There are only 2 names...

by GodBlessLordStanley on Feb 14, 2012 11:58 AM EST

...worth considering for the Preds as the trade deadline approaches: Jeff Carter and Zach Parise. Every other name being discussed is NOT a "major" upgrade at forward, but just more of the same. Come on guys! Do we really need another 15-goal forward? Is it worth trading away some good talent to get another 15-goal forward? I say NO. PredNation wants, needs, and deserves a big, solid, defensively-responsible, 30+ scorer and... quite frankly... if that's not the goal, then why bother?

I am SO SICK of people saying "Well, players like Carter and Parise won't be an option for Nashville, but there are other players who could make a nice addition to their team." Ownership, in their wisdom, has said that money will not be an issue, so it's time for David Poile to find out how serious they really are. The Preds can sign Weber, Suter (at $7+M ea.) and Carter or Parise (at $6-7+M) and keep everybody else they want to keep if Ownership is really serious about winning The Cup. Sure, we might have to rely a bit more heavily on youth and depth; and we might have to waive goodbye to one or two good friends, but there is no reward without risk.

Once they've made the decision to go and get one of these guys, the question becomes "which one." Well, this is a bit like choosing between Marissa Miller and Giselle... you can't really lose. On the one hand, I don't see Columbus, no matter how deep in the basement they are, trading away one of their best players to a division foe; but I suppose stranger things have happened. New Jersey, on the other hand, is in serious financial trouble and simply can't afford to keep Kovalchuk, Elias, and Parise. Carter's contract is more affordable; Parise is more available. Carter will cost us more talent in exchange, but fewer actual dollars. New Jersey simply needs to get something for Parise as they won't be able to re-sign the UFA once their season ends, but he will be substantially more expensive to keep long term.

SO, let the discussion begin: Is The Cup as close as one key player? Is the reward worth the sacrifice? Is it enough to add more of what we already have? Or do we Go Big and get what we really, really want and need.

GO PREDS!

Poll

Go Big or Go Home?

Jeff Carter or Zach Parise

27 votes

Don't mess with a good thing... The Preds are fine.

5 votes

Ownership won't spend this kind of $$

7 votes

39 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I disagree

your 2 names are short 2. Nash and Ryan fit into the category you have created.

by wrandsw on Feb 14, 2012 12:15 PM EST reply actions

I agree with you.

Nash is looking like a viable trade target now, according to the latest rumor mill. One would just have to hope that Columbus’ pure hatred for the Predators wouldn’t be too huge of a factor in a possible deal. If it’s not – throw the kitchen sink…NO, throw the whole stinking kitchen at them if you have to to pick him up.

What would that entail – a first and second rounder, Blummer, maybe Pickard and Ellis? I know that’s a lot, but my goodness what a scary pro team we would have, and Nash would be locked up for several years (not to mention Weber and Suter)

- History will be made. Our time is MEOW. -

by Smashville HockeyCat on Feb 14, 2012 12:28 PM EST up reply actions

Yes and no...

I left Nash out on-purpose as being simply too expensive to both get and keep. His contract is too big and we would have to part with too much. If Columbus is going to blow themselves up, let one of the Canadian teams pay that boat-anchor a contract.

I didn’t include Perry simply because I didn’t see him as available as Carter… my mistake, perhaps. Happy to add Perry if he could be gotten; perhaps more easily than Carter?

by GodBlessLordStanley on Feb 14, 2012 12:44 PM EST up reply actions

Do you mean Ryan? I don’t think Perry is available either.

by wrandsw on Feb 14, 2012 12:59 PM EST up reply actions

I'm not an expert on Nash

But by the numbers, and especially considering he plays by himself on a desert island, he’s worth the contract (especially since he’s be locked up for several years, not a rental player), and as long as you don’t have to trade the team away for him he’d be worth the trade too.

by musamonster on Feb 15, 2012 8:25 AM EST up reply actions

How is Nash’s contract too big but Carter’s is not?

The truth is neither libelous nor slanderous.
Reason and logic instead of hope and faith.
Pro athletes--it's not what they say, it's what they do.
General managers--it's not what they say, it's what they do.

by shoot the puck on Feb 15, 2012 11:18 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs

Exactly.

- History will be made. Our time is MEOW. -

by Smashville HockeyCat on Feb 15, 2012 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

Would you rather...

…have Nash and nothing else or Carter plus an extra $2.5M/yr to spend? That’s how Nash’s contract is too big. (Nash)$7.8M>$5.3M(Carter)

by GodBlessLordStanley on Feb 15, 2012 4:32 PM EST up reply actions

Jeff Carter

Makes $6.25 mil to $7 mil though 2018… and his stinkin contract goes till 2022. I’ll take Nash.

by musamonster on Feb 16, 2012 3:13 AM EST up reply actions

His salary...

…is irrelevant to his cap hit.
Carter’s cap hit: http://www.capgeek.com/players/display.php?id=740
Nash’s cap hit: http://www.capgeek.com/players/display.php?id=586

Honestly, I couldn’t care less about either of them. I want Parise, who’s cap hit is $0.00 unless we sign him.

by GodBlessLordStanley on Feb 16, 2012 2:23 PM EST up reply actions

Parise would be really nice

but Devils haven’t put him on the block yet, and if you get him you have to guarantee he’ll sign an extension. Nash and Cater would already be locked up for years to come.

Until the Preds spend to the cap, cap hit is irrelevant, actual salary is what counts most.

by musamonster on Feb 16, 2012 2:46 PM EST up reply actions

OF a contract...

that was a typo… I’m not calling Nash a boat-anchor… Sorry a/b that.

by GodBlessLordStanley on Feb 14, 2012 12:46 PM EST reply actions

Ryan, yes (and thanks)... but...

…if Anaheim is selling, what difference does it make to them? Of the two (Ryan and Perry), which one is a better fit for the Preds? (I don’t have an opinion… just asking the question).

by GodBlessLordStanley on Feb 14, 2012 1:08 PM EST up reply actions

Defense instead?

I think we need to look to upgrade with a big body on defense rather than a 15 goal scorer. I agree with you that we don’t need another moderately talented forward, go big or go home; however, I think our best bet is to upgrade with some larger bodies on defense to help ensure we’re not warn down for playoffs. Love Ellis, Jose, Klein, and the Cube but still think we need another 200 pound defender on the roster.

by rew182 on Feb 16, 2012 11:48 AM EST reply actions

Nashville

is 9th in goals scored, but only 25th in shots. The team doesn’t necessarily need more goals, but it does need more offensive presence. This will up the goals more, especially in tight situations, but more so take the pressure off the defense.

by musamonster on Feb 16, 2012 2:51 PM EST up reply actions

Good point...

However, I’m hoping that recent games aren’t an indicator of how we may have put too much expectations on Shae and Webs. Baring the Hawks the previous 4 games we gave up 4 goals in each game with Sutes and Web playing a ton. If we’re going to make it deep in the playoff we need someone who can support them on D. Offense in hockey is always a little sporadic with lucky bounces and what not, but D you can count on and that’s why I think we need a Dman more than a Winger.

by rew182 on Feb 16, 2012 3:54 PM EST reply actions