A LW that can score and has some grit.
- Linden_4_Capt

Nash 2.0😜

I cant figure out the Brassard trade. Did NYR just get a younger version of Brassard plus a higher pick than they gave up?
- NorthNuck

this is another strange one (no shortage this year), in that it seems like more of a lateral move (although I think, given the circumstances and doing a quick breakdown, this helps the Rangers more than it does Ottawa). Zibanejad is younger and has shown that he can be a top 6 player ( I believe both players had similar type stats) - if you add in the second rounder (which could end up being fairly high), it makes the trade that much more palatable for the Rangers. I just found this somewhat ironic quote by Murray after they resigned Zibanejad to an extension:

"We feel he still has growth in him but we also know going forward that he's going to be a very important player if the organization is going to make strides to a championship." - I guess he wasn't that important after all lol. Kind of funny that it seems being praised by management often ends up being the kiss of death

Basically but I think Brassard is a better player now. The 2nd seems unnecessary but as JB has shown they are overrated anyways....
- belcherbd

Yeah, that seems like a bad deal for Ottawa. I don't think Brassard is getting better at this point, even if Zibanejad will cost more after next year. Strange deal unless the Sens didn't think Zibanejad was going to re-sign or he indicated he was looking for crazy cash.

Basically but I think Brassard is a better player now. The 2nd seems unnecessary but as JB has shown they are overrated anyways....
- belcherbd

That's a lousy trade for the Senators....makes no sense

this is another strange one (no shortage this year), in that it seems like more of a lateral move (although I think, given the circumstances and doing a quick breakdown, this helps the Rangers more than it does Ottawa). Zibanejad is younger and has shown that he can be a top 6 player ( I believe both players had similar type stats) - if you add in the second rounder (which could end up being fairly high), it makes the trade that much more palatable for the Rangers. I just found this somewhat ironic quote by Murray after they resigned Zibanejad to an extension:

"We feel he still has growth in him but we also know going forward that he's going to be a very important player if the organization is going to make strides to a championship." - I guess he wasn't that important after all lol. Kind of funny that it seems being praised by management often ends up being the kiss of death
- Zogg

The second round pic is completely unnecessary...the Rangers are getting the younger player w more upside

That's a lousy trade for the Senators....makes no sense
- CanuckDon

Brassard is more consistent & grittier IMO.
I think Z might have fallen out of favour & is prolly a pre-expansion move.
More moves for the Sens yet?

I am more curious to know what NY is making room for?
- thundachunk

Don't they have 3 players going to arbitration?

Yeah, that seems like a bad deal for Ottawa. I don't think Brassard is getting better at this point, even if Zibanejad will cost more after next year. Strange deal unless the Sens didn't think Zibanejad was going to re-sign or he indicated he was looking for crazy cash.
- micah555

Draft picks aside, I think its two teams betting against the players. I am not surprised if the NYR think Brassard was the beneficiary of his linemates (Nash and Zucc are two very good players), while OTT might be thinking that Z just has plateaued as a middle 6 forward. Still odd but might end up being a wash of a deal

Don't they have 3 players going to arbitration?
- A_SteamingLombardi

Krieder and Hayes I believe. NYR really needed the cap relief and I assume no one was biting on Nash

The second round pic is completely unnecessary...the Rangers are getting the younger player w more upside
- CanuckDon

Rookie GM's are all knuckleheads

Krieder and Hayes I believe. NYR really needed the cap relief and I assume no one was biting on Nash
- WhiteLie

I double checked, they had 4 but signed Miller and McIlrath already.

My feeling is that because Murray took a risk on him, he wouldn't expose himself to the criticm from unloading him for pennies on the dollar, which is how a deal for burrows or sbisa would look
- jcragcrumple

Sbisa is a former 1st rounder with huuuge upside, and burrows is a solid utility veteran who can mentor the young players, plus Murray gets a 5th rounder for his trouble. that's how you sell it.

Draft picks aside, I think its two teams betting against the players. I am not surprised if the NYR think Brassard was the beneficiary of his linemates (Nash and Zucc are two very good players), while OTT might be thinking that Z just has plateaued as a middle 6 forward. Still odd but might end up being a wash of a deal
- WhiteLie

Actually, Zibanejad has been trending up the last few years (33, 46, 51) so there is still some upside. Brassard has had similar totals to that of last year (60, 58) so if anyone has plateaued it is him (and of course he is as number of years older). I think if the deal was a straight swap it wouldn't be that bad (60 point players are a quality commodity and Brassard is not that old - 27). But it's throwing in that 2nd rounder which really offsets the value for the Rangers. Not quite sure what Ottawa is thinking

Rookie GM's are all knuckleheads
- LeftCoaster

You must have been a phenom at your birth. Because I am certain you started running as soon as you were born. FFS. He is a new GM and is learning from his mistakes. Some GM's keep making the same mistakes. Would you rather have MG still and his sell the farm to win an extra round in playoffs? Or his handing out of NMC like it was candy on Halloween?
- Linden_4_Capt

No, I'd rather not have MG as GM. but i'd hold the applause for JB until the Nux are back on a solid footing. until then we have no idea if anything he's doing is actually working...

He always references trading Garrison over Bieksa...this City have rioted if Bieksa was traded when he took over the job. Also, at the time Garrison was worse
- CanuckDon

Krieder and Hayes I believe. NYR really needed the cap relief and I assume no one was biting on Nash
- WhiteLie

It would only be for one year, though, as Zibanejad's contract is up next year (I think he's making $2.6 million whereas Brassard has a five million cap hit for the next four years at $5 million/year). I'm sure the former will be getting a nice raise on the next contract so it may end up being more than what the Rangers were paying Brassard. What's interesting is, that this move seems to go against Melnyik's philosophy of being a cheap bastid

Fair enough.
I used the Kane example, because that's what the current hot topic is, but the same argument could work for any prospective trade target.

The truth is, what Benning did isn't going to impact a potential deal one way or another.

As for creating a buyers market, I agree that is important, but the best GMs in sports don't use the media for that purpose. They work the phones and have constant ongoing dialogue with other GMs, and they have lists, like the one you formulated, so they know which teams to target for a cap-dump deal.

Benning needs to learn to keep his business behind closed doors. Making statements like this only get fans like us talking about what he's going to do, and leads to a letdown if he doesn't pull the trigger. That's part of the reason they scored so poorly on the PR poll last week.

I like most of his moves of late, but his public way of going about his business could use some tweaking. I had hoped the fine he got at the draft might help him figure that out.

I will give him credit though, his openness does give us fodder for debates like this, which is fun to kick around.
- Vanoxy

Fans can't have it both ways.... a communicative, engaged management and secret society management... i'd rather JB keep the fans engaged with the team and the fans speculating and having something to talk about on forums like this.

Actually, Zibanejad has been trending up the last few years (33, 46, 51) so there is still some upside. Brassard has had similar totals to that of last year (60, 58) so if anyone has plateaued it is him (and of course he is as number of years older). I think if the deal was a straight swap it wouldn't be that bad (60 point players are a quality commodity and Brassard is not that old - 27). But it's throwing in that 2nd rounder which really offsets the value for the Rangers. Not quite sure what Ottawa is thinking
- Zogg

Zibenejad has trended upwards with points, but like I said I think its a gamble by the Sens that he wouldnt replicate or exceed his totals next year in OTT, and that Brassard will. Really interesting to see how it plays out nonetheless

Hi,

I also think the Rangers did well on their trade today, though I will say that I really like Derick Brassard. He was part of Team Canada in Russia this year - first time ever in his career - and was a good player and personable guy to talk to.

Apparently he played some of his junior hockey under Guy Boucher, which I think is part of the impetus for the deal. But the Rangers make out well, getting younger, cheaper and getting a draft pick.

On to the new blog—more thoughts on a possible Canucks trade, and some musing on the impact of analytics on this summer's deals.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...d-Impact-a-Deal/194/78225

A LW that can score and has some grit.
- Linden_4_Capt

BTW, all i said was to hold the applause for JB until the team shows tangible signs of improving. Wasn't cutting you down or saying it wasn't a good move, trying to create a buyer's market for himself...

It would only be for one year, though, as Zibanejad's contract is up next year (I think he's making $2.6 million whereas Brassard has a five million cap hit for the next four years at $5 million/year). I'm sure the former will be getting a nice raise on the next contract so it may end up being more than what the Rangers were paying Brassard. What's interesting is, that this move seems to go against Melnyik's philosophy of being a cheap bastid
- Zogg

True, but a buyout or trade with eaten salary with one year left on Nash's is easier to move or take to get more relief

I checked and apparently Brassard's cap hit is $5m but his cash pay is $3m this year (NYR just paid the $2m signing bonus), then $3.5, and $3.5... so very much a Melnyk deal

Somebody get Eklund. He needs to read this blog.

This is what HB blogs should be like rather than being lazy and saying "dominos"

Somebody get Eklund. He needs to read this blog.

This is what HB blogs should be like rather than being lazy and saying "dominos"
- Beatle_john

big if true.