Happy Fathers Day to all, including my dad, father-in-law and brothers-in-law. My dad helped instill a love of sports and the Rangers, as did my maternal grandfather. Hope all the dads have a great day.
I posed my 20+ offseason blog earlier in the week. Several of these questions may and probably will get answered within the next week by activity within the league. One question that clearly should be answered by next weeks is # 5 was "Would you deal Cam Talbot, knowing there is no true back up goalie that can play 20-25 games behind Henrik Lundqvist in the organization?"
It seems almost a foregone conclusion that Talbot will be dealt. Within the industry, it seems to be a fait accompli that Talbot will go. The only questions are where and for what.
Larry Brooks wrote last week:
The safest bet going into the June 26-27 draft weekend is the Blueshirts will indeed trade Cam Talbot. Several well-placed sources report there is a “significant… amount of interest in the soon-to-be 28-year-old goaltender, with inquiries not confined to clubs seeking a No. 1, but from some as well looking for a backup.The Rangers are seeking to maximize the return in draft picks for the netminder, who was the team’s most valuable player the second half of the season during Henrik Lundqvist’s extended absence.
Darren Dreger said earlier this week
that the Oilers, Flames and Sharks are the most likely targets for Talbot.
I posted the following in a comment to my prior blog:
If solely looking at draft picks, those teams have:
Edmonton: 1, 16, 33, 57, 79, 86 Calgary: 15, 42, 52, 53, 76, 83 SJ: 9, 39
We have discussed wanting the 16 from Edmonton while the 33 is more likely in play. Calgary had a pick around 15 but lower than 33 while San Jose isn't move 9 and 39 is not that far off from 33. But if Calgary or San Jose want Talbot and their first rounders are available, it would likely take their second round pick and something else back.
I could see Sather pitting Edmonton against Calgary, saying your rival is willing to move their first, will you, to get that mid-first rounder.
One possible limiting factor in a deal is the following from Elliotte Freedman in his 30 thoughts column:
As for Cam Talbot, the toughest thing preventing the Rangers from getting the best possible price for him is that he’s on a one-year contract with free agency beckoning. Under CBA rules, he cannot be extended until Jan. 1, 2016. If teams knew they could do it in July, you could get permission to talk to him and have an idea of what you’re looking at. That’s not possible. He’s still good value. But this gives the acquiring team less control.
I have made my view clear on a possible Talbot trade in prior blogs, but in case not, here it is again:
I understand why this move would be made but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Without Talbot, there is no way the Rangers get the President's Trophy and one could argue, not make the playoffs. Talbot carried the team while Lundqvist was sidelined.New York needs to replenish assets. Talbot is only signed for one more year at $1.45 million and then will be a UFA. So the view is given both situations, maximize the asset now. On paper, it all makes sense. But as I have said, who plays goal next year when Hank sits? Is it Cedric Desjardins? Do you feel comfortable having him play 20-25 games, presuming all is normal? Is there a free agent goalie out there who you can sign for $1.45 million or likely less, given the team's cap situation, and entrust him to 20-25 games?
It seems inevitable that Talbot will get dealt. If you can get Edmonton's second first round pick, 16th overall, then it's a no-brainer. But if that deal is made and whoever NY signs or trades for as the second goalie, don't complain next year that Lundqvist has no back up. Sather created the mess with his deals and now he has to find a way to clean it up. He tried similar dealing Derek Dorsett and his $1.633 mil for a third rounder, which looks to be a solid pick, but then signed Tanner Glass for three years at $1.45 mil. While Glass was better late in the year and in the playoffs, a similar silly signing would hurt the cap and leave NY without a solid backup netminder.
If you get the 16th pick, no question. if you get the 33rd and Martin Marincin, as rumored, it's okay, not great. Marincin is basically a defensive defenseman who has yet to stick on a team desperate for defensive d-men. In addition, his stock has dropped from year-to-year as he has become more and more inconsistent. On and by the way, he is an RFA, so you will need to qualify him, meaning additional cap hit to your team. My understanding though is that unlike Dylan McIlrath or Conor Allen, he would not need to be exposed to waivers to be sent down, but right now, who would you rather have McIlrath, Allen or Marincin as a 6/7 d-man?
If it's Calgary, which I doubt with Ramo there, but keeping with Ek's rumor today, what would you take for him. If it's the 15, of course. But what if it's the 42, what piece would have to come along? Does a Brandon Hickey, selected last year, excite you as a possible future piece? Is there a forward, who could slot as a bottom-six player, that would make it palatable? Or, does it have to be the 15th overall?
In addition, who is the back up goalie? Will it be Desjardins? If i am NY, I try and sign Jonas Gustavsson to a cap-friendly deal by pushing the fact that he will be reunited with Henrik Lundsvist and create an all-Sweden duo between the pipes. That may be difficult as Gustavsson made $1.85 mil last year and he would have come in below the $1.45 mil that Talbot made to make sense. If not those two, the next call I would make is to Dan Ellis, who played well when Roberto Luongo was out in Florida. Ellis is not the end all and be all but he is a solid vet, who could step in and start when needed while also coming at a relative bargain. Other possible options are Jhonas Enroth (pricier), Thomas Greiss (intriguing), Anders Lindback (no thanks) and Richard Bachman (maybe).
It's a foregone conclusion that Talbot will be gone. The where and for what is still to be decided. Same with who replaces him.
I ask you, what would be the minimum you would take for him and who would you sign or use as Lundqvist's backup?