- bixll

Umm... he was on track for his statistically best offensive season ever.

If the Leafs get 4 really good years and win the Cup with Pietrangelo, do you really care about the last 3 years of the contract?
- PatC80

Nope, I thought he was talking about Suter.

Fixed.
- Scabeh

Playing that well in a wheel chair is very impressive.

IF you decide that’s the best way to go for it. If you have to decimate you lineup, and put yourself in a bind going forward, maybe there are better ways.

Again, maybe you can get a defencemen that give Rielly a good partner for a lot less that gives them way more options throughout the lineup.
- Canada Cup

Maybe ...I'm open minded to all possibilities. Ideally you get a D that's entering his prime rather than exiting but if that's not available then you've got to consider this option.

They may not "have" to decimate the roster. They need to find about 5-6 million in cap room. I don't like the strip the depth bare model. But maybe it's Nylander and maybe there's a really good deal out there that gets you young affordable pieces in return. Maybe ..

And they know more than us about how this league may look financially in years 3 and beyond which is an important variable in all of this as well.

All of this to say whatever happens I'm sure it'll be well thought out but will come with risk (and will be heavily criticized by Max)

I think the answer has to be yes.

Having said that, the moment the Leafs sign him:

a) he's no longer elite (at the very least, perceived by every non-Leafs fan)

b) he'll likely suffer an, if not a career then season ending, injury right out of the gate.

The Leafy script really does write itself.
- mjones242

C) heavily front load the contract, so his salary is a lot less than the cap hit when he is no longer considered 'elite'... Trade him

Umm... he was on track for his statistically best offensive season ever.
- mjones242

Suter or AP??

Nope, I thought he was talking about Suter.
- bixll

oh my bad.. I thought the conversation was still about Pietrangelo

Playing that well in a wheel chair is very impressive.
- AdamFrench

Might be the greatest wheelchair hockey player of all time if you ask me.

C) heavily front load the contract, so his salary is a lot less than the cap hit when he is no longer considered 'elite'... Trade him
- PatC80

Isn't he asking for his contract to be backloaded to prevent that?

oh my bad.. I thought the conversation was still about Pietrangelo
- PatC80

I just came back into HB, I prolly (frank)ed up.

Suter or AP??
- bixll

Suter.

The best comparable I can think of would be Ryan Suter who, decidedly, isn't a "freak of nature" and his play hasn't declined one bit at 35.

Pietrangelo is better than Suter and he's only 30. Why are we so concerned about a possible decline? We can argue whether he's comparable to the list you gave but the point should be taken: elite D who play big minutes don't necessarily decline until their late 30s.

He's a total stud and has lead his team to a Cup. No reason he couldn't do it again.
- mjones242

I believe we're talking about this b/c there was some analytical research posted that showed that yes they do decline after 29/30. It included Suter.

It wasn't my research so don't shoot the messenger.

Maybe ...I'm open minded to all possibilities. Ideally you get a D that's entering his prime rather than exiting but if that's not available then you've got to consider this option.

They may not "have" to decimate the roster. They need to find about 5-6 million in cap room. I don't like the strip the depth bare model. But maybe it's Nylander and maybe there's a really good deal out there that gets you young affordable pieces in return. Maybe ..

And they know more than us about how this league may look financially in years 3 and beyond which is an important variable in all of this as well.

All of this to say whatever happens I'm sure it'll be well thought out but will come with risk (and will be heavily criticized by Max)
- The Law

If Dubas traded Nylander for Hintz, Max would still criticize him for trading a "30 goal" guy

Isn't he asking for his contract to be backloaded to prevent that?
- mjones242

I haven't heard him actually say that, but that is the rumour, yes.

Suter.
- mjones242

Ya, ok, I think you are wrong. Many Wild fans not happy with his play over the past few. But, who knows or cares really..

I believe we're talking about this b/c there was some analytical research posted that showed that yes they do decline after 29/30. It included Suter.

It wasn't my research so don't shoot the messenger.
- The Law

Yeah, I read that article and I think there were some serious flaws in it.

Suter proves that a D-man well into their 30s may not significantly or even marginally decline.

Ya, ok, I think you are wrong. Many Wild fans not happy with his play over the past few. But, who knows or cares really..
- bixll

Maybe they could stop playing him 25 min a game? That might help him.

Suter is still pretty damn good.

It depends... Do people see Rielly as a legit #1D or as maybe, at best, a #2 defenseman?
- PatC80

He's getting better I think. It looked like Keefe 'unlocked' him a little bit, maybe?

He's not great in his own zone but lots of elite guys fit that description. Josi?

How does he compare to a guy like Keith?

It depends... Do people see Rielly as a legit #1D or as maybe, at best, a #2 defenseman?
- PatC80

how much bettter defensively is letang over rielly?

duncan keith had brian campbell to shoulder the load in their 1st cup run. and the good version of seabrook later.

rielly looked to me like he was playing hurt a lot of the year last year. looked great with a reliable hainsey. maybe a guy like tanev is all we need to complete the top pair.

Maybe they could stop playing him 25 min a game? That might help him.

Suter is still pretty damn good.
- Scabeh

Went from a plus player his entire career to a minus player the past 3 years. BUt I know very little.

Ya, ok, I think you are wrong. Many Wild fans not happy with his play over the past few. But, who knows or cares really..
- bixll

Statistically speaking, his numbers haven't declined in the past few years. This year he was having his best offensive season ever even with a couple of mins less ATOI. And it's not like those numbers were inflated by special teams -- they weren't.

It isn't a 'great return'.
Kapanen is worth more than that 15th overall, and the prospect might never make it to NHL. So the jury is still out on that trade
- MaximusAurelius

You're all over the map on your evaluations of a players worth in trades.

C) heavily front load the contract, so his salary is a lot less than the cap hit when he is no longer considered 'elite'... Trade him
- PatC80

Escrow Pat ....escrow. No front loading for the next two years.

If Dubas traded Nylander for Hintz, Max would still criticize him for trading a "30 goal" guy
- PatC80

he could trade holl for Mcdavid and he would complain the leafs dont need anymore forwards

He's getting better I think. It looked like Keefe 'unlocked' him a little bit, maybe?

He's not great in his own zone but lots of elite guys fit that description. Josi?

How does he compare to a guy like Keith?
- The Law

I think Keith was better defensively than people give him credit for.. I hope Rielly can be at Keith's level, but with that said, even Keith needed a solid, reliable partner to play with.

So, maybe getting someone like a Pesce would be beneficial to Rielly's game?