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Evan Bouchard is at a bit of an impasse with a team that is “snug… to the cap. Brett Pesce is potentially available for trade. Our right side could use a boost, but what is the cost?
GMs are in some head scratching situations as “internal budgets… and a stagnant cap (along with a desire not to lose a player for nothing) continue to intersect. I’m not really thinking about offer sheets (not applicable for Pesce). Honestly, each year a case can be made but it does more than get a player a raise to stay put. Bad blood (burning bridges) isn’t the best business strategy. The days of fist fights at GM meetings are long gone. I’ve had few business dealings of import, but have made mistakes and learned hard lessons.
Yzerman seems like a straight shooter. He turned down an offer at the draft to get Debrincat with a first rounder and made a deal he preferred later. I don’t think he’d take a run at Ken Holland via offer sheet either. Pesce was a desired piece in Toronto during Nylander’s last negotiation, not sure if they’re having conversations or not.
Regardless, either of those d men are going to need a raise now or in a year. Seider is going to get a raise, and I think Raymond will get more of a “bridge… type raise. Detroit isn’t at that crossroads where the right piece puts them anywhere near the front of the line. I feel like we’ve got more invested in 2nd and 3rd line centers than maybe we should have, but it’s not my budget. Just an opinion.
At some point, you do go for it. Some remember Fedorov sitting out for a good chunk of a year while the relationship between Illitch and Karmanos dissolved into vapors. I don’t mean like that. I mean you give up high picks, prospects, more $ than you may prefer. Teams against the cap are described as either having a problem or having a plan. “They’re going all in… or, “they need upgrades and can’t afford them…. I love the back and forth. I even occasionally screenshot comments for future generations. “Rebuild is done, plan the parade…. Some of those may be among the stash.
The temptation is for a club to be “knocking on the door… and then make drastic changes based on the previous cup winner. There have been some diverse team makeups in the past 6 years. Vegas and Colorado have stoic players seemingly made of iron. Tampa had a unique mix but a star goalie, incredible top D man, and a tempo akin to “flight of the bumble bee…. Pittsburgh had IQ, a very nice goalie rotation in the post season, and fantastic skill.
The hard part is choosing a path and revisiting it with honest assessment. “A little less pretty, a little more gritty… is a phrase spouted on the ‘97 Wings DVD. The 2002 DVD should be “this is why there will be a salary cap…. I still love watching Brett Hull and Pav on a line together. At least half that team is running something in the world of hockey at this point, right?
So, should Steve be making calls? We got a cat, should we go fishing? The ask for Bouchard’s rights could be fairly high, and what is the fish market going to do after ‘24?
I really want to see a boost to the right side D before camp. Probably wishful thinking but who knows? Let me know where you would cast a line, and it could be anywhere. Let me know your thoughts.