I definitely agree we need someone who is at least proven to be a middle 6 scorer and that is why Frolik's name has popped up. It's not like the 3rd and 4th lines outside of Coleman and Zajac have been driving play with any regularity.

Do we need a 2nd line scoring winger? YES! Do we also need a middle 6 winger? YES! Boquist is unproven and Woods has not stepped up since signing his monster contract. Zacha isn't scoring either and IMHO is a bust for a first rounder. If he can improve his game with some consistent scoring, he may end up being Zajac 2.0 (def needed but not a good 1st rd draft choice).

Based on that information, multiple moves need to be made whether they be through a trade with Calgary, Vegas or another cash strapped team and/or signing a UFA like Donskoi, Nyquist, Ferland, Panik, Pirri.

Todd Cordell: Could the New Jersey Devils be the landing spot for Michael Frolik?
- Todd.Cordell

Frolik doesn't really improve this squad, but if he is being offered for a 6th rounder, sure we will take him. Donskoi is absolutely a great target. We could probably land the guy at something like 4 years, 3.5M AAV, and have him contributing right away. If Donskoi doesn't happen, and Noesen walks, we will need to consider guys like Perry or Simmonds to fill a slot. Brett Connolly is a great option too. His 80 goals in his last 210 games for the caps is quite impressive given his minimal role on the squad.

Why shouldnt we be looking at better players though? Like an actual upgrade to the top line that isnt a rookie or a player whos dealt with injuries much of his career.

Im not debating wether or not he would be an upgrade on the third line but like I said why they hell is that a priority with the talent level on this roster.

If I had Nico and Hughes down the middle I would be embarrassed that we didnt have better wingers for these 2 instead we are looking for help for Zajac....
- Devilish4

Totally agree; except I'd say we need a legit top 6 winger and not a top line winger.

I have to think Nathan Bastian or Joey Anderson or someone in the organization can be an effective 3rd line winger. Heck, how much better is Frolik then Kenny Agostino because that guy is sign and drive. I sure don't want to give Calgary anything to help out their cap crunch.

If you're looking for a high end wing making approximately 4.3 a year, you are going to have to pay up. What are you willing to give up?
- smellmyfinger

Just of guys whos names have been mentioned in any capacity I would look at off the top of my head
Tuch
Kapanen
Johnsson
Ehlers
And depending which one was really available I would be willing to give up a lot of potential so any number of Bastian, Mcleod, second round picks, Zacha , Vats.

Would any package of those get me any of those guys thats something I obviously cant say but thats the type of work I would be trying to do.

Frolik doesn't really improve this squad, but if he is being offered for a 6th rounder, sure we will take him. Donskoi is absolutely a great target. We could probably land the guy at something like 4 years, 3.5M AAV, and have him contributing right away. If Donskoi doesn't happen, and Noesen walks, we will need to consider guys like Perry or Simmonds to fill a slot. Brett Connolly is a great option too. His 80 goals in his last 210 games for the caps is quite impressive given his minimal role on the squad.
- bikeguy99

Read in a couple of places that Simmonds has already talked to teams about a multi-year deal now that the interview period is open, Simmonds for more than a season would be rough, same with Perry who someone will likely overpay for based on past performance.

Totally agree; except I'd say we need a legit top 6 winger and not a top line winger.

I have to think Nathan Bastian or Joey Anderson or someone in the organization can be an effective 3rd line winger. Heck, how much better is Frolik then Kenny Agostino because that guy is sign and drive. I sure don't want to give Calgary anything to help out their cap crunch.
- Queenie_5_hole

Frolik is much better than Agostino, it's not even close. Also, the "don't help other teams out of their cap problems" is not how you land Subban without giving up large assets.

Im going to be honest now that we have Nico, Hughes and Smith if he pans out then why even dish out a mount load of cap to keep Hall when he doesnt fit nor does Subban in with our future core.

Where we are right now is a similar situation to where we were when we landed Schneider. It was a hell of a deal but it arguably set us back and i just dont want to be set back by Hall when he is more of a present piece for a team in the thick today vs one a couple years down the road. Subban has 3 years left so thats not bad but I really think I would rather be payinh 10 mil a year on a guy who will be 22 to 29ish for all of it vs being 30 for almost all of the duration.

Im just saying if its going to be 12 million a year to have a 30 to 36 year old Hall I would rather move him for someone a couple years younger and get more out of that players contract then having no cap to add to our true core of Hughes Nico Smith and Blackwood down the road when they are all hitting their stride.

Frolik is much better than Agostino, it's not even close. Also, the "don't help other teams out of their cap problems" is not how you land Subban without giving up large assets.
- Pomegrant

The difference though is helping the way we did. Obviously if teams like the Canucks come a long paying you to get out of trouble it makes it harder for us to weaponize our cap but hopefully vancouver is done doing that lol.

If we are looking at depth options I would be interested in seeing what a Sean Kuraly would cost to get maybe to much but at least we jist watched him be a pretty clutch guy and hard worker in the scp so I would prefer a young buck like that with some battle if im trying to address depth.

I havent looked at bostons roster or cap so they might have no interest in moving him but he stood out after the playoffs as a player that brought stuff we lacked like heart and jam.

Just of guys whos names have been mentioned in any capacity I would look at off the top of my head
Tuch
Kapanen
Johnsson
Ehlers
And depending which one was really available I would be willing to give up a lot of potential so any number of Bastian, Mcleod, second round picks, Zacha , Vats.

Would any package of those get me any of those guys thats something I obviously cant say but thats the type of work I would be trying to do.
- Devilish4

if it's a UFA it's gotta be Nyqvist or Donskoi. We can afford them and they fill a need. If we're looking at trade, Tuch or Ehlers would be ok.. tho I'm not really sold on either of them. Frolik is meh, IMO.
idk how people are penciling in Boqvist as the 2nd line LW next to rookie Hughes. We've never seen Boqvist play in the NHL, right? Or was there a preseason game I'm forgetting. We have no idea if Boqvist will even make the team, let alone be a reliable 2nd line winger. Him with Hughes and possibly Bratt?? You'd almost HAVE to put Palmieri on that line.

if it's a UFA it's gotta be Nyqvist or Donskoi. We can afford them and they fill a need. If we're looking at trade, Tuch or Ehlers would be ok.. tho I'm not really sold on either of them. Frolik is meh, IMO.
idk how people are penciling in Boqvist as the 2nd line LW next to rookie Hughes. We've never seen Boqvist play in the NHL, right? Or was there a preseason game I'm forgetting. We have no idea if Boqvist will even make the team, let alone be a reliable 2nd line winger. Him with Hughes and possibly Bratt?? You'd almost HAVE to put Palmieri on that line.
- MartysBetter88

I was about to say about boqvist seems a lot of ppl already have him fixing our top six needs when in reality he could still play all next year in the AHL or europe.

Frolik is much better than Agostino, it's not even close. Also, the "don't help other teams out of their cap problems" is not how you land Subban without giving up large assets.
- Pomegrant

I understand the point about Subban but we did that because we desperately needed to upgrade our defense. I just don't see the same need for a 3rd line winger.

I agree Frolik is a better player but I'd rather spend the money (and obviously more) on someone higher up the food chain to play in the top 6. IF Ray Ray wants to do both that's great too.

This entire rebuild has been odd its like someone said something. That changed what was originally the plan. We drafted Zacha at 6 to start things off then we get Mcleod at 11 or 12 then Nico at 1.... Then we trade for Hall add mojo and boyle and lovejoy and pretty much after one top five pick one top ten and another top 15 we decided we had a high enough caliber of prospect pools to start building yet we still likely ranked in the bottom 20 of the league in farm systems.

I just think we never full got that farm and prospect system as full as we should have when you look at other rebuilding teams they all mostly had multiple first round picks in one draft or another we never did and if we didnt win the lottery 2 times now we could of been in a lot more trouble for not fully stocking those cupboards with elite talent.

I get the Rangers had way more to sell off but cant help but look at all the high end prosoects they have added abd its almost double ours...

I understand the point about Subban but we did that because we desperately needed to upgrade our defense. I just don't see the same need for a 3rd line winger.

I agree Frolik is a better player but I'd rather spend the money (and obviously more) on someone higher up the food chain to play in the top 6. IF Ray Ray wants to do both that's great too.
- Queenie_5_hole

Have you seen some of these cap dump deals? Teams are absolutely giving away players for no assets in return. If the guy is essentially free you have to take him.

Also, what else are we spending the money on, exactly? This is the last year of Frolik's contract and if you give up a 6th for him or something equally useless you don't need to resign him next year at all and just resign current roster players.

We also have great need for quality depth players. You can't just keep calling up garbage AHL players to fill roles. It's just not how you win.

This entire rebuild has been odd its like someone said something. That changed what was originally the plan. We drafted Zacha at 6 to start things off then we get Mcleod at 11 or 12 then Nico at 1.... Then we trade for Hall add mojo and boyle and lovejoy and pretty much after one top five pick one top ten and another top 15 we decided we had a high enough caliber of prospect pools to start building yet we still likely ranked in the bottom 20 of the league in farm systems.

I just think we never full got that farm and prospect system as full as we should have when you look at other rebuilding teams they all mostly had multiple first round picks in one draft or another we never did and if we didnt win the lottery 2 times now we could of been in a lot more trouble for not fully stocking those cupboards with elite talent.

I get the Rangers had way more to sell off but cant help but look at all the high end prosoects they have added abd its almost double ours...
- Devilish4

The full on blow it up and get some high picks isn't a sure thing method either though. Ask Buffalo who has picked in the top 10 for 7 straight drafts, does anyone think they are any closer to winning a cup? I won't mention Edmonton, because there's a lot more to their misery than just tanking.

And as you mentioned, other teams had a lot more to sell off. No one was giving us top prospects for Bernier, Ruutu or Brunner, and no one was taking Zajacs contract.

Luongo just retired, guess that was a final F-U to Vancouver, they are going to be on the hook for the bulk of the cap recapture on that contract.

The full on blow it up and get some high picks isn't a sure thing method either though. Ask Buffalo who has picked in the top 10 for 7 straight drafts, does anyone think they are any closer to winning a cup? I won't mention Edmonton, because there's a lot more to their misery than just tanking.
- smellmyfinger

Neither of those teams have had any sort of competent gms though its hard to say what someone with a brain for the game would have done. I also thing Buffalo cant still be a really good team if Dahlin ends up being the defense version of Mcdavid then him and eichel are two big enougj pieces for a gm to build something nice but edmonton I dont know if I have as much hope just because of their contracts and location.

Im not saying that if we had if kept getting top five picks they would have panned out but if we had them at all they would be valuable trade chips even if you thought they might not pan out you can move them before another team figures that out.

The full on blow it up and get some high picks isn't a sure thing method either though. Ask Buffalo who has picked in the top 10 for 7 straight drafts, does anyone think they are any closer to winning a cup? I won't mention Edmonton, because there's a lot more to their misery than just tanking.

And as you mentioned, other teams had a lot more to sell off. No one was giving us top prospects for Bernier, Ruutu or Brunner, and no one was taking Zajacs contract.
- smellmyfinger

The last paragraph is why it may have been wise to suck up a few more bad years before adding depth skill like mojo boyle and lovejoy not that they necessarily raised our draft selections on their own.

Buying at the deadline when we made the play offs was premature and probably stupid when it was more luck we scrapped in then we where officially now going to stsrt being a play off team.

Im a little shocked that Zucker has almost been dealt twice and now in the off season talk of him has seemed to of cooled ?

I would rather go for him then Frolik but I would still ultimately prefer someone who can put 60 points up with regularity.

Luongo just retired, guess that was a final F-U to Vancouver, they are going to be on the hook for the bulk of the cap recapture on that contract.
- smellmyfinger

Bob McKenzie‏Verified account @TSNBobMcKenzie · 3m3 minutes ago

On to the business: VAN will get hit with a cap recapture penalty of slightly more than $3M in each of the next three seasons. FLA cap recapture penalty will be slightly more than $1M in each of next three seasons.

Bob McKenzie‏Verified account @TSNBobMcKenzie · 3m3 minutes ago

On to the business: VAN will get hit with a cap recapture penalty of slightly more than $3M in each of the next three seasons. FLA cap recapture penalty will be slightly more than $1M in each of next three seasons.
- Devilish4

Can we trade for the penalty and Quinn Hughes?

Have you seen some of these cap dump deals? Teams are absolutely giving away players for no assets in return. If the guy is essentially free you have to take him.

Also, what else are we spending the money on, exactly? This is the last year of Frolik's contract and if you give up a 6th for him or something equally useless you don't need to resign him next year at all and just resign current roster players.

We also have great need for quality depth players. You can't just keep calling up garbage AHL players to fill roles. It's just not how you win.
- Pomegrant

Hopefully we are spending money on a legit top six winger; but I get your point regarding depth and have to agree we do need it. I can see why it's hard to pass up on this if he is basically free and a 1 year commit.

It does make me wonder who else we could get in a salary dump?

Hopefully we are spending money on a legit top six winger; but I get your point regarding depth and have to agree we do need it. I can see why it's hard to pass up on this if he is basically free and a 1 year commit.

It does make me wonder who else we could get in a salary dump?
- Queenie_5_hole

I really think we need to look at the Jets... They cant afford everyone. So we can get Laine, or Elhers and his 6 mil a year.

I definitely agree we need someone who is at least proven to be a middle 6 scorer and that is why Frolik's name has popped up. It's not like the 3rd and 4th lines outside of Coleman and Zajac have been driving play with any regularity.

Do we need a 2nd line scoring winger? YES! Do we also need a middle 6 winger? YES! Boquist is unproven and Woods has not stepped up since signing his monster contract. Zacha isn't scoring either and IMHO is a bust for a first rounder. If he can improve his game with some consistent scoring, he may end up being Zajac 2.0 (def needed but not a good 1st rd draft choice).

Based on that information, multiple moves need to be made whether they be through a trade with Calgary, Vegas or another cash strapped team and/or signing a UFA like Donskoi, Nyquist, Ferland, Panik, Pirri.
- DownwiththeDevil

Monster contract? Guy makes less than $3M a year and we aren’t close to the cap... this statement is absurd

I'm so glad Shero drafted Hughes over Kakko just for marketing purposes alone. Look at the media tour Hughes has done, the kid is so charismatic. Kakko, on the other hand, will need some work. Look at that video where Kakko says, "Wow, nice city." That was just so plain. I get English is not his first language, but at least Laine and Ovechkin had a personality when they first stepped in the league.