Kesler, Hamhuis and Bieksa would bring in very nice returns IMO. All 3 are guys that most GM's never trade and are under contract at more than reasonable cap hits. That being said, it's very hard to swing non-rental deals these days, especially significant ones, it's easy to swing a 2nd for a rental, but the big deals usually don't happen in a flash...and multiple big deals would be very hard to pull off.

I'll say it again, at the TDL I'm expecting one trade at the most and zero would not shock me since Edler's value is low compared to years past and could increase.

At the draft is where I expect the most action. Players should be more willing to move their families during the entire summer, cap will go up so buyers will have more flexibility, more compliance buyouts also frees up more space for teams and etc. Plus the UFA market sucks outside of a handful of players.
- Nucker101

The returns are higher at TDL

Kesler, Hamhuis and Bieksa would bring in very nice returns IMO. All 3 are guys that most GM's never trade and are under contract at more than reasonable cap hits. That being said, it's very hard to swing non-rental deals these days, especially significant ones, it's easy to swing a 2nd for a rental, but the big deals usually don't happen in a flash...and multiple big deals would be very hard to pull off.

I'll say it again, at the TDL I'm expecting one trade at the most and zero would not shock me since Edler's value is low compared to years past and could increase.

At the draft is where I expect the most action. Players should be more willing to move their families during the entire summer, cap will go up so buyers will have more flexibility, more compliance buyouts also frees up more space for teams and etc. Plus the UFA market sucks outside of a handful of players.
- Nucker101

Although I agree with all this, keep in mind that there will be a 2 week Olympic break coming up where GMs will have a lot of time to assess team needs and negotiate with each other. As far as I'm aware, the Olympic trade freeze doesn't ban conversations taking place. I could be wrong on that.

I'd do that straight up in a heartbeat, the Jackets won't move him now that he's had a breakout season. He doesn't have the apparent "attitude issues" of an Evander Kane or Tyler Seguin and loos like he'll be a #1 center for CBJ to build around. Their new management are the guys who built the Blues..they like big players or smaller guys with grit and Johansen fits the size category for sure.
- Nucker101

Another team that may be interested in looking into a Kesler deal would be Minny in the summer.

Heatly off the books and Kesler Parise Vanek could be a very good line even though Parise and Vanek are blotch LHF

The return would have to be monumental to warrant trading Kesler.
- Fosco

Another team that may be interested in looking into a Kesler deal would be Minny in the summer.

Heatly off the books and Kesler Parise Vanek could be a very good line even though Parise and Vanek are blotch LHF
- VANTEL

Mind u ...KES has a short list of teams, cause of being NTC; for MG to deal with.....Im thinking also..Philly, his hometown-Detroit...and maybe Washington?

Nope.

In much better shape than they were at the time of their decline.

Both the NHL roster and the prospect pool.

The Flames are a worst case scenario.
- Fosco

Even though it is a very short period ,we are the worst team in the league as of 2014. I don't see an end in sight to this funk any time soon . The good thing is I see a higher draft pick than most people here anticipated.

General question, I don't get to see you guys play much, but do you put any of the blame on Torts. Is there anything in his system that he has brought to the team that you guys don't like? Or is it more the difference between the 2 styles of coaching and taking some time to get comfortable with Tort's system?

Nope.

In much better shape than they were at the time of their decline.

Both the NHL roster and the prospect pool.

The Flames are a worst case scenario.
- Fosco

This is accurate, as long as the right steps are taken from this point onwards.

The returns are higher at TDL
- VANTEL

The return are always high at anytime for non-rental players like Kesler, Hamhuis, Bieksa. Look at Mike Richards. I'm not saying that I'm against a TDL sell, but just saying it's more likely that the draft will be where the most action happens. At last year's draft Gillis could have potentially moved both Schneider and Edler for young players, picks...he was pretty close to getting the Detroit deal done.

Although I agree with all this, keep in mind that there will be a 2 week Olympic break coming up where GMs will have a lot of time to assess team needs and negotiate with each other. As far as I'm aware, the Olympic trade freeze doesn't ban conversations taking place. I could be wrong on that.
- AlexF

That's a good point, a trade could easily be agreed upon during that time and made official after the trade freeze. I just think most of the core players with families would prefer to be traded during the summer. It's why I see Edler as more likely to waive now and also be traded now more so than any other of the NTC guys.

General question, I don't get to see you guys play much, but do you put any of the blame on Torts. Is there anything in his system that he has brought to the team that you guys don't like? Or is it more the difference between the 2 styles of coaching and taking some time to get comfortable with Tort's system?
- mdw7413

no scoring, been a problem for 2 years especially in playoffs. No one to blame, but the core and AV (just because).

Another team that may be interested in looking into a Kesler deal would be Minny in the summer.

Heatly off the books and Kesler Parise Vanek could be a very good line even though Parise and Vanek are blotch LHF
- VANTEL

Minny's depth is gonna be weak if they have Koivu/Parise/Suter/Vanek/Kesler all on the books. I highly doubt Kesler is traded within the West. Philly made sure that Richards/Carter would stay in the West, I'd expect Gillis to do the same. Remember the Schneider deal...

That's a good point, a trade could easily be agreed upon during that time and made official after the trade freeze. I just think most of the core players with families would prefer to be traded during the summer. It's why I see Edler as more likely to waive now and also be traded now more so than any other of the NTC guys.
- Nucker101

I think so too with Edler , it could be anytime and it could also be never . Nothing would surprise me. Just don't let him go for a bad trade.

This is accurate, as long as the right steps are taken from this point onwards.
- AlexF

They have enough depth that they can afford not to sell all of the vets.

And they have guys like Corrado, Horvat, Shinkaruk, Gaunce, Hutton, Lack, Jensen coming up, not to mention a few bottom-6/pairing F and D coming in the pipeline.

It's a much better situation than Calgary, but yup, the right steps need to be taken from here out.

Calgary had what? Irving, Backlund (good player now), Brodie (also good), and not much else before they started getting high picks and selling off assets...

General question, I don't get to see you guys play much, but do you put any of the blame on Torts. Is there anything in his system that he has brought to the team that you guys don't like? Or is it more the difference between the 2 styles of coaching and taking some time to get comfortable with Tort's system?
- mdw7413

Torts has been decent, I think his style is going to turn certain players off though, it's fine when you have a winning team but if you're a .500 team then it can get tiresome and cause some problems. He probably made a mistake using the Sedins on the PK and giving them more minutes while a guy like Hansen has barely played the PK. The PP also sucks and the coaching staff has to take some of the blame, some teams like Nashville who don't have better forwards have a better PP so that says something.

That being said, he's not to blame for the team's lack of skill and scoring depth, that's on Gillis.

That's a good point, a trade could easily be agreed upon during that time and made official after the trade freeze. I just think most of the core players with families would prefer to be traded during the summer. It's why I see Edler as more likely to waive now and also be traded now more so than any other of the NTC guys.
- Nucker101

It will be interesting to see how GMMG addresses the ntc/nmc. Will he approach players with ntc's before he shops them, will he shop them or only wait for offers from other teams before approaching these players?

Someone mentioned the "in Gillis we trust" on the thread last night... I am not sure how much I trust Gillis if he isn't willing to ask players to waive ntc/nmc as previously discussed. Guess we will see how long a leash he really has.

They have enough depth that they can afford not to sell all of the vets.

And they have guys like Corrado, Horvat, Shinkaruk, Gaunce, Hutton, Lack, Jensen coming up, not to mention a few bottom-6/pairing F and D coming in the pipeline.

It's a much better situation than Calgary, but yup, the right steps need to be taken from here out.

Calgary had what? Irving, Backlund (good player now), Brodie (also good), and not much else before they started getting high picks and selling off assets...
- Fosco

I know most of are looking ahead to when these players develop. Horvat Cassels COrrado Fox Tanev Lack Kassian seem like it could be entertaining us for a couple of years.

Another team that may be interested in looking into a Kesler deal would be Minny in the summer.

Heatly off the books and Kesler Parise Vanek could be a very good line even though Parise and Vanek are blotch LHF
- VANTEL

Minnesota have some attractive assets and would be close to Kesler's home so he might waive for them is MG asked him to.

Presumably their top 6 next year would be:

Vanek-Koivu-Parise
Pominville-Granlund-Neidereiter/Coyle

Kesler would definitely boost that 2nd line right away but we'd need to be getting back so strong young assets.

Kesler for Granlund + Neidereitter/Coyle + pick?

General question, I don't get to see you guys play much, but do you put any of the blame on Torts. Is there anything in his system that he has brought to the team that you guys don't like? Or is it more the difference between the 2 styles of coaching and taking some time to get comfortable with Tort's system?
- mdw7413

I've liked Torts, so far.

The only thing I could place on him is that the team is tired and broken down because of him overusing certain players.

But really, what is he supposed to do? It's his job to win games, and Gillis hasn't given him the depth to do that without overplaying the top players.

The fans and media thought this would happen eventually, but I didn't expect it to this degree.

The team looks absolutely bagged.

Minnesota have some attractive assets and would be close to Kesler's home so he might waive for them is MG asked him to.

Presumably their top 6 next year would be:

Vanek-Koivu-Parise
Pominville-Granlund-Neidereiter/Coyle

Kesler would definitely boost that 2nd line right away but we'd need to be getting back so strong young assets.

Kesler for Granlund + Neidereitter/Coyle + pick?
- AlexF

That would be a good return.

Torts has been decent, I think his style is going to turn certain players off though, it's fine when you have a winning team but if you're a .500 team then it can get tiresome and cause some problems. He probably made a mistake using the Sedins on the PK and giving them more minutes while a guy like Hansen has barely played the PK. The PP also sucks and the coaching staff has to take some of the blame, some teams like Nashville who don't have better forwards have a better PP so that says something.

That being said, he's not to blame for the team's lack of skill and scoring depth, that's on Gillis.
- Nucker101

We are 5 games under .500

It will be interesting to see how GMMG addresses the ntc/nmc. Will he approach players with ntc's before he shops them, will he shop them or only wait for offers from other teams before approaching these players?

Someone mentioned the "in Gillis we trust" on the thread last night... I am not sure how much I trust Gillis if he isn't willing to ask players to waive ntc/nmc as previously discussed. Guess we will see how long a leash he really has.
- hillbillydeluxe

Shouldn't be a big deal for him to ask. A lot of the guys are older and none of them have a cup. They have NTC's so they can be as specific and picky as they want about which handful of teams they'd be cool with being traded to. The problem is that it does hurt MG's bargaining power if a player like Hamhuis is only open to being moved to 3 teams or something. Gillis could BS with other teams and pretend that the list is much bigger though, it's a game of poker.

Any news on the trade front concerning Alex " for spare parts" Edler?

Or even perhaps David "can't touch this" Booth?

We are 5 games under .500
- VANTEL

I don't consider shootout losses/wins as legit, they're ties in my books when evaluating a team.

Minnesota have some attractive assets and would be close to Kesler's home so he might waive for them is MG asked him to.

Presumably their top 6 next year would be:

Vanek-Koivu-Parise
Pominville-Granlund-Neidereiter/Coyle

Kesler would definitely boost that 2nd line right away but we'd need to be getting back so strong young assets.

Kesler for Granlund + Neidereitter/Coyle + pick?
- AlexF

I like Niño and I agree I was thinking Kes for Coyle Niño and a second but I like your deal better