The "My Team's in Offseason Mode" Thread

[pixburgher66]

Alright, we all love playoff hockey no matter who's left, but you can't deny that your focus shifts a wee bit once your team is out of it. So...the offseason. It sucks, but does create many talking points. To begin, what's one position your team needs the most work on?

The Pens: wingers. And getting healthy. Shero has his work cut out for him in signing guys on the cheap. In fact, I see a trade of one of our Dmen to make room, because they're an expensive top 7, especially with the addition of Nisky late in the season.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

I see the Sabres being more active in the FA market. The defense is very young and a stable vet would help out back there. Their inexperience killed them in the playoffs, too many mistakes in their own end were costly.

Now that Roy is back it would be nice to get a good line mate for him and Vanek. Roy was our best player before his injury and Vanek was playing well late in the season considering he had little help.

With Enroth backing up Miller the goal tending is solid.

They have some very good young players and prospects Ennis, Gerbe, Kassian, Adam, Myers and we will see if McNabb makes the team.

I honestly feel with the right moves they could move up the ladder pretty good. I'm not saying Cup contenders but a team that will not be easy to play against.

For the first time in years I am excited about the off season now that we have an owner that just wants to win !!

 

[pixburgher66]

The Sabres are definitely a team to watch this offseason. I see them making significant moves finally and really working to build around the solid core they have. They haven't looked this solid up and down since 2007. As if Miller wasn't good enough, Enroth comes up and plays spectacular hockey. That's good for competitions sake at the very least.

 

[SLY]

My team is still in, but I think in the offseason they'll learn how to choke up a 4 goal lead instead of just 3. Maybe even 5.

 

[pixburgher66]

My team is still in, but I think in the offseason they'll learn how to choke up a 4 goal lead instead of just 3. Maybe even 5.

They're true overachievers in Boston. Don't worry, the Pens may learn to give up 2 goal leads to the B's in under 1 minute.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

My team NY. Islanders

Offseason to do list:

Prospects that must be signed or will re-enter the draft.

C Casey Cizikas Mississauga OHL I'm very confident they'll get it done.
G Anders Nilsson Sweden 3rd rounder was one of the best goalies in the SEL. A MUST sign.
W Jason Gregoire North Dakota Gregoire has forced the Islanders hand. He's got one year of eligibility left, but he wants to turn pro. If the Islanders don't sign him withing the next 26 days or so he will become an UFA. He wants a one way contract. GOOD LUCK with that Jason.

Offseason needs:

Until last week I would have said goalie was a big concern. However Nabokov has said he will report to the Islanders for training camp. I still think they'll trade him, but at the moment he's going to be an Islander. If a trade happens Garth better sign somebody capable of playing at least 50 games because Ricky can't do it & I want Poulin to develop for 1 full season in Bridgeport.

That means there are two areas of need for the Islanders.

First is on Defense. Streit, Eaton, Mottau, Jurcina & MacDonald all missed significant time last year. Getting healthy would be a good start. However there is a definate need for a top 4 defenseman. My first choice would be Christian Erhoff. I realize I'm not being realistic. I hope Garth makes an offer to him though. They might have to settle for Ian White though. I expect Calvin De Haan & Matt Donovan to get long looks at camp. Some within the Org. believe Donovan could be ready to make the jump.

Need #2 is Center. The Islanders need a 2nd line Center in a bad way. The one guy I want is Brad Richards. I really don't care how Chuck makes this happen. The Islanders have enough cap space to pay him whatever he wants. The problem is he likely won't want anything to do with the Islanders.:sad:

The Depth chart
1.John Tavares RFA at end of next season.
2.Frans Neilson UFA at end of next season.
3.Josh Bailey RFA come July 1st. Next season could be make or break year for him.
4.? As of right now I'd say either David Ullstrom or Casey Cizikas would be the 4th line center. With a slight edge to Cizikas because his game is better suited for the role. Konopka isn't signed & I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't come back.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Roster wise I don't see a ton of changes for the Devils. Getting Parise and Greene resigned are the biggest concerns there. Devils have the number 4 pick so the draft should be interesting. We are still in need of a coach and I'd really like to have one prior to the draft and free agency.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Roster wise I don't see a ton of changes for the Devils. Getting Parise and Greene resigned are the biggest concerns there. Devils have the number 4 pick so the draft should be interesting. We are still in need of a coach and I'd really like to have one prior to the draft and free agency.

Canada has the most talented team at the World Championships. Hitchcock couldn't get it done. Lou should give Larry Robinson the keys to the car.

 

[puckhead]

My boys are still in it, but:

- try to sign UFAs Bieksa and Ehrhoff. I don't know if keeping both will be possible.
I am assuming Salo will hang 'em up. If we move Ballard's $4.2 mill, we have room no problem. Might be tough otherwise
- sign RFA Jannik Hansen. Shouldn't be too tough, but he's an important utility player.
- Lapierre is an RFA as well, I think he's earned a spot for next season
- It would be nice to keep Higgins (UFA), he's really stepped up in the playoffs.
- Dangle Schneider as trade bait. Lack has stepped up on the Moose, he's ready now. If we don't get a premium offer, might as well keep him as a terrific $900k back-up.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Canada has the most talented team at the World Championships. Hitchcock couldn't get it done. Lou should give Larry Robinson the keys to the car.

I suspect that's what will happen, I just hope they announce it sooner rather than later.

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

Redwings - Same as any other year. Once again, they need to find half a dozen 40 year olds to replace the half-dozen 50 year olds retiring.

 

[esls79]

The Wild need a lot. A coach would be a good starting point.

 

[sherbert1421]

for once the wings are gonna be extremely active in the fa market. if rafalski does retire, they will only have 3 dman signed for next season

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

for once the wings are gonna be extremely active in the fa market. if rafalski does retire, they will only have 3 dman signed for next season

They definitely needed to retool on D anyway.

 

[elocomotive]

We should get a new coach, we almost for sure will not.

We should trade Alex Semin or Mike Green, we probably will not.

We should make some significant (though not major) changes, but we'll probably just tweak and we'll probably be back not in the conference finals yet again next year.

Not that I'm fucking bitter or anything!

 

[elocomotive]

for once the wings are gonna be extremely active in the fa market. if rafalski does retire, they will only have 3 dman signed for next season

I could see the Caps and Wings being trade partners this offseason.

 

[flyersfan4706]

Sounds like the Flyers are targeting a real goalie. Yipee. That may suck for the rest of the Eastern Conference as Jeff Carter may not be around to toss a puck wide of an empty net.

 

[ritari330]

We should get a new coach, we almost for sure will not.

We should trade Alex Semin or Mike Green, we probably will not.

We should make some significant (though not major) changes, but we'll probably just tweak and we'll probably be back not in the conference finals yet again next year.

Not that I'm fucking bitter or anything!

I'd rather Trade Semin, but the market won't be as hot for him, and I don't think GMGM would trade Greenie. JMO.

My thoughts:

-Arnott will retire
-Sturm won't be back
-Liach and Alzner will be resigned
-Hannan or Schutlz will be gone
-Poti will retire
-Varlamov will leave and play in the KHL, Caps keeping his rights
-4th line guys will be resigned, maybe not Matt Bradley, but I think so

Question marks:

-3rd line Center: Perreault would be the guy (maybe Cody Eakin, but I doubt it) if they don't go out and get someone either at Wing or Center with Liach playing Center if they get a wing.
-Alex Semin: Think they should trade him, but I don't see alot of teams that interested in a lazy russian, wait that's redundant
-Varlamov: I think he goes and plays in the KHL for atleast a year because he doesn't get what he wants from the Caps
-Defense: If poti doesn't retire, the Caps have 7 NHL defensemen with Hannan as a UFA. 2 need to go, but which 2? I think Poti will retire and Hannan is allowed to walk.
-Knuble: Does he really have another 20 goal season in him as a 39 year old, because if not that's a serious concern.

With what I've said our roster would look like this:

Forward:
Nicklas Backstrom
Marcus Johannson
Boyd Gordon
Alex Ovechkin
Brooks Liach
Jason Chimera
Matt Hendricks
Mike Knuble
Eric Fehr
Alex Semin*
Matt Bradley


Defense:
John Carlson
Carl Alzner
Mike Green
Denis Wideman
Jeff Schultz
John Erskine

Goalie:
Michal Neuvirth
Braden Holtby

* I'd trade him, but I wouldn't have a clue of with who.
That's 19 players, so they need to fill out 4 more roster spots. One will most likely be Perreault, and another will hopefully be a defenseman in Sean Collins and not Tyler Sloan. So 2 Roster spots to work with before anybody gets signed or traded.

 

[flyersfan4706]

How much does Semin make?

 

[ritari330]

1 year, 6.7M