Arnott & Hamhuis trades clear room for more moves in Nashville
by Dirk Hoag on Jun 19, 2010 5:15 PM EDT
21 comments
After making two headline-grabbing trades this afternoon, Nashville Predators GM David Poile has cleared a significant amount of salary from his books, with which he has the opportunity to retain or acquire talent to set his roster for the 2010-11 season.
Follow after the jump for a look at the situation today, and the options going forward...
Per CapGeek.com, the Preds currently have $38.9 million committed to 17 NHL-level players. Toss in Alexander Sulzer's $650,000 as well, given his one-way contract.
Over the last two seasons, the Preds have spent between $4-5 million above the minimum allowed team payroll, and it's likely that this benchmark will be the guideline this fall. If, as expected, the salary cap goes up by $2 million, that would leave the Predators with a payroll target of $47-48 million.
So, with $7.5-8.5 million left to spend (let's use $8 million), we need to get a backup goaltender, two defensemen, and a couple forwards. Expect the backup goalie to come in for less than $1 million, either being Mark Dekanich from Milwaukee or another NHL netminder. So with $7 million left, let's go shopping...
As a Restricted Free Agent this summer, Hornqvist is due to get a large increase in his salary, likely landing somewhere between $2.5-3.5 million per season depending on the length of a new deal. Let's split it down the middle and use $3 million for our figures here, leaving $4 million to go.
Another restricted free agent, Cody Franson made a good impression in a somewhat limited role. Similar to Ville Koistinen a couple years ago, however, there's no guarantee that past results will predict future success. Let's slot him at $1 million per season on a new deal, leaving $3 million on the table.
Hornqvist & Franson are the two players that are generally considered locks to be re-signed, so now is where we get speculative...
Another Restricted Free Agent, Grebeshkov will likely command $3.5-4.0 million on a new contract as a gifted offensive blueliner. He represents perhaps the best chance to improve the team's power play, and would fit in a Top Four role on the left side of the defense, which, after Ryan Suter, is led by Francis Bouillon and an assortment of young guys (Ryan Parent, Alex Sulzer, etc.). It would be a bit of a stretch to fit him in, depending on how the Hornqvist and Franson contracts play out. Besides, perhaps there's a more pressing need up front...
The departure of Jason Arnott leaves a gaping hole centering the #1 line, and Weiss might represent the most affordable, yet viable option available. New Panthers GM Dale Tallon has been quite candid about looking to move players and recraft his team, and Weiss' contract (which pays him $3.1 million per season for 3 more years) is a relative bargain for a guy coming off back-to-back 60 point seasons.
He's put up big numbers in the past, but is generally viewed as a poor competitor who can't win a faceoff and doesn't play smart hockey. He's likely to take a pay cut from his $5 million+ salaries from previous years, but I can't imagine this guy as a Nashville Predator.
Probably the best all-around forward on the free agent market this summer, Marleau would blow the Preds' budget right out of the water (he'll go for more than $7 million, presumably). It would be nice, but it ain't gonna happen.
Spezza is one of the NHL's elite playmakers, and is supposedly available via trade, but he makes $8 million for each of the next three seasons. With the Preds looking over the horizon at a contract extension for Shea Weber, Spezza just doesn't fit.
So what do you think, folks? After all these deals, assuming that Franson & Hornqvist get signed, which area would you seek to address? A top-line center, or a power-play quarterback for the defense? Are young players in the organization ready to fill any of those roles yet?
Just for reference, I'll toss a putative depth chart out here for discussion. Obviously, some of these centers spend a decent amount of time on the wing:
Centers: David Legwand, Colin Wilson, Marcel Goc, Jerred Smithson, Dustin Boyd, Nick Spaling, Cal O'Reilly
Wingers: Steve Sullivan, Martin Erat, Patric Hornqvist, J.P. Dumont, Joel Ward, Jordin Tootoo, Wade Belak
Defense: Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, Francis Bouillon, Kevin Klein, Cody Franson, Ryan Parent, Alexander Sulzer, Teemu Laakso
Goal: Pekka Rinne, Mark Dekanich, Chet Pickard, Jeremy Smith, Anders Lindback, Atte Engren.
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Weiss would be a steal for you guys. Derek Zona has convinced me of just how good he is.
Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999
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by Geoff Detweiler on Jun 19, 2010 5:31 PM EDT reply actions
Seems rather realistic, too – what with Florida putting him on the market and all. Hell, I might give up this year’s 1st for him.
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by Chris Burton on Jun 19, 2010 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Well GMDP would never give up the first. I’m a definite believe in Weiss as a great 2C but looking at GMDP’s MO I don’t see what kind of package he’d part with to get Weiss.
I waited all year for this?
by Fehr and Balanced on Jun 19, 2010 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah dealing picks isn’t really his thing. I have no knowledge of what Florida needs, really, so I can’t begin to rosterbate yet.
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by Chris Burton on Jun 19, 2010 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Defensive or offensive prospects?
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by Chris Burton on Jun 19, 2010 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Weiss might actually make for a nice fit in NAS. Hadn’t considered that option. Honestly don’t want to lose him, tho; he’s among the best second-line centers in the league.
by Donny Rivette on Jun 19, 2010 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m drooling thinking of him centering Hornqvist.
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by Chris Burton on Jun 19, 2010 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Hmmm
I’d like to keep Grebs if at all possible. I think he gives us more upside than the Hammer, but if we could get someone like Weiss instead? That’s probably the better option, the rest of the players here don’t really jump out at me as being a great deal. So Weiss or Grebs, please. Or both and trade JP? We’re also missing Ellis’ almost-inevitable trade, that’s some more room there.
It’s hard to call, too many options and we could really just ship Parent and Halischuk down to the AHL (if contracts are 2-way) and move up a handful of our boys. I’m sure this will be tested in pre-season, to see who is really better or ready for this season.
I’m still optimistic and excited about this season. There’s too much talent we still have, and we had to let Hammer go. Arnott may play better back on the Devils, but it just shows he was either not happy here or the management wasn’t happy with his half-assing it.
Simply to end my rambling: I’m going to be glued to this blog for the next couple weeks!
Fun to have some action here again
Simply to end my rambling: I’m going to be glued to this blog for the next couple weeks!
Grebs
Just wondering, but if Poile thought he could fit Hammer into the cap prior to Arnott being traded, then I’m guessing that he could now resign Hornquist, Franson, Grebs, and still go after one more player like Weiss. Does anyone know how much the Preds made or lost this year yet? The new ownership group said they would spend evenly!?
Except… Poile didn’t believe he could afford Hamhuis at all. Resigning everyone and grabbing a good forward like Weiss would require a bump in the budget of about $3 million, which would be shocking.
The best guess is that they made a small profit by making the playoffs.
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Patrick Sharp is due $4.1M and $4.2M the next two seasons. I’m sure they would love to keep Hjalmarsson and probably Boynton, RFA and UFA respectively.
Maybe we could pick up Sharp through some of Poile’s magical dealings.
Best part is his cap hit is only 3.9. But can you really see GMDP sending quality assets in-division?
I waited all year for this?
by Fehr and Balanced on Jun 20, 2010 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Better Today if....
Like others have said,
if Poile uses the money he saves from Hamhuis/Arnott (say, 8 M) on upgrading the roster, then its a win. If he just uses it to extend/resign current Preds, though,
I feel this team has is moving laterally at best, or perhaps taking a small step back.
Curious, does any one know if Weber has indicated he would like to stay here long term? Link?
Wilson isn’t ready to be a #1 center, Goc and Legwand are great #3 center’s who can fool you some days in being passable #2 pivots.
Weiss is cheap, and maybe good value for a #2 center. I don’t think he has the makeup of #1, even if he played that role in FLA. Better than what we have, sure. But we need someone even better than Weiss.
I say go all in, for the first time in a long time, for a Marleau, or a Spezza. Spezza’s cap hit is 7 M, but heaven knows that cap space isn’t an issue. In actual dollars, he has 5 years left at 33 M. That’s 6.6 a year, for a guy in his prime, who can improve our power play, feed Hornquist, and be our best offensive whiz since Kariya (who was post-prime).
by DontfeedtheBelak on Jun 20, 2010 12:29 PM EDT reply actions
cap space isn’t an issue. but the team just cant afford a 7M contract like that. it would leave nothing left for Horny and Franson, much less for Weber next summer.
And GMDP and Trotz wouldn’t take on 7 mill for a guy that gives the kind of defensive effort as Spezza. I think any player they bring in is going to have to be competent in his own end. Spezza is not.
I waited all year for this?
by Fehr and Balanced on Jun 20, 2010 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions
1) Weiss sounds like a pickup who’d be a bargain and a good addition for the Preds.
2) Speeza is awfully expensive for what you get, productivity wise.
3) On Marleau, yes, he would blow the budget. But if the Preds think that he could bring enough to the table to help them advance further in the playoffs, like to the Conference Finals, then he should be considered.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Don't put Jokinen in this mix
Just don’t.
by Hockey Hillbilly on Jun 20, 2010 6:08 PM EDT reply actions
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