The other teams thread

[DoubleMinor]

Yeah, possible. However, very doubtful. I am sure ownership is not going to let the GM waste assets and money just to send a message. Could be part of it, but not the prime reason. I understand that the Blues had to make another pre-trade to get "their" draft pic back in order to even be able to make the offers. So, this was a hockey move IMO, but ended up being kind of a slap in the face at the same time. Win-WIn for some.

Perhaps.
Offer sheets are pretty much verboten. “We will stay away from yours in the belief that you’ll stay away from ours” has been the accepted theme.

In this case, while I didn’t mean to imply that it was the motivation for the offer sheets, I do wonder if the Blues org decided to break from conventional rules and do the offer sheets because of some animosity.

Maybe STL just decided to go ahead anyway. But it’s curious because again, this had almost been a gentleman’s agreement to not do it.

 

[DryKing]

Perhaps.
Offer sheets are pretty much verboten. “We will stay away from yours in the belief that you’ll stay away from ours” has been the accepted theme.

In this case, while I didn’t mean to imply that it was the motivation for the offer sheets, I do wonder if the Blues org decided to break from conventional rules and do the offer sheets because of some animosity.

Maybe STL just decided to go ahead anyway. But it’s curious because again, this had almost been a gentleman’s agreement to not do it.

If so, the animosity was likely towards Bowman. That said, it was a brilliant move by STL and quite a few teams in the league are likely cheering them on. Additionally it's hard to think Edmonton will be able to strike back at STL anytime soon with their cap situation and future cap projections.

Money aside, Broberg for a 2nd and Holloway for a 3rd is a steal.

 

[symbology]

Perhaps.
Offer sheets are pretty much verboten. “We will stay away from yours in the belief that you’ll stay away from ours” has been the accepted theme.

In this case, while I didn’t mean to imply that it was the motivation for the offer sheets, I do wonder if the Blues org decided to break from conventional rules and do the offer sheets because of some animosity.

Maybe STL just decided to go ahead anyway. But it’s curious because again, this had almost been a gentleman’s agreement to not do it.

Reasonable take.

 

[ICE24]

My question is why do the Oilers have these decent RFA’s that other teams covet. The Kings could only hope that teams would want their RFA’s, excluding one.

 

[symbology]

My question is why do the Oilers have these decent RFA’s that other teams covet. The Kings could only hope that teams would want their RFA’s, excluding one.

If a team could get Spence for a 3rd round pic, do you think they would make that trade? Many teams sure would. At Spence's new contract I think that is how much it would cost a team to offer sheet him. Offer sheets are best served to teams that are in serious cap trouble. Also best to offer sheet a player that is not happy with their current situation. The Kings have such a player, but he has not done a whole lot in the last year and a half.

Kings are not in Cap Hell like the Oilers are. Kings have no big contracts up next year like the Oilers do (Draisaitl and Bouchard need contracts next year). Oilers are in cap trouble this year and next. These two signed 2 year offer sheets have really messed up their plans, I am sure. Also, these players did not have to sign these deals, so they both wanted out for what ever reason. More money, more playing time? Who knows. These players did not have to sign these deals.

Keep in mind folks, we only here of Offer Sheets when they are signed by the players. There could be multiple offer sheets sent out every year that we never hear about.

Finally, this could be a little bit of payback, as the Oilers used an offersheet to steal a player many moons ago. As some have mentioned, they also just signed a dirtbag for a GM, so there is that as well.

 

[Dexter]

My question is why do the Oilers have these decent RFA’s that other teams covet. The Kings could only hope that teams would want their RFA’s, excluding one.

I am praying for a Kaliyev offer sheet.

 

[Dexter]

If a team could get Spence for a 3rd round pic, do you think they would make that trade? Many teams sure would. At Spence's new contract I think that is how much it would cost a team to offer sheet him. Offer sheets are best served to teams that are in serious cap trouble. Also best to offer sheet a player that is not happy with their current situation. The Kings have such a player, but he has not done a whole lot in the last year and a half.

Kings are not in Cap Hell like the Oilers are. Kings have no big contracts up next year like the Oilers do (Draisaitl and Bouchard need contracts next year). Oilers are in cap trouble this year and next. These two signed 2 year offer sheets have really messed up their plans, I am sure. Also, these players did not have to sign these deals, so they both wanted out for what ever reason. More money, more playing time? Who knows. These players did not have to sign these deals.

Keep in mind folks, we only here of Offer Sheets when they are signed by the players. There could be multiple offer sheets sent out every year that we never hear about.

Finally, this could be a little bit of payback, as the Oilers used an offersheet to steal a player many moons ago. As some have mentioned, they also just signed a dirtbag for a GM, so there is that as well.

It's a strategic move by the Blues and probably the West. Eventually they won't be able to afford both McJesus and Dry-Ice-Saddle.

 

[XPantericA]

It's a strategic move by the Blues and probably the West. Eventually they won't be able to afford both McJesus and Dry-Ice-Saddle.

I prefer Draihumpl.

 

[symbology]

Watching the Broberg interview after becoming a Blue, it was mentioned that he received at least 3 offer sheets. Just an FYI

 

[hokiecat]

Matty Beniers getting big bucks from the Kraken makes continue to think that GMs compete against themselves (and scenarios they concoct in their own heads) and that Blake did a very nice job with the Byfield extension.

 

[DoubleMinor]

Matty Beniers getting big bucks from the Kraken makes continue to think that GMs compete against themselves (and scenarios they concoct in their own heads) and that Blake did a very nice job with the Byfield extension.

Yeah, I think so too.
While I suppose it’s great to lockup someone for the longterm and with cost certainty, I do think it’s worth wondering why they spend lots of money when they don’t have to.

With Byfield it’s also worth considering what happens down the road. If Byfield continues the upward trajectory that’s going to come with a substantial cost. But I sincerely believe Blake made the right decision.

Right now there is really only a limited sample size with QB. There is the projection vs performance.

I have no criticism of Byfield from what we have seen, a young player who had some hurdles and was out of position. Now that he is slotted in his actual position we will see what happens.

 

[Bollocks]

Yeah, I think so too.
While I suppose it’s great to lockup someone for the longterm and with cost certainty, I do think it’s worth wondering why they spend lots of money when they don’t have to.

With Byfield it’s also worth considering what happens down the road. If Byfield continues the upward trajectory that’s going to come with a substantial cost. But I sincerely believe Blake made the right decision.

Right now there is really only a limited sample size with QB. There is the projection vs performance.

I have no criticism of Byfield from what we have seen, a young player who had some hurdles and was out of position. Now that he is slotted in his actual position we will see what happens.

That holds true for all three of the recent signings of young studs (that I am aware of). If they have great success, the next contract is going to be a big one. The fact that QB's contract is up a year or two sooner doesn't bear that much difference, really...it's just something a GM needs to take into account when planning their cap space for season when the next contract kicks in. I mean, sure, it's not a total non-issue, but the risk of a prospect without a track record of consistent upward trajectory at the top level is IMO simply too big to be handing out such contracts just to buy 1-2 UFA years.

Out of the three (QB, Faber, Beniers), QB shows the most promise of stable upward trajectory and he signed the most low-risk (term and money wise) contract.

Looking only at the best outcome (player exceeds expectations at the point of signing such contract thus becoming a very good bang for the buck deal) is foolish...

 

[ICE24]

Looks like San Jose got their goalie of the future from Nashville.

 

[DoubleMinor]

Looks like San Jose got their goalie of the future from Nashville.

Really curious about this.
Nashville had a choice between Saros and Askarov. Saros was their choice at an expensive and lengthy price…8-yr, $7.75 cap hit.

Did Trotz see something with Askarov that made him believe Askarov wasn’t the guy? Is Trotz spooked about the KHL?

If Askarov is a legit #1 goalie I don’t know why the choice was Saros. Trading Saros and signing Askarov would have saved the Preds about $5M in cap space.

 

[Bollocks]

Really curious about this.
Nashville had a choice between Saros and Askarov. Saros was their choice at an expensive and lengthy price…8-yr, $7.75 cap hit.

Did Trotz see something with Askarov that made him believe Askarov wasn’t the guy? Is Trotz spooked about the KHL?

If Askarov is a legit #1 goalie I don’t know why the choice was Saros. Trading Saros and signing Askarov would have saved the Preds about $5M in cap space.

I'm guessing Trotz prefers proven stability in net, even if it comes at a fairly premium price, especially term-wise...but you have to do what you have to do to keep such a player I guess.

Nashville is in an all-out, win-now mode. They just acquired Stamkos, Marchessault and Skjei as UFAs, they still have Josi, Forsberg and O'Reilly. Do you really think they would risk it with Askarov? He's clearly not a legit/proven #1 goalie...yet. So far he's done absolutely nothing at the NHL level and last season he wasn't spectacular in the AHL, either.

If Preds were in a money saving or rebuilding mode, it's entirely possible the choice would be different...but as things stand it's the only logical decision.

 

[DoubleMinor]

I'm guessing Trotz prefers proven stability in net, even if it comes at a fairly premium price, especially term-wise...but you have to do what you have to do to keep such a player I guess.

Nashville is in an all-out, win-now mode. They just acquired Stamkos, Marchessault and Skjei as UFAs, they still have Josi, Forsberg and O'Reilly. Do you really think they would risk it with Askarov? He's clearly not a legit/proven #1 goalie...yet. So far he's done absolutely nothing at the NHL level and last season he wasn't spectacular in the AHL, either.

If Preds were in a money saving or rebuilding mode, it's entirely possible the choice would be different...but as things stand it's the only logical decision.

Yeah, this sounds right. Kinda what I was thinking too but in a cap age there is always a financial angle.
I just wonder what Trotz could have done with the extra money, and what he could have acquired by moving Saros.

It does bring up the notion of just how important goalies are in the game today. There is still clearly an emphasis on the elite ones of course. But the recent evidence suggests that an elite goalie is not a requirement to win a Cup. I mean, the Kings have a Cup winning goalie right now but I don’t know how thrilled the fans are about him!

 

[DryKing]

Yeah, this sounds right. Kinda what I was thinking too but in a cap age there is always a financial angle.
I just wonder what Trotz could have done with the extra money, and what he could have acquired by moving Saros.

It does bring up the notion of just how important goalies are in the game today. There is still clearly an emphasis on the elite ones of course. But the recent evidence suggests that an elite goalie is not a requirement to win a Cup. I mean, the Kings have a Cup winning goalie right now but I don’t know how thrilled the fans are about him!

It's one position, likely anything else, which a team can make up for with an abundance of strength elsewhere (e.g. Colorado, or Chicago) provided they have at least above average strength in goal. All the same, it would be a bit unwise for a GM to go all in on a team and then put an untested quantity in goal - even if the player turned out to be an eventual Vezina winner. I agree with you, though, it would have been a very high risk / high reward move.

As to Kuemper, I get the general sentiment of him across the league by fans is that he is top tier, and last season definitely didn't help, but in all honesty he is probably the best goaltender we have had since Quick - so at least that is something. Combine that with how he played last time he was here, and how he projects to play in front of a decent defense, and the fact that we also have Riitich, and I'd argue that goal tending will not be our weakness and, to your earlier point, should be strong enough to win the Cup.

Unfortunately it probably will not be strong enough to carry a team with multiple shortcomings elsewhere.

 

[DoubleMinor]

It's one position, likely anything else, which a team can make up for with an abundance of strength elsewhere (e.g. Colorado, or Chicago) provided they have at least above average strength in goal. All the same, it would be a bit unwise for a GM to go all in on a team and then put an untested quantity in goal - even if the player turned out to be an eventual Vezina winner. I agree with you, though, it would have been a very high risk / high reward move.

As to Kuemper, I get the general sentiment of him across the league by fans is that he is top tier, and last season definitely didn't help, but in all honesty he is probably the best goaltender we have had since Quick - so at least that is something. Combine that with how he played last time he was here, and how he projects to play in front of a decent defense, and the fact that we also have Riitich, and I'd argue that goal tending will not be our weakness and, to your earlier point, should be strong enough to win the Cup.

Unfortunately it probably will not be strong enough to carry a team with multiple shortcomings elsewhere.

This is a good take and I wouldn’t disagree with any of it.
Much like Bollocks pointed out, Nashville is in the “win now” mode and Trotz went with the proven veteran at a crucial position.

I agree a lot with your take on Keumper specifically. He was here, did well enough, and has a good history.

I don’t think we should disregard that the Kings defensive system in the last decade-plus has been helpful for Kings goalies.
Not to diminish Quick in any regard (he is a goalie for the ages) but he certainly benefited from playing behind Drew, Slava, Mitchell and Scuderi to name a few.
But the system that allows Keumper, Talbot, Copley and Scrivens to succeed is doing a lot to allow goalies to perform at an adequate level.

But yeah, this Kings team is not going to live or die based on who the goalie is.

I’m hardly a Pollyanna about the Kings. But I actually am excited to see how this team comes together. While there was disappointment over the acquisitions and lack of better names coming in, I do think there are some elements that will help. Size, toughness, depth are components that were desperately needed. If some of the younger guys can acclimate painlessly it will be interesting to see what develops.

 

[jom]

Awful story today about Johnny Gaudreau. Very sad....unbelievable.

Blue Jackets' Gaudreau killed in car-bike crash

Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed when they were struck by a vehicle while riding bicycles, according to New Jersey State Police.

www.espn.com

jom

 

[CHARAzard]

Awful story today about Johnny Gaudreau. Very sad....unbelievable.

Blue Jackets' Gaudreau killed in car-bike crash

Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed when they were struck by a vehicle while riding bicycles, according to New Jersey State Police.

www.espn.com

jom

Remember when QB scored that unreal goal last season, and Gaudreau was skating by and gave him a nice little “F you, but that was sick” love tap?