You would be better off including Colin White I think....plus the Granato connection with White doesnt hurt either. But I like your idea!
- Kevin Francis

Everyone says Eichel has a great attitude, nobody doubts he is an elite player. The issues are the cap hit and the neck injury. I would certainly include Colin White rather than Tierney. But, I just don't know if I would have the courage to pull the trigger and take the risk.

They will have to sort through all the prospects and move some eventually. I think you cant really judge who they are until the 3rd season. Bundling them up now for anything less then elite C or D could be a brutal misuse of all this time of aquiring them.

Welcome !!! Francis

Everyone says Eichel has a great attitude, nobody doubts he is an elite player. The issues are the cap hit and the neck injury. I would certainly include Colin White rather than Tierney. But, I just don't know if I would have the courage to pull the trigger and take the risk.
- spatso

everyone literally says the exact opposite........other than his coach and gm pandering to the media, i've never heard anyone say anything good about his attitude.

Welcome to the show. Eklund never answered my request to be the new blogger.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

That's funny, I looked into it as well, and actually wrote that Guest Writer piece just before the expansion draft... but definitely glad to have a regular blog writer here regardless.

everyone literally says the exact opposite........other than his coach and gm pandering to the media, i've never heard anyone say anything good about his attitude.
- sensarmy_11

I have read that he is frustrated with losing. Anybody who is an elite athlete will hit that wall caused by constant losing.

I have read that he is frustrated with losing. Anybody who is an elite athlete will hit that wall caused by constant losing.
- spatso

be frustrated......but don't make it public, which is exactly what he's done on numerous occasions.

i'm sure brady is frustrated after 3 losing seasons in ottawa, but it's always positive when he's speaking publicly. same with mcdavid and other younger stars in the same position.

criticizing your team in public is a HUGE red flag IMO

Strome is not a 2c in any way, he is a 3c who is only slightly better than Tierny that has had in numbers inflated by panarin, without panarin he is not good. not worth trading down 5 spots for a 3c that OTT had plenty of
- Mithos

He's a 2-C when Panarin is on his wing

Had a thought... the Canucks desperately need cap space, and the Kraken did them no favour whatsoever by picking Kole Lind instead of Braden Holtby. So maybe it's time for Dorion to legitimately weaponize the cap space.

TO OTT
J. Beagle, L. Eriksson, D. Roussel (all buyouts)
#9 Overall Pick, 2021

TO VAN
C. Tierney

Rationale:
The Canucks have $10.0M AAV tied up in these 3 players, and just watched what a year of mismanaged cap did to their 2020/21 season. They've already paid $2.0M in signing bonus for these players, but could still save the maximum AAV if these players were traded before the season starts. They're taking back a mid-range contract in Tierney ($3.5M AAV), but he would also offset the loss of Brandon Sutter as #3C, and they'd still be saving $6.5M in cap space for 2021/22.

The Senators could buy these players out by July 27, and it would "only" cost $2.0M/$2.0M over the next 2 years, with a resulting cap hit of $7.9M/$2.0M. Trading Tierney takes $3.5M off the cap difference, but he also is set to make $4.2M in actual salary... which is more than the combined 2yr buyout cost. So they're effectively giving up $4.4M of cap space they were never going to use this year, $2.0M of cap space next year, gain the #9 overall pick, and actually save $200K of real dollars in the process.

Had a thought... the Canucks desperately need cap space, and the Kraken did them no favour whatsoever by picking Kole Lind instead of Braden Holtby. So maybe it's time for Dorion to legitimately weaponize the cap space.

TO OTT
J. Beagle, L. Eriksson, D. Roussel (all buyouts)
#9 Overall Pick, 2021

TO VAN
C. Tierney

Rationale:
The Canucks have $10.0M AAV tied up in these 3 players, and just watched what a year of mismanaged cap did to their 2020/21 season. They've already paid $2.0M in signing bonus for these players, but could still save the maximum AAV if these players were traded before the season starts. They're taking back a mid-range contract in Tierney ($3.5M AAV), but he would also offset the loss of Brandon Sutter as #3C, and they'd still be saving $6.5M in cap space for 2021/22.

The Senators could buy these players out by July 27, and it would "only" cost $2.0M/$2.0M over the next 2 years, with a resulting cap hit of $7.9M/$2.0M. Trading Tierney takes $3.5M off the cap difference, but he also is set to make $4.2M in actual salary... which is more than the combined 2yr buyout cost. So they're effectively giving up $4.4M of cap space they were never going to use this year, $2.0M of cap space next year, gain the #9 overall pick, and actually save $200K of real dollars in the process.
- khawk

it's a good thought, but 2 big issues with that IMO

- melnyk doens't have the $$ to do that

- 4-5 mil in cap savings isn't worth a top 10 pick.....Van would be better off just buying those deals out themselves.

it's a good thought, but 2 big issues with that IMO

- melnyk doens't have the $$ to do that

- 4-5 mil in cap savings isn't worth a top 10 pick.....Van would be better off just buying those deals out themselves.
- sensarmy_11

I know it's unlikely, but in quick response to those points...
- if Melnyk can't afford the $2.0M for a buyout, how was be planning to pay Tierney $4.2M this year? Or add a player like Reinhart, Strome, or Henrique? They actually save money in this deal.
- it's actually more cap space than that (especially including the 2nd year), plus they get Tierney to play #3C without having to overspend on a UFA (which Benning does like a drunken fool)

Benning has really sat on his hands so far, though, so you're probably right that he'll just wait out of those contracts. But it will cost them another year of being in the playoffs to do it... in addition to being unable to sign Pettersson/Hughes the way they'd like to, missing out on bringing Toffoli back, and more than likely losing Schmidt this off-season. Not sure when some of these old-school GM's are going to learn, but it's amazing to me that he still has his job in Vancouver.

That's funny, I looked into it as well, and actually wrote that Guest Writer piece just before the expansion draft... but definitely glad to have a regular blog writer here regardless.
- khawk

That was a good piece. Guess he doesn't want to lose good commenters

He's a 2-C when Panarin is on his wing
- dashripdot

My 6yr old son is a #2C with Panarin on his wing. Prior to the past 2 years, Strome had years of 28pts, 30pts, 34pts, and 35pts playing for 3 different teams. Does nobody remember him being the vehicle by which the Oilers managed to turn Jordan Eberle into Ryan Spooner?

Hard pass, for God's sake.

My 6yr old son is a #2C with Panarin on his wing. Prior to the past 2 years, Strome had years of 28pts, 30pts, 34pts, and 35pts playing for 3 different teams. Does nobody remember him being the vehicle by which the Oilers managed to turn Jordan Eberle into Ryan Spooner?

Hard pass, for God's sake.
- khawk

he's a center who plays well with high skill players, and not well when he has poop linemates......not many centers in the league who don't fit that description.

he was never given quality linemates or consistent top six minutes until he got to New York. He's shown he can play with high skill guys (Stutzle), he's still young and signed to a decent deal......plus he wouldn't cost an arm and a leg to acquire (prob just the cost of moving back from 10 to 15). there wont' be any centers available that are much better, at least not available at a price that wouldn't be considered highway robbery. he'd EASILY be the 2nd best center on the team.

worst case, if it doesn't look like he's working out, or doesn't seem like he wants to extend....you move him at the deadline for a pick and/or prospect

he's a center who plays well with high skill players, and not well when he has poop linemates......not many centers in the league who don't fit that description.

he was never given quality linemates or consistent top six minutes until he got to New York. He's shown he can play with high skill guys (Stutzle), he's still young and signed to a decent deal......plus he wouldn't cost an arm and a leg to acquire (prob just the cost of moving back from 10 to 15). there wont' be any centers available that are much better, at least not available at a price that wouldn't be considered highway robbery. he'd EASILY be the 2nd best center on the team.
- sensarmy_11

He's a UFA at the end of the year. I'd certainly need a contract extension before trading for him. Having him bolt at the end of the season, or trading him for less than given would not be good.

He's a UFA at the end of the year. I'd certainly need a contract extension before trading for him. Having him bolt at the end of the season, or trading him for less than given would not be good.
- david22

him being a UFA is part of the reason he's prob not expensive to acquire........if it doesn't look like he's going to re-sign, you move him at the deadline.

he's not my 1st choice.....but my 1st (and 2nd and 3rd and 4th choice) will probably cost a fortune

I have to say that Reinhart seems to be undervalued here. Colin White 1 for 1 or even plus a 2nd? Sam was on a 38 goal pace last year and played great as 1C on another awful Sabres team. As for Eichel, this is just not a good fit imo. Brady, 10OA, plus at least one other piece that has a much higher value than a 2nd round pick.

him being a UFA is part of the reason he's prob not expensive to acquire........if it doesn't look like he's going to re-sign, you move him at the deadline.

he's not my 1st choice.....but my 1st (and 2nd and 3rd and 4th choice) will probably cost a fortune
- sensarmy_11

If it winds they have to move him at the deadline for something like a 3rd, it would look pretty bad.

Have to think Dorion is very apprehensive of that following te Duchene debacle.

I have to say that Reinhart seems to be undervalued here. Colin White 1 for 1 or even plus a 2nd? Sam was on a 38 goal pace last year and played great as 1C on another awful Sabres team. As for Eichel, this is just not a good fit imo. Brady, 10OA, plus at least one other piece that has a much higher value than a 2nd round pick.
- chugger38

agree 100% that it's a low value for reinhardt (would expect it would take our #10 pick to get him)

that being said, there is literally zero chance that ottawa is trading Brady for a 10million dollar, injury prone player with a poop attitude and a full NMC kicking in..........no matter how skilled eichel is. i wouldn't even do that deal 1 for 1 (and yes i realize that in terms of sheer talent, it's a steal for Ottawa). i have zero interest in the sens acquiring eichel, unless it doens't involve the following (tkachuk, stutzle, chabot, norris, sanderson) which we all know means it won't happen.

If it winds they have to move him at the deadline for something like a 3rd, it would look pretty bad.

Have to think Dorion is very apprehensive of that following te Duchene debacle.
- david22

i mean, unless he totally sucks, i can't see why they wouldn't be able to get a late 1st for him, or a 2nd and mid level prospect.

like i said, he wouldn't be my 1st choice, but if the price is right......I'd rather that than to empty the cupboards for eichel, or to overpay for a UFA.

I have to say that Reinhart seems to be undervalued here. Colin White 1 for 1 or even plus a 2nd? Sam was on a 38 goal pace last year and played great as 1C on another awful Sabres team.
- chugger38

Well, I don't think anyone seriously thinks Colin White straight-up would get it done. The rumored asking price includes the #10 pick plus a player/prospect, and I think that pretty much stands. The question is whether the Sabres are looking for a current roster player, or will only accept a significant prospect.

Everyone says Eichel has a great attitude, nobody doubts he is an elite player. The issues are the cap hit and the neck injury. I would certainly include Colin White rather than Tierney. But, I just don't know if I would have the courage to pull the trigger and take the risk.
- spatso

Really? I've heard nothing but how bad of an attitude Eichel has.

Little news I saw on Garrioch's twitter - Dorion said that Hogberg (duh), Amadio, Fortunado, Davidsson, Beaudin and Kopacka were not getting qualifying offers.

Meh.

Little news I saw on Garrioch's twitter - Dorion said that Hogberg (duh), Amadio, Fortunado, Davidsson, Beaudin and Kopacka were not getting qualifying offers.

Meh.
- PogBoi

GMPD mentioned that during his news conference this morning.....no real surprises there.

Go out grab Strome and Hamilton and call it a day 👌
Those who says Strome is not a #2 Center are crazy 🤦‍♂️