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.
- khawk

I'm pretty sure a team can only buy out two contracts a year - but they could just hang on to Beagle or trade him at the TDL with salary retained.

That said, I don't think this is enough of a return for Ottawa. They shouldn't be giving up Tierney or they should be getting an additional 2nd or equivalent. Look what Toronto 'paid' to get rid of Marleau.

..... siiiiigh

Please proofread your blogs before posting.

Thanks for stopping by and reading. I truly think they want to Norris every opportunity to be the Number 1 guy and keep that line together as much as possible. A number 2 center would be ideal at this point as White doesn't seem he will ever live up to the potential. I agree with you, with this draft comes so much uncertainty and sadly.....guessing at times as you get into round 2 etc....
- Kevin Francis

What it boils too is if Ottawa can't get option 1 or option 2 at center, then you bring in Strome and move him at the deadline with the hopes that Pinto is ready to go after a chunk of time in the AHL. But yes, it's all who you play with. Look no further than Dadonov, he played with Huberdeau and Barkov and cashed in on a 3 year 15 mil deal.
- Kevin Francis

Age and possible injury problems have been creeping up no Nick lately. I think there are better options out there.
- Kevin Francis

Stutzle is the wild card for sure. He they try him at center, then all bets are off. But I do think a short term solution at center is needed. Avs won't move Kadri especially with Landeskog all but gone via free agency.
- Kevin Francis

You're not off to a good start. And those were just the replies on page one of the comment thread. The actual blog was absolutely as brutal.

Really? I've heard nothing but how bad of an attitude Eichel has.
- Maverick1818

Ditto!

Welcome !!! Francis
- Crosside

Thank you!

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.
- spazzbot

Well said, which is why I see the Sens having no problem moving a few of their 11 picks in next years draft to acquire their 2 needs as mentioned by Melnyk.

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

Great insight and very detailed. It's funny because the Nucks GM said during his presser today that he has fielded alot of calls for their 9th overall pick.

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

Reinhart is an RFA too....but one year away from UFA status.

Thank you!
- Kevin Francis

Make me a favor Kevin. Change for a 2D logo. Thank you

The last one I heard is Tierney + J.Brown + L.Brown vs Henrique ( 50% retain ) + Shattenkirk ( 20% retain )

I love all this talk about other centers who play amazing with good players.
You know who else had a fantastic season with great players? Colin White!
Shocker, when he had steady rotation of players (and changing of positions) he was unfamiliar with on a losing tanking team he wasn't as good.

There's a reason CW was protected. He's a good damn hockey player.

Make me a favor Kevin. Change for a 2D logo. Thank you
- Crosside

Agreed, I am putting in the request as we speak!!

I love all this talk about other centers who play amazing with good players.
You know who else had a fantastic season with great players? Colin White!
Shocker, when he had steady rotation of players (and changing of positions) he was unfamiliar with on a losing tanking team he wasn't as good.

There's a reason CW was protected. He's a good damn hockey player.
- Octavarium

Pierre Maguire has always been big on White, I am sure it will help White a bit having Maguire in his corner and helping him out for sure. The way the season started last year definitely didnt help his confidence.

You're not off to a good start. And those were just the replies on page one of the comment thread. The actual blog was absolutely as brutal.
- PavohnDatsvares

really....grammar police?

Very curious to see where Raty is taken tonight, after his fall from being one of the top ranked players.

You're not off to a good start. And those were just the replies on page one of the comment thread. The actual blog was absolutely as brutal.
- PavohnDatsvares

Your*

Thank you Kevin for the logo. We ask Mike since September and you change in two days

really....grammar police?


- haywoodjablome

When your job is writing, and you average one grammar or spelling mistake a paragraph; yes. I will police the poop out of you. If I made that many mistakes at my job, I wouldn't last very long.

Your*




- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Nope. I used the right *you're**. As in, "You are not off to a good start." Also; I can make all the mistakes I want. I'm not a writer. I'm not getting paid to post on this thread. When I start getting paid to write a blog, I will put even more effort into making sure I write things properly.

When your job is writing, and you average one grammar or spelling mistake a paragraph; yes. I will police the poop out of you. If I made that many mistakes at my job, I wouldn't last very long.
- PavohnDatsvares

pretty sure blogging on HB isn't anyone's job (except maybe EK)....more like a side hobby where you can maybe earn a couple bucks

Nope. I used the right *you're**. As in, "You are not off to a good start." Also; I can make all the mistakes I want. I'm not a writer. I'm not getting paid to post on this thread. When I start getting paid to write a blog, I will put even more effort into making sure I write things properly.
- PavohnDatsvares

dude, these guys aren't writers.....they're fans who write opinion pieces and get a couple bucks from Eklund.

there are no editors or anyone like that going over these articles