Free agency 2015 - The day where nothing makes sense and the money don't matter.

[Cobiemonster]

Alright folks, time to guess who is the odds-on favo(u)rite for this year's David Clarkson award.

Rhymes with Patt Feleskey

 

[forty_three]

My guess is the cap. Jenner, Murray, Savard, Connauton all RFA next summer, RyJo the summer after, gonna have to replace at least 3 forwards and at least 2 defencemen. Even if they were hoping to get Hamilton signed at $6 mil even that doesn't leave much cap space without figuring a way to dump at least 2 of Dubinsky, Clarkson, Hartnell or Johnson which just leaves more holes to fill.

Yeah, it could get kind of hairy, so maybe that was it.

The way I see it though, of next summer's RFA's they can let Connauton go, and someone will be interested in Savard around deadline time. If they'd have landed Dougie, and with Werenski and Heatherington expected to land in the NHL the 16-17 season, so that's a wash for bodies, and likely an upgrade in talent. Savard can go for picks or a playoff rental. Johnson has been rumored trade bait before as well.

They can also shed forwards, we can assume that Anisimov is gone at some point, they tried to deal Calvert at the deadline, and Boll only has one more after this. Kids like Karlsson, Chaput, Bjorkstrand and Milano will be cheap fill ins and again, in some cases arguably improvements. And if they can keep Rychel...

If they could move Clarkson, they would. Hard sell though. Bourque too. Those two and Boll are albatrosses of contracts right now. Clarkson, Bourque, Boll and Anisimov are 13.5m total this year. And they have 7.5 in space right now. The good news is Bourque and Anisimov and come off after this year no matter what. That savings would have paid for Hamilton.

Murray and Jenner definitely stay, but they will get bridge deals. They could keep Dubi, Hartnell, and Johnson, and fill around the edges with kids. They could have fit Dougie (at the hit the Flames gave him) and still bend over for Johansen in a year. Kid's gonna get PAID.

Provided the cap doesn't drop And provided they want to spend to the cap...

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Yeah, it could get kind of hairy, so maybe that was it.

The way I see it though, of next summer's RFA's they can let Connauton go, and someone will be interested in Savard around deadline time. If they'd have landed Dougie, and with Werenski and Heatherington expected to land in the NHL the 16-17 season, so that's a wash for bodies, and likely an upgrade in talent. Savard can go for picks or a playoff rental. Johnson has been rumored trade bait before as well.

They can also shed forwards, we can assume that Anisimov is gone at some point, they tried to deal Calvert at the deadline, and Boll only has one more after this. Kids like Karlsson, Chaput, Bjorkstrand and Milano will be cheap fill ins and again, in some cases arguably improvements. And if they can keep Rychel...

If they could move Clarkson, they would. Hard sell though. Bourque too. Those two and Boll are albatrosses of contracts right now. Clarkson, Bourque, Boll and Anisimov are 13.5m total this year. And they have 7.5 in space right now. The good news is Bourque and Anisimov and come off after this year no matter what. That savings would have paid for Hamilton.

Murray and Jenner definitely stay, but they will get bridge deals. They could keep Dubi, Hartnell, and Johnson, and fill around the edges with kids. They could have fit Dougie (at the hit the Flames gave him) and still bend over for Johansen in a year. Kid's gonna get PAID.

Provided the cap doesn't drop And provided they want to spend to the cap...

They wouldn't have Werenski if they had landed Dougie, though - that pick would've 100% been part of any deal for him - so they would still need to pay Savard probably.

Also, wouldn't be so sure that Murray and Jenner get bridge deals with the Jackets so tight against the cap. If the Hamilton trade proved anything, it's that GM's aren't shying away from offer sheets these days and Murray has just as much upside as Hamilton if not more while Jenner could wind up having a break-out season and give some GM's reason to test the Jackets' resolve.

 

[forty_three]

They wouldn't have Werenski if they had landed Dougie, though - that pick would've 100% been part of any deal for him - so they would still need to pay Savard probably.

Also, wouldn't be so sure that Murray and Jenner get bridge deals with the Jackets so tight against the cap. If the Hamilton trade proved anything, it's that GM's aren't shying away from offer sheets these days and Murray has just as much upside as Hamilton if not more while Jenner could wind up having a break-out season and give some GM's reason to test the Jackets' resolve.

Good point on the first thing, however, Savard will ultimately be cheaper long run than Werenski. And if they had Dougie to play alongside Murray... Savard is fine in his 5/6 role. It's when he's asked to fill in 3/4 that he has lapses. If they had Hamilton, no need for Werenski. Especially with Dougie at 6 years.

As for the Bridges, that's the way the Jackets do it. They almost let their franchise player sit down for not taking the bridge. They will hammer both of them all year about 2-3 year deals and try to get them done before deadline day. And they have some valid points about health concerns. Particularly with Murray. Threaten to trade them at the deadline and remind them that Johansen AND Bobrovsky took bridge deals.

If they make it to RFA status and get offersheeted, the Jackets will likely match anything anyhow, unless it's pants-on-head retarded. And they took away Lowe's phone and Feaster is working at Canadian Tire.

Don't think anyone would believe the Jackets would screw them over. They have paid every guy who has given them what they asked for. And if the Jackets are in the middle of a run at the time... I have faith they'll take bridge deals.

 

[pixburgher66]

Alright folks, time to guess who is the odds-on favo(u)rite for this year's David Clarkson award.

Belesky is too easy a choice here. I think Franson ends up being paid too much too, but he'll perform to some degree.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

 

[dash]

Martin Jones did play junior hockey for the Calgary Hitmen...

/Not really all that relevant, I realize, I just felt like posting that little nugget of information.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Good point on the first thing, however, Savard will ultimately be cheaper long run than Werenski. And if they had Dougie to play alongside Murray... Savard is fine in his 5/6 role. It's when he's asked to fill in 3/4 that he has lapses. If they had Hamilton, no need for Werenski. Especially with Dougie at 6 years.

As for the Bridges, that's the way the Jackets do it. They almost let their franchise player sit down for not taking the bridge. They will hammer both of them all year about 2-3 year deals and try to get them done before deadline day. And they have some valid points about health concerns. Particularly with Murray. Threaten to trade them at the deadline and remind them that Johansen AND Bobrovsky took bridge deals.

If they make it to RFA status and get offersheeted, the Jackets will likely match anything anyhow, unless it's pants-on-head retarded. And they took away Lowe's phone and Feaster is working at Canadian Tire.

Don't think anyone would believe the Jackets would screw them over. They have paid every guy who has given them what they asked for. And if the Jackets are in the middle of a run at the time... I have faith they'll take bridge deals.

You don't think Savard can be 3/4? And assuming Werenski does become a top pair d-man Murray-Werenski can be a deadly combo in a few years so that trumps everything besides the fact they really could've used Dougie today.

As for the RFA stuff, last summer with Johansen was very different than what next summer could be with Murray. Say Murray has a truly break-out season, Jackets make the playoffs, maybe even win a round. Boston traded Hamilton because the threat of an offer sheet from Edmonton was all too real; you think Chia Pet doesn't come back around looking for more Chia food? What about Arizona? These are teams with lots of cap room who will be expecting to be breaking out in 2016-17 and need a top pair defenceman. What about Winnipeg, if they don't re-sign Buff what better replacement than Murray? If these teams offer Murray $7 million Jackets are going to be very, very hard-pressed to match.

Of course, lots can change in a year. If Murray can't stay healthy and put up some numbers to make it easier on Bob he's not going to be in any position to demand much.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Martin Jones did play junior hockey for the Calgary Hitmen...

/Not really all that relevant, I realize, I just felt like posting that little nugget of information.

But was he the best there is and the best there was?

 

[dash]

But was he the best there is and the best there was?

He was not and is not the excellence of execution.

 

[BGDave]

"I smell a Montreal screw job coming."

- Mouth of the South

 

[dash]

Is there a chair left for Karri Ramo? I'd certainly like to bring him back to Calgary.

 

[forty_three]

You don't think Savard can be 3/4? And assuming Werenski does become a top pair d-man Murray-Werenski can be a deadly combo in a few years so that trumps everything besides the fact they really could've used Dougie today.

As for the RFA stuff, last summer with Johansen was very different than what next summer could be with Murray. Say Murray has a truly break-out season, Jackets make the playoffs, maybe even win a round. Boston traded Hamilton because the threat of an offer sheet from Edmonton was all too real; you think Chia Pet doesn't come back around looking for more Chia food? What about Arizona? These are teams with lots of cap room who will be expecting to be breaking out in 2016-17 and need a top pair defenceman. What about Winnipeg, if they don't re-sign Buff what better replacement than Murray? If these teams offer Murray $7 million Jackets are going to be very, very hard-pressed to match.

Of course, lots can change in a year. If Murray can't stay healthy and put up some numbers to make it easier on Bob he's not going to be in any position to demand much.

Savard skates beautifully, but he makes some bad decisions with the puck. More ice time = more chances to goof. He *can* be a 3/4 guy. I'm more comfortable with him 5/6. With a babysitter, he's way better. Need him to carry and set up? Could be trouble.

And like I said, I hope the Jackets will have Murray and Jenner on their bridges before Chia Pet has the chance to come calling.

You don't know how bad I want a breakout year from Murray. Kid is so fucking gifted. He just can't catch a break.

Murray, Johnson, Tyutin, Savard, Prout, Connauton, Falk and Goloubef isn't terrible as a whole if they can stay healthy. It just would have looked a Shit-ton better with a Hamilton in there...

Still a chance they may wind up with a Martin, Ehrhoff or Oduya in there.



PLEASE GOD NOT MIKE GREEN

 

[dash]

Drew Stafford has re-signed with Winnipeg.

Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC
Stafford deal in WIN is 2 years, $8.7M

 

[BGDave]

Savard skates beautifully, but he makes some bad decisions with the puck. More ice time = more chances to goof. He *can* be a 3/4 guy. I'm more comfortable with him 5/6. With Phaneuf, he's way better. Need him to carry and set up? Could be trouble.

Still a chance they may wind up with a Phaneuf in there.



PLEASE GOD NOT MIKE GREEN

FIFY

 

[BGDave]

Drew Stafford has re-signed with Winnipeg.

Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC
Stafford deal in WIN is 2 years, $8.7M

Stafford = Bozak West.

 

[forty_three]

FIFY

No Mike Green.

No Mike Green that is worse than Mike Green.

 

[mattola]

Yep and that's because they did it at draft night - teams like the Rangers and Canucks should have dealt those guys sooner instead of having their thumbs stuck up their ass

kinda what Im bitching about chief

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Savard skates beautifully, but he makes some bad decisions with the puck. More ice time = more chances to goof. He *can* be a 3/4 guy. I'm more comfortable with him 5/6. With a babysitter, he's way better. Need him to carry and set up? Could be trouble.

And like I said, I hope the Jackets will have Murray and Jenner on their bridges before Chia Pet has the chance to come calling.

You don't know how bad I want a breakout year from Murray. Kid is so fucking gifted. He just can't catch a break.

Murray, Johnson, Tyutin, Savard, Prout, Connauton, Falk and Goloubef isn't terrible as a whole if they can stay healthy. It just would have looked a Shit-ton better with a Hamilton in there...

Still a chance they may wind up with a Martin, Ehrhoff or Oduya in there.



PLEASE GOD NOT MIKE GREEN

Mike Green is going to Detroit. Book it.

 

[dash]

Mike Green is going to Detroit. Book it.

Detroit could use some Green.