If you were GM right now...

[CatScrap]

Well, it's a week before free agency and things have started to shake down already with trades and other moves.

If you were GM of your team right now, what would you do, who would you trade, and who would you sign? List em up.

 

[The Q stache]

I would take some of this new found cap space and aquire some grittier players

 

[SLY]

I would resign Ryder and sign Marchand. Not sure how much each... I'm not the greatest with numbers in sports. However I would not resign Kaberle. I would be in pursuit of another DMan (perhaps Pitkanen from the Canes?). We also need to replce Recchi, but to do this I would bring someone up from our farm system... For the most part our team is 100% the same as last year. A more offensive minded strong Dman like Pitkanen would be a good addition as well as bringing up some more youth to replace Recchi.

Maybe I wouldn't make a good GM, but that is my .02

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

I would try to shop Poti to a team needing to reach the cap floor.

I would re-sign Laich at 4.5-5 max. If not, let him walk.

I would sign Brouwer at 2.5

I would attempt to sign Varly, but set the ceiling at 2.25

I would extend Alzner long term at around 2.

I would fill in remaining spots with the cap room left.

If I got a decent offer for Semin, I would move him as well.

I would start negotiations with Green and Carlson for long term extensions as they are up next season, using 70mil as my target cap number for a 2015 watermark.

 

[CatScrap]

Ok,

If Pegula is serious about not caring about money, only winning, I'm going to assume we have permission to goto the cap.

Resignings first
Resign Connolly, good 3rd line center, good pp guy, and our best penalty killer, for a 1 year deal worth $3.5 million.
Resign Gerbe for 3 years at $2 million per.
Resign Sekera to a 3 year deal worth $1.5 million per.
Resign Butler to a 2 year $1 million per.
Resign Weber to a 2 year $1 million per.
Resign Montador to a 3 year $1.75 million per.
Resign Enroth to a 3 year $1.5 million per.

Bring up Kassian from the minors.

Sign the big dog, Brad Richards himself to an 11 year deal with a cap hit of $5.8 million per.

Breakdown of contract
$10 mil
$9 mil
$9 mil
$8 mil
$7 mil
$6 mil
$4.8 mil
$3.5 mil
$2.5 mil
$2 mil
$2 mil

This will leave us with plenty of cap space for resignings next year and the year after.

Our lines could be

Vanek - Richards - Stafford
Ennis - Roy - Gerber
Pomminville - Connolly - Hecht
Kassian - Gaustad - Kaleta

This would give us 3 real scoring lines and a HUGE heavy hitting fourth checking line. I think our D is a little underrated and, since it is so young, will get alot better this year.

 

[pixburgher66]

Well, to start, I'd try my best to trade Nisky and his horrible cap hit. He's a great player and I think he has a future in the league as a bottom 2 guy, but there's guaranteed to be a team who would trade for him (especially those that need to take on money). After that, it comes down to sorting out the forward situation. Talbot is walking, I still would sign Jags at 2 mil if he takes it. If he's open to something lower? Than you have to jump on that. There's not a more talented winger/price on the market. We have 10 forwards signed (this with Dustin Jeffery on the roster) and 7.5 million available for the rest. So, if we sign JJ for 2, Dupuis at 1.5, Rupp at 1.5, and Asham at a similar number, I'd be happy. I feel like Asham isn't coming back though...and TK would probably be in there instead.

 

[PhillyPhaithful48]

JvR-Giroux-Voracek
Hartnell-Briere-Leino
Versteeg-Schenn-Simmonds
Powe-Betts-Nodl

My moves: Resign Leino, Simmonds, Voracek. Try and move versteeg. Sign Scottie Upshall. Look for another center.

Outside looking in: Jody Shelley, Carbomb, possibly Powe

 

[pixburgher66]

JvR-Giroux-Voracek
Hartnell-Briere-Leino
Versteeg-Schenn-Simmonds
Powe-Betts-Nodl

My moves: Resign Leino, Simmonds, Voracek. Try and move versteeg. Sign Scottie Upshall. Look for another center.

Outside looking in: Jody Shelley, Carbomb, possibly Powe

Man, that's a young first line.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Btw, what my moves would leave for the Caps:

Forwards
Ovechkin
Backstrom
Knuble
Semin
Laich
Fehr
Chimera
Brouwer
Hendricks
Johansson
Beagle
King
Gustaffson
Eakin
Sjorgen


Defenseman
Green
Wideman
Carlson
Alzner
Schultz
Erskine
Orlov

Goalies
Neuvirth
Varlamov
Hotly

2-4.5 mil in remaining cap space

 

[forty_three]

Forwards:
- Get Chris Clark and Andrew Murray deals. You need that Character in the locker room.
- Make an offer (same as last year) to Moreau.
- Get someone to peel Upshall's name off the locker stall.
- I would have waited to make a decision on Filatov until after dev camp. But he's been in town, so they probably know somethin... By Niki. Enjoy being blamed for lack of leadership and character by the press!
- Get Kyle Wilson a raise and lots of practice time with Vermette.
- Make some calls and see if ANYONE wants Huselius.
- Maybe take a swing at Erik Cole. I love that guy.

D:
- Make Hejda a solid offer. Get him as many prostitutes as he wants.
- Spend every waking moment (and dollar) desperately persuing Bieksa.
- Failing that, spend some waking moments, and not as many dollars persuing Kaberle.
- Program Joni Pitkanen's agent's number into Caller ID and send all calls RIGHT to voicemail.

G:
- Be reasonable with Garon. And if he chooses not to be reasonable back, pick up Boucher, Lalime or Mike Brodeur.

 

[elocomotive]

If you were GM of your team right now, what would you do

I'd say god damn I have a lot of money. I'd go to my beach house in the Hamptons and I'd eat lots of lobster. I'd go golfing and bang my trophy wife every day. I'd sit out on my deck, smile, and salute the sunset with a beer.

 

[dash]

43 forgot to mention trading Kris Russell to the Calgary Flames for playmaking center Matt Stajan...

 

[CatScrap]

In light of the recent trade that has been verified, and with the cost to both sides posted, I will change my plan to this.

Don't sign Connolly. Send Kotalik to the minors. Bring up Luke Adam from the minors to be the second winger on the third line of Hecht centering Adam and Pomminville. Other than that. Everything stays the same as in previous post.

 

[Darkstone42]

Well, to start, I'd try my best to trade Nisky and his horrible cap hit. He's a great player and I think he has a future in the league as a bottom 2 guy, but there's guaranteed to be a team who would trade for him (especially those that need to take on money). After that, it comes down to sorting out the forward situation. Talbot is walking, I still would sign Jags at 2 mil if he takes it. If he's open to something lower? Than you have to jump on that. There's not a more talented winger/price on the market. We have 10 forwards signed (this with Dustin Jeffery on the roster) and 7.5 million available for the rest. So, if we sign JJ for 2, Dupuis at 1.5, Rupp at 1.5, and Asham at a similar number, I'd be happy. I feel like Asham isn't coming back though...and TK would probably be in there instead.

I think that's too much for Rupp and Dupuis. Rupp at 900K, Dupuis at 1.3. I know that oly saves 800K, but that could be the difference between signing Asham at 1.5 and Signing Kennedy at all. I'm not a big Kennedy fan, but he fits our system better than Asham.

My plan:

Trade Niskanen for a 4th or 5th, just shed his salary entirely. That puts us at 9 million. Cap signing Kennedy at 1.8 million or so. I would rather not offer him more than 1.5, but if they want to keep him, 1.8 is my ceiling. Dupuis at 1.3, Rupp at 900K. Factor in 800K for Despres if he's ready. Cap signing Jagr at 2 million, as you proposed. We actually could probably afford up to 2.5 for him, to be honest. Sign another depth forward and a depth defensemen on a 2-way contract. Win the Cup.

In theory, this gives us about 900K to work with throughout the season, up to 1.3 million if Jagr signs for 2 million instead of 2.5.

Kunitz-Crosby-Jagr
Neal-Malkin-Tangradi
Cooke-Staal-Letestu
Adams-Jeffrey-Dupuis/Rupp

Looking at this again, we really don't need Dupuis unless Kennedy doesn't sign...

 

[loki604]

I think that's too much for Rupp and Dupuis. Rupp at 900K, Dupuis at 1.3. I know that oly saves 800K, but that could be the difference between signing Asham at 1.5 and Signing Kennedy at all. I'm not a big Kennedy fan, but he fits our system better than Asham.

My plan:

Trade Niskanen for a 4th or 5th, just shed his salary entirely. That puts us at 9 million. Cap signing Kennedy at 1.8 million or so. I would rather not offer him more than 1.5, but if they want to keep him, 1.8 is my ceiling. Dupuis at 1.3, Rupp at 900K. Factor in 800K for Despres if he's ready. Cap signing Jagr at 2 million, as you proposed. We actually could probably afford up to 2.5 for him, to be honest. Sign another depth forward and a depth defensemen on a 2-way contract. Win the Cup.

In theory, this gives us about 900K to work with throughout the season, up to 1.3 million if Jagr signs for 2 million instead of 2.5.

Kunitz-Crosby-Jagr
Neal-Malkin-Tangradi
Cooke-Staal-Letestu
Adams-Jeffrey-Dupuis/Rupp

Looking at this again, we really don't need Dupuis unless Kennedy doesn't sign...

For almost all of it, but I just don't care if we sign Dupuis and think other teams will give him more.

No one is willing to admit it, but judging by the playoffs, our PK relies largely on Matt Cooke, not Dupuis.

Edit: Oh and you said you were signing Kennedy, but he's not in the lineup. Unless I'm mis-reading this or something. I'm still a little tipsy from last night.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Get Parise locked up, or at least keep him around for 1 more year when we have plenty of cap opening up. Resign Andy Greene, and then stand pat. This may not be the Devils year, but 2013 and 2014 will be interesting.

 

[puckhead]

we were one game away... no time for a tear down.
these guys should be the hungriest of them all next playoffs.

- sign Bieksa (UFA). he has proven himself pretty valuable, and says he wants to stay (for less!). 4 years, $4.5 - 5.0m per.
- attempt to sign Ehrhoff (UFA) in the same range. he probably won't take it. well then good luck, sir.
- Salo (UFA) said he'd also take a reduced deal to stay, and be happy with a reduced role. $1.5-2 mill. one year deal, as he's +35.
- Hansen (RFA) - sign him long-ish term. 3-5 years at $1.5 - 2 mill. He's the hardest worker many nights, and one day his hands will catch up.
- Lapierre (RFA) - 2 year deal with a mild raise to $1.3m. he was useful, and he was (mostly) reigned in.
- Torres (UFA) - buh bye. thanks for all the headshots, but with the new rule 48 wording, you will be a target for the refs. too inconsistent as well.
- Tamby (UFA) - buh bye. You had a magical 3 weeks or so, then nothing. Good luck in Europe.
- Glass (UFA) - don't really care. when he's hitting he's effective. he stopped hitting - injury? If he was that hurt, he shouldn't have been playing. A prime opportunity for a 4th line upgrade, as our 4th line got eaten alive by Boston.
Higgins (UFA) - If he comes back for a decent deal (under $2m), then fine. he was a very versatile player, and that's always useful. He's been through what... 5 teams in 3 years? time for some stability for him, too.
Alberts (UFA) - great guy for #7 role. sign him if he's up for that (and the appropriate salary), wish him the best if he wants to crack the top 6 elsewhere.

Hodgson and Tanev will be full timers next season. Hopefully Malhotra will regain his effectiveness, because he was maybe 60% in the playoffs. Hopefully Raymond will have no lingering effects, because his wheels are effective when he uses them properly.
4th line is the area of greatest concern. If Manny can regain his form, then that slides lapierre back to 4th line, which is just fine. if Glass goes (and Rypien remains who knows where), we need someone to make waves on that line. Chris Neil is an option, though I am worried that he's a headcase. he seemed to make the papers far too often in ott. i also don't know if age has caught up. we don't need an agitator, we need a closer. Maybe Zenon Konopka is a better fit. Move lappy to the wing.

done. Cup now, please.

 

[JustAsking]

Goaltender: Fleury (5m) Jonhson (600K) AVE: 2.8 million

Defense: Stay pat. Solid 7. Injuries occur and have good call-ups. Despres will benefit with more ice time and a year in the AHL. Next year, Nisky is RFA, he won't be resigned, and Despres will have a year of pro under his belt. AVE: 2.7 million

Forwards: Shero has done a good job of staggering what position needs to be focused on during the offseason.. with that said, I expect, and keeping with the trend, 2 yr deals (if Jagr, 1 yr deal)

Neal - Sid - Malkin
Kunitz - Staal - Jagr/TK (2 million)
Cooke - Letestu - Dupuis (1.785 million)
Rupp (1.125 million) - Adams - Jeffery/Asham (875k)
Tangradi/Jeffery

I think they would still have about 1.8 million in cap space. I would be shopping Cooke and his 1.8 million around. Asham could fill in nicely there and save probably 1 million.

 

[Darkstone42]

For almost all of it, but I just don't care if we sign Dupuis and think other teams will give him more.

No one is willing to admit it, but judging by the playoffs, our PK relies largely on Matt Cooke, not Dupuis.

Edit: Oh and you said you were signing Kennedy, but he's not in the lineup. Unless I'm mis-reading this or something. I'm still a little tipsy from last night.

Yeah, he was supposed to be on the third line. I had to leave before I could finish my edit, so that lineup isn't quite what I wanted it to be.

Of course, looking at it again, I don't really see a place for Kennedy unless we get rid of Cooke first, and that just opens up a whole new can of worms. Perhaps we should just let him walk...

 

[Darkstone42]

Goaltender: Fleury (5m) Jonhson (600K) AVE: 2.8 million

Defense: Stay pat. Solid 7. Injuries occur and have good call-ups. Despres will benefit with more ice time and a year in the AHL. Next year, Nisky is RFA, he won't be resigned, and Despres will have a year of pro under his belt. AVE: 2.7 million

Forwards: Shero has done a good job of staggering what position needs to be focused on during the offseason.. with that said, I expect, and keeping with the trend, 2 yr deals (if Jagr, 1 yr deal)

Neal - Sid - Malkin
Kunitz - Staal - Jagr/TK (2 million)
Cooke - Letestu - Dupuis (1.785 million)
Rupp (1.125 million) - Adams - Jeffery/Asham (875k)
Tangradi/Jeffery

I think they would still have about 1.8 million in cap space. I would be shopping Cooke and his 1.8 million around. Asham could fill in nicely there and save probably 1 million.

I like that, but I think it's still too much for Dupuis and Rupp. I also want Tangradi in the lineup somewhere. Before the concussion he looked like he was figuring it out, and he's got size. Maybe stick Tangradi on that third line instead of Dupuis and bring back someone cheaper than Dupuis for the depth forward position. We could save upwards of an extra million that way, which would be huge at the trade deadline if we needed a piece.