attention the Canes have right now is as high as it's been since they've won the cup.

If there was ever a time to spend and strike while the iron was hot from both a personnel and a business standpoint, this is it.
- Gossler1

EXACTLY!!!!

I think the talent placement on this team right now dictates we spend on offense.
- Gossler1

I respectfully disagree. Right now I think the D is a bigger questionmark than our O. We essentially have an All-Kid 2nd line D pairing. These guys are still young and fragile. McBain hasn't turned out as strong as we expected and we are relying on a bounce back. Sophmore slump is a common thing, which could hit Faulk. That is dangerous counting a whole line on kids. Playing with fire.

Meanwhile we have something like this on O
Eric Jordan Tlusty/Boychuk/Dalpe
Ruutu Jokinen Skinner
Larose UFA Dwyer

With all of those parts very interchangable. If we get a winger to play top line, that bumps Tlusty down to 3/4 lines, not Ruutu or Jokinen. Tlusty definitely has not passed them on the performance charts.

Pitkanen - Gleason
Faulk - UFA
McBain - Harrison
Sang/Joslin fighting for 7.

Faulk and McBain can compete for that 2nd line duty and limit the amount of "young guy" issues we would have. If one starts having a bad streak, the other gets bumped up to 2nd line and we are still going fine.

I agree with Matt. 3rd C, Top 4 D. If we get a winger like Whitney, that is great. However, I think we should trade Tlusty out of respect if that were to happen. He showed a lot last season and deserves a shot at the top 6 forward slot. I'm sure another team would be interested in giving him a shot.

Did you forget Murphy?

Did you forget Murphy?
- randycane

No. He is a wild card though. If he blows the door off in camp, I think it could go like this:

1) He fits nicely as the offensive-half of a 3rd pairing who would immediately garner power play time (we are light are on pure offensive dmen). Harrison is the closest we have to a Glen Wesley who can help a young guy and clean up some messes in a role where you can control matchups a bit as a 3rd pairing guy.

2) McBain might suddenly become available. IF we sign another top 4 and IF Faulk settles into the other top 4 spot, McBain suddenly becomes a slightly overpriced (not horribly) 3rd pairing Dman with less upside than Murphy who is much younger.

But put simply, I don't think you can count on Murphy anywhere in your top 6 for sure having no real NHL experience. He has to turn heads and earn it in camp. We have a history of that with guys like Cole (long time ago), Vasicek, Staal, Skinner, etc. doing exactly that in training camp.

As far as Faulk goes, not only will he start the season in the 2nd pair, but i wouldn't be surprised he's top 2 in 2 months! I'm THAT IMPRESSED!!
I'll be shocked if he has any kind of slump!

As far as Faulk goes, not only will he start the season in the 2nd pair, but i wouldn't be surprised he's top 2 in 2 months! I'm THAT IMPRESSED!!
I'll be shocked if he has any kind of slump!
- randycane

This was McBain coming out of the 2009-10 season. As a 22-year-old McBain was coming off a blistering +35 and 60pts pace. The run was fewer games (only 14) but the optimism for McBain was exactly none less than it is for Faulk right now. The debate going into the following season was whether he would assume the role of the Canes best defenseman. McBain went on to struggle mightily and only regain his form 2nd half of the year.

I have no prediction for Faulk. I lean optimistic. And my best guess is that he will be a solid top 4 defenseman. But to call a 20-year-old defenseman with 1 year of experience a safe bet/sure thing ignores history. And we know from the 2 consecutive slow starts that the Oct/Dec Jamie McBain is not at all a safe bet for the top 4.

This was McBain coming out of the 2009-10 season. As a 22-year-old McBain was coming off a blistering +35 and 60pts pace. The run was fewer games (only 14) but the optimism for McBain was exactly none less than it is for Faulk right now. The debate going into the following season was whether he would assume the role of the Canes best defenseman. McBain went on to struggle mightily and only regain his form 2nd half of the year.

I have no prediction for Faulk. I lean optimistic. And my best guess is that he will be a solid top 4 defenseman. But to call a 20-year-old defenseman with 1 year of experience a safe bet/sure thing ignores history. And we know from the 2 consecutive slow starts that the Oct/Dec Jamie McBain is not at all a safe bet for the top 4.
- CarolinaMatt63

apples/ oranges
Mcbain was/ is impressive for scoring. I like Faulks all-around game. he doesn't need to be a big scorer to still be effective!

Did you forget Murphy?
- randycane

Nah, it's my personal opinion that everyone should play at least one year in the AHL. I understand Staal and Skinner might be able to skip it. But I don't think it should be done. It gives them a year to mature physically to be better prepared for the NHL. I'm glad they've done well, but I think it better for their careers in the long run.

It's why I think Detroit has such a good farm system, their people come up through the system and develop into the kind of player you want in the NHL before they get to play. Plus they learn the coaches system because it is designed the same. So, they are more prepared for how the coach would typically use them. But that's just my opinion.

So nah, didn't forget Murphy. I think he should play with the Checkers a season.