WHO COULD THE ELUSIVE TOP 6 FORWARD BE?

by predswilrule on Jul 20, 2011 9:17 PM EDT

First, let me give credit to Richard Cloutier. He is an Oiler blogger that sparked the following thoughts.

Obviously we have missed whatever chance there was to get a top 6 forward thru free agency unless, of course you believe any still remain. I don't. That leaves a trade as our only hope of such an addition. Who are the more likely trade partners. Cloutier's theory was cap strapped teams like the Flyers, Sabres and Caps. I added the Pens as well.

The Sabres have several possibilites. Jason Pominville would be great, but i find him highly unlikely due to the multiple roles he plays. Same for Derek Roy. Jochen Hecht may be their 1st choice, but he doesnt excite me. Lastly, is Brad Boyes. Decent size, a 4 mil cap hit, a scorer. He only has 1 year remaining on his current contract, but it does contain a no trade clause.

OK, so how about the Caps. Semin is a great talent, but very enigmatic and very expensive. Considering Laich just signed an extension that leaves Knuble. Trouble is he is 39 and would only relieve the Caps of 2 mil. Great for us, but offers very little help for the Caps.

How about the Pens? I would love to have James Neal. He's young, 23. Good size, 6'2" and around 210. Fairly cheap, cap hit of 2.875 mil, but 3.5 mil for 1 year. A likely resign? He wasn't very impressive for the Pens down the stretch. Maybe they saw enough, but I doubt he gets sent packing.Kunitz could be up for moving, but he doesn't really help our scoring much IMO. So, what do we do?

That brings me to my top target, or at least I'm guessing more likely than Neal. He would be a familiar face. He does have a no trade clause we would need to overcome. I dont have any idea what he would cost, but we have traded often with his current team. We need his size, edge and his willingness and skills in front of the net. He has 2 years left on his contract w/ a cap hit of 4.2 mil per year, would only cost a total of 6.8 mil in actual salary. He's also only 29 years old so keeping him beyond the 2 years would also be possible. He is Scott Hartnell. Yes, I know he and Trotz had a few run ins, but that was years ago. Could we reaquire Harts? While not the electric scorer we may wish for, he is a very effective net presence. He's big, physical and would/could be somewhat of an enforcer w/o wasting a roster spot on Stortini. He's also very good on the power play. Lord knows we need that. So, what are your thoughts and thanks for reading.

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I was

personally hoping Preds would make a call to the Flyers about Hartnell when the Flyers had to do their salary dump.

Maybe it happened, but the trade hasn’t. Trade deadline trade? Maybe.

by musamonster on Jul 20, 2011 11:01 PM EDT reply actions

O'reilly and WIlson

Both should improve, as they are still young. I would be willing to say that both should be a .6 p/g or better next season, which would help round out the top 6.

Keys to the game: GA<GF

by flyalder on Jul 20, 2011 11:20 PM EDT reply actions

Would it be impossible to say

Wilson might be a 20-25 goal player this year? Young players should improve.

by musamonster on Jul 20, 2011 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions

he has the potential for it

the real question is whether the post season scratching motivated him to be mature enough to do it. For that we will just have to wait and see.

Keys to the game: GA<GF

by flyalder on Jul 20, 2011 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Right on bro.

Now yer talkin’.

The truth is always the right answer....

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jul 21, 2011 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Just because the troubles was years ago doesn’t mean either party is over it. Hartnell is still the same player and Trotz the same coach. Hartnell is older, though, so maybe the on-ice shenanigans have mellowed.

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There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
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by cisar on Jul 20, 2011 11:33 PM EDT reply actions

And the answer is.........

Probably not. From what I’ve heard and read about the Flyers, they would actually like to add another top 9 forward to the team, so subtracting Hartnell would be unlikely. Besides, our biggest issue is actually getting set up in the offensive zone, not so much having someone stand in front of the other teams net. You can’t get garbage goals if you don’t even have the puck in the first place.

No team is really in any cap trouble right now. Teams that are currently over the cap all have players they can demote to the AHL or put on LTIR to get cap compliant. Sure, they’d love to move someone like Hecht or Rolston off their respective rosters, but how much would they help?

Not a good situation we’ve put ourselves into here.

Trotz says "we don't need more offense" and Poile "likes where we are right now". We're doomed!!!

by Grizzledbear on Jul 21, 2011 1:20 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

AGREED

on advancing the puck, but i think we are sorely missing net presence, size and toughness. we will never go far into the playoffs with alot of finesse and very little grit that also has skill. hartnell is the best net presence we have ever had,IMO, followed closly by horndog. bigger body and great at deflections. i do agree the likelyhood isnt great, but i liked cloutiers thought process cause those teams will definately move salary and not want a current nhl valued asset in return.

by predswilrule on Jul 21, 2011 8:15 AM EDT up reply actions

With losing Ward, that does create a problem in terms of size and physical play up front. Wilson needs to grow into that role for us. Fisher seems adept at getting into the crease area, so we should at least have a decent net presence next season. Getting set up in the Ozone is a whole other story……..

Trotz says "we don't need more offense" and Poile "likes where we are right now". We're doomed!!!

by Grizzledbear on Jul 21, 2011 6:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Wilson is the largest dude on the ice most times. He needs to use that body.

Hockeymetricians, they're ever so pious. Are they doing real science or confirming their bias?

by DonBorvio on Jul 21, 2011 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the Flyers would dump Hartnell if they could. He’s well overpaid, but has a NMC.

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by red army line on Jul 21, 2011 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

That is true

We had so many issues getting into the offensive zone last year. I wanted to start a drinking game called dump and chase, where you had to take a shot every time a preds player dumped the puck into the corner and the other team took possession.

by Preds of State on Jul 22, 2011 3:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Zherdev still in the mix?

SlavaMalamud Slava Malamud
Nik Zherdev is in Moscow but still hopes to sign a deal in #NHL, his agent says. His #KHL rights belong to Atlant Mytishchi.
3 minutes ago

We've been over this before. Stop trying to trade Pekka!!
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Jul 21, 2011 8:04 AM EDT reply actions

Help us, Nikolay, you are our only hope!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIFJLMyUwrg

by djzielin on Jul 21, 2011 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Which just goes to show how bad this FA market really is.

We've been over this before. Stop trying to trade Pekka!!
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Jul 21, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

can't see a trade happening

the quality is all signed
as someone noted above there are no longer teams in cap trouble
plus, not seeing the depth on the blueline anymore w/ Bouillon having PCS again, SOB gone, Lebda in (NOT helpful), etc.
best option is to play the younger guys and watch them improve

on the Pens and Neal…that wouldn’t happen
they gave up a lot to get him
and, while he didn’t score much in his short stint, it was largely b/c the team was decimated by injuries and he had little support (no Crosby, no Malkin, etc)

by Diomedes7 on Jul 21, 2011 11:31 PM EDT reply actions

AGREE

as i mentioned on neal, but there will still be moves to dump salary. it may be shortly before camp, but they will be made. while it may not include any players that benefit us, the teams mentioned will move or waive players.

by predswilrule on Jul 22, 2011 8:10 AM EDT up reply actions

After the new CBA is in place....

… look for a LOT more trades and salary dumps, etc.

I wonder if anyone knows that if the cap were to go DOWN due to a new CBA, would there be buyouts like what happened when the cap was first instituted?

by djzielin on Jul 25, 2011 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait

If Christmas roles around and we’re not getting the scoring we need, then we go shopping. But I have to agree that the youngsters will be stepping up to the task.

by Gumpucks on Jul 25, 2011 5:18 PM EDT reply actions

I have always hated that theory...

…. of wait till Christmas.

Look what happened last year to New Jersey with their awful start.

They played lights out just to get within 4 points of a playoff spot at one time… then ran out of gas.

by djzielin on Jul 27, 2011 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions

You’re exactly right here. Not only can waiting that long jepordize your chances of making the playoffs, but who’s to say that anyone will be willing to trade you what you want at that time? And at what cost will it take to get the help you may need by then? Best to address a situation early then when it may be to late to address it.

Shadows only exist when something of substance appears first.......

by Grizzledbear on Jul 27, 2011 6:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

As a Sabres fan...

You could offer a 7th round pick in 2018 for Ales Kotalik. Now you would have to pretend he is a top 6 forward, but I think its worth the chance :).

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Jul 27, 2011 12:08 PM EDT reply actions

I’ll bet we could have Hecht at a discount price as well. ;)

Shadows only exist when something of substance appears first.......

by Grizzledbear on Jul 27, 2011 6:45 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

We still like Jochen and I think he is way more valuable then Kotalik, so it may not be as discounted as you think. Even though we are $3.5 mil over the cap, Kotalik and Morrisonn on waivers would give us $1.5 of cap space. In our eyes, we are really not in too bad of a situation. Of course Hecht is at the end of his career and in his last year of his current contract… I still think his price would be a #2-#3 center (about 40-50 pts. a year) or another really good center prospect (our center depth is deplorable, so receiving a C back in this type of trade would be a must). His play is extremely versatile, he is a wonderful two-way forward, and he could play top 6 minutes on your team when needed to.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Jul 28, 2011 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

We'll trade you David Legwand

Don’t let me change my mind!

by djzielin on Jul 28, 2011 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions

He would be a nice fit and totally fill a need, though his cap hit would be too large in less we were sending $5+ million in salaries back your way. Obviously that could be a Morrisonn and Kotalik, but I think Legwand is worth more than that. I see you just signed Sloan, but do you need more D? Morrisonn is still serviceable as a 5-7 Dman, he just doesn’t fit with our deep D Corps anymore. How about:

Preds:
Hecht or Boyes
Morrisonn

Sabres:
Legwand

Boyes is easily a 50+ point winger with one more year on his deal at $4 mil. Either way, I think Hecht or Boyes would work well in your top 6.

I must admit I am no trade master, and I am really not good with value. Do you guys value Legwand around here? He looks like a good two-way center that would totally fit the Sabres system…am I wrong about this? Feedback would be awesome.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Jul 29, 2011 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Do we value Legwand around here?!

WE ALL DO!

Especially SWFP!

by djzielin on Jul 29, 2011 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha I was just checking. I did not know if he was in the fan’s dog house or something like that. Is he a good two way player? His FO% is below 50%, but if he can deal with the center responsibilities well enough, I do not need see why a deal couldn’t happen.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Jul 29, 2011 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

The true answer is, no, they don’t like him. SWFP is particularly vocal in his dislike. Legwand is definitely in the fans’ dog house around here. Just in case the joke got lost in translation. Cheers!

"I'm a firm believer that in life, if you're happy then happy things will happen for you."--Bernie Parent
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Jul 29, 2011 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks.

Yea…I am not around here much to have caught on to that one! Thanks for the clarification.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Jul 29, 2011 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Of course, if the Sabres did bury Kotalik and Morrisonn in the minors, they would have to replace at least one of them on the roster I would think. We’ll give you Lebda straight up for Hecht……whatdda say? :)

Shadows only exist when something of substance appears first.......

by Grizzledbear on Jul 28, 2011 7:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

We wouldn’t need to replace either….we will re-sign M.A. Gragnani as our 7th D. Our team has a plethora of wingers at the moment…easily our deepest position on our team.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Jul 29, 2011 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions

We need to do business.

We have no wingers.

by djzielin on Jul 29, 2011 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea, I think we could make decent trade partners…you just may need to move a Legwand, who looks like a top 6 forward on your team.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Jul 29, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Sadly, I look like a Top 6 forward on this team.

True story.

by djzielin on Jul 31, 2011 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Haha…that’s a good one. The way Nashville is built now is a lot like what the Sabres looked like in the late 90s with Hasek. We did not have a definite top six forward (except for Miro Satan), and our team relied heavily on D, though I would argue that you have way better top defensemen than we ever had in that era. Our whole team practically hinged on Hasek’s play, which was extremely impressive from 1995 onward. I think you definitely have a team that can be successful…you just need to play a boring, defensive hockey sort of game to win.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Aug 2, 2011 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

hey, i take offense to that.

I love defensive hockey, i never understood how people find it boring. That’s why i originally became a preds fan.

p.s. I didn’t actually take offense, just wanted to throw in my 2cents on the defensive style.

Keys to the game: GA<GF

by flyalder on Aug 2, 2011 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions

How about Chris Mueller?

Hockeymetricians, they're ever so pious. Are they doing real science or confirming their bias?

by DonBorvio on Jul 29, 2011 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Wikipedia says he is a RW…its cool that he is a local boy (West Seneca, NY), but I do not see him filling a need of ours. I looked at your prospect chart here, and it looks like your top C prospect is Michael Latta. Honestly, I am not sure if your center depth in the minors would match what we would give you in a trade, in less its for a player like Morrisonn. Now if you are looking to move O’Reilly or Wilson (which you shouldn’t do!), you could definitely get some assets back.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Jul 29, 2011 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions