- Bigzby

Every team HAS to have a certain amount of players that are eligible for the expansion draft. If they don't have those players they lose draft picks or something.

We needed to expose a couple of forwards and a defenseman, I believe...so now it's Smith and Fehr and Marincin??? Something like that.
- underhill14

pretty much

I like it. He looks pretty good. Even if he regresses, and ends up as a third pairing, it's still only a couple of million too much.

But the potential to be a 3 or 4 million dollar discounted contract is there too. Could end up as a gem.

With rielly at 5 long term, Gardiner with a few more years left at $4.5, and now Zaitsev around 4.5, they've got a lot of cap room to maneouvre with.

They can still throw some big money at a UFA, with enough to spare to sign all the kids when their contracts become due.
- prock

- winsix

- fifty__missions

If the right one is there, they have to. they don't have anyone that projects into a top dman in the next 2-3 years. the Leafs need another one, pretty badly.

If the right one is there, they have to. they don't have anyone that projects into a top dman in the next 2-3 years. the Leafs need another one, pretty badly.
- prock

There is no "right one" in UFA. I can see them making a trade for a d-man, though.

Anyone know what executive order PEN 15 is all about?
- Bigzby

probably something to do with Richards

probably something to do with Richards
- Tumbleweed

It allows Washington players to make unpunished baseball swings at Penguins.

- Bigzby

- Scabeh

The "leader of the free world".

Term is scary a bit but the price is more than fair.

- Bigzby

If the right one is there, they have to. they don't have anyone that projects into a top dman in the next 2-3 years. the Leafs need another one, pretty badly.
- prock

Those guys never make it to UFA. Best one available is shattenkirk who is basically another gardiner. Hopefully that rosen pans out as well as zaitsev has so far. Still need a top pairing right shot dman.

There is no "right one" in UFA. I can see them making a trade for a d-man, though.
- fifty__missions

that's not true. Just about every cup winning team has picked up a key player or two in free agency. You can't build a team with it, and you can't go overboard, but in moderation, and done right, teams generally need to get some value in free agency.

It allows Washington players to make unpunished baseball swings at Penguins.
- fifty__missions

with a PEN15?

Those guys never make it to UFA. Best one available is shattenkirk who is basically another gardiner. Hopefully that rosen pans out as well as zaitsev has so far. Still need a top pairing right shot dman.
- HealthyScratch6

There are a few UFA signings that end up being great for the team.

But when the right player comes along.... I think you shouldn't be afraid to "go for it".

Look at how much players like Chara and Hossa impacted their teams.

Gotta be careful though because it really doesn't happen often.

Term is scary a bit but the price is more than fair.
- burn

I like Zaitsev. The team's blueline really got better when Babs finally switched D pairings and put Zaitsev with Gardiner.

to right shot shut down guy to play with Rielly. Problem is the whole league is looking for those.

Every team HAS to have a certain amount of players that are eligible for the expansion draft. If they don't have those players they lose draft picks or something.

We needed to expose a couple of forwards and a defenseman, I believe...so now it's Smith and Fehr and Marincin??? Something like that.
- underhill14

Thanks!

that's not true. Just about every cup winning team has picked up a key player or two in free agency. You can't build a team with it, and you can't go overboard, but in moderation, and done right, teams generally need to get some value in free agency.
- prock

Yes, but they are not typically big $ UFA players that cup winners pick up which is what I thought you were suggesting.

that's not true. Just about every cup winning team has picked up a key player or two in free agency. You can't build a team with it, and you can't go overboard, but in moderation, and done right, teams generally need to get some value in free agency.
- prock

Agreed. But you may be a several step process.

Trade jvr for picks/prospects
Trade picks/prospects for a dman.
Sign a UFA forward to replace jvr.

Seems like you can find decent wingers on the ufa market much more easily than dmen.

There are a few UFA signings that end up being great for the team.

But when the right player comes along.... I think you shouldn't be afraid to "go for it".

Look at how much players like Chara and Hossa impacted their teams.

Gotta be careful though because it really doesn't happen often.
- Scabeh

Montreal is in that position imo. They need to ante up and put their chips on the table and go for it with Price/Weber right now. If I were Bergevin, I'd be going after Duchesne this summer and trading picks, prospects and youth to finally get some punch into that lineup.

Yes, but they are not typically big $ UFA players that cup winners pick up which is what I thought you were suggesting.
- fifty__missions

either with trades or free agents, the last 7 cup winning teams added a key veteran or 2 at some point:

LA - richards, carter
Bos - chara
chi - campbell, hossa
Pitts - kessel

There are a few UFA signings that end up being great for the team.

But when the right player comes along.... I think you shouldn't be afraid to "go for it".

Look at how much players like Chara and Hossa impacted their teams.

Gotta be careful though because it really doesn't happen often.
- Scabeh

Chara was only available because of the Sens cheapskate owner. Hossa is the kind of free agent that being on the cusp attracts, guys who just wanna win. He bet on the wrong horse when he went from Pittsburgh to Detroit, but got it right with Chicago.

It feels like these guys are more the exception then the rule.

either with trades or free agents, the last 7 cup winning teams added a key veteran or 2 at some point:

LA - richards, carter
Bos - chara
chi - campbell, hossa
Pitts - kessel
- Tumbleweed

Yes, trades I can see for sure.

Yes, but they are not typically big $ UFA players that cup winners pick up which is what I thought you were suggesting.
- fifty__missions

Some of them are bigger money free agents. Very few teams have had absolute core guys come in via UFA, but some guys that played key roles certainly have.

the Leafs need another dman. There are no ELITE guys on the market, as normal. But they still need a good solid shutdown guy, and there should be a couple available. I see no issue with spending $4M or $5M on one. I'm not saying we should go out and spend all $30M in cap space we have. But they need to bring in another dman.