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2014 Offseason Thread


dlbalr

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With the playoffs now over, we're likely to see quite a few announcements in the near future (after the weekend of course). Several teams are still without a coach, there are pending UFA's that could be signed before the market opens, and there should be a few trades or two. Also, this is the last year for compliance buyouts and there will likely be a few of those (hello, Brad Richards). Here are some of the important dates ahead:

Buyout window: June 16-30

Free agent interviews: June 25-30

Draft: June 27-28

Free agency: July 1

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Today was the deadline for club-elected salary arbitration, two teams went ahead and filed. Michael Frolik in Winnipeg is one, Ryan O'Reilly in Colorado is the other. The latter is noteworthy for a couple of reasons:

- O'Reilly can elect a two year deal to take him to UFA

- Colorado can push for the arbitrator to award less than what he made last year (up to a 15% pay cut)

For those who think he's going to be traded, this more or less pushes up the timeline as the acquiring team theoretically would want to sign a long-term deal with him. Arbitration hearings run from late July to early August so any trade would realistically need to be done over the month or so. And before anyone brings this up, taking a player to arbitration no longer protects them from receiving an offer sheet, that was changed in the most recent CBA. The deadline for receiving said offer sheet, however, is July 5th.

There are also rumblings that Jason Spezza doesn't want to play for another Canadian team and that at least four of the ten teams on his limited NTC are Canadian-based. For those who want him in Montreal (which wasn't realistic in the first place), set your focus elsewhere. http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/06/14/calgary-flames-make-pitch-for-sens-captain-jason-spezza

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Word out of Ottawa (here) is that Spezza had all the western Canadian teams on his list of no-trade. Montreal and TO were okay. Of course, trading for this guy is kinda like trading for a big, fuzzy bunny.

The O'Reilly situation could force the Avs hand on Stastny. He's smaller than Spazza but is a lot more consistent.

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Word out of Ottawa (here) is that Spezza had all the western Canadian teams on his list of no-trade. Montreal and TO were okay. Of course, trading for this guy is kinda like trading for a big, fuzzy bunny.

It's now being reported that Montreal and Toronto were also on his no-trade list. The latter is interesting as it has long been speculated that Spezza wanted to play there at some point in his career. A talented local player spurning his hometown team...where have we seen that before? :)

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Pittsburgh is apparently having an adventure replacing Bylsma. It sounds like Bill Peters was at the top of their list but he chose Carolina. Next was Willie Desjardins but he's leaning towards Vancouver. With two of the top forwards in the game, it's hard to believe that their top candidates are opting to go to considerably weaker teams.

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Pittsburgh is apparently having an adventure replacing Bylsma. It sounds like Bill Peters was at the top of their list but he chose Carolina. Next was Willie Desjardins but he's leaning towards Vancouver. With two of the top forwards in the game, it's hard to believe that their top candidates are opting to go to considerably weaker teams.

The argument in Vancouver circles is that Desjardins prefers Van because it's a situation in which he can build a team rather than have to win right away. Pittsburgh is a WIN NOW OR DIE scenario, and for a guy who has never been an NHL head coach that is perhaps not the optimal set-up. Also, Desjardins apparently has really strong connections with Linden, so that helps.

Pittsburgh seems to me a quintessential "veteran coach" situation. Heck, if I were them, I'd think about Jacques Martin! Marc Crawford might also fit the profile - Lord knows he has seen it all and has had lots of experience coaching volatile stars.

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Pittsburgh seems to me a quintessential "veteran coach" situation. Heck, if I were them, I'd think about Jacques Martin! Marc Crawford might also fit the profile - Lord knows he has seen it all and has had lots of experience coaching volatile stars.

If Martin wasn't already there, I think he'd be a decent choice. It's rare that assistants become coaches on the same team and even rarer that it works so I can't see him being considered.

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Philadelphia trade Hartnell to Columbus for Umberger. I'd love to have had Hartnell on the habs.

Shocking return for Umberger. I was expecting at best a mid range pick. Instead theyou manage a solid upgrade just by adding a 4th. Great deal for Columbus!

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Shocking return for Umberger. I was expecting at best a mid range pick. Instead theyou manage a solid upgrade just by adding a 4th. Great deal for Columbus!

Given Hartnell's playing style and age, I think most expect his contract will be an albatross towards the end. In the short-term though, he should be a big piece for Columbus.

The d-men are falling quickly off the market now. Matt Greene is close to a 4 year, $10 M deal with LA while Ron Hainsey gets 3 years and $8.5 million to stay in Carolina. Taking the one year deal to prove himself worked out well for Hainsey.

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That's a terrible contract, there's no two ways around it. But, as you said, it is Edmonton, a team that's going to have a hard time attracting UFA's, and they did pay more to lower the term. But it's still a brutal deal.

Ryan Callahan re-ups in Tampa, $5.8 M per year for 6 years. That's about where I figured he'd be, especially after Clarkson's deal last year.

Marian Gaborik re-signs in LA, 7 years at just under $5 M per season. I think it's safe to say that will be a front-loaded deal and that he may not be playing the last year or two as he'll be 39 when it's up.

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Kesler goes to Anaheim for Nick Bonino, Luca Sbisa, and the 24th pick. Bonino and Sbisa are regular players but more complementary than anything. I wouldn't be surprised to see Vancouver move a d-man now.

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Kesler goes to Anaheim for Nick Bonino, Luca Sbisa, and the 24th pick. Bonino and Sbisa are regular players but more complementary than anything. I wouldn't be surprised to see Vancouver move a d-man now.

Bonino had more points last season than everyone on Habs squad but Pax, Subban and Desharnais.

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Bonino had more points last season than everyone on Habs squad but Pax, Subban and Desharnais.

He had better wingers with the Ducks than he will with Vancouver. He's not a bad player but I don't see him being more than a 40 point player with Vancouver the way their roster currently shapes up.

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Arizona buys out Mike Ribeiro. That's one I certainly didn't see coming, especially since it's not a CBO like the others (contracts after the CBA aren't eligible for compliance buyouts). The move wasn't for hockey reasons either.

Their GM: "Mike had some real behavioral issues we felt we could not tolerate going forward."

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I think Kesler is overrated - a good player, yeah, but his last three seasons have been below 50 points. This may be a case where name recognition is distorting things a bit. Bonino equalled his output last season and he's only 26; Spisa is an interesting project who could benefit from a change of scenery. Seems like a reasonable return for a surly player whose rep has exceeded his performance for three straight seasons.

EDIT: Ribeiro - wow. I guess he never did "mature" after all. I wonder what was up: drugs? Sleeping around with other players' wives/gf? Just general indiscipline? He sure has gone a long way on sheer talent.

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Kesler goes to Anaheim for Nick Bonino, Luca Sbisa, and the 24th pick. Bonino and Sbisa are regular players but more complementary than anything. I wouldn't be surprised to see Vancouver move a d-man now.

Promptly traded Garrison to Tampa for the 50th OA pick and spare parts.

Then traded a 3rd for Derek Dorsett from NYR.

Vancouver's current strategy for next season:

Operation_Upshot-Knothole_-_Badger_001.j

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Promptly traded Garrison to Tampa for the 50th OA pick and spare parts.

Then traded a 3rd for Derek Dorsett from NYR.

Vancouver's current strategy for next season:

Operation_Upshot-Knothole_-_Badger_001.j

Well, they got worse for the short term, especially on the blue line...but they also saved a TON in cap space. Clearly they are stockpiling youthful assets, but it remains to be seen exactly what they've got in mind in terms of the team on the ice next year.

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