2024-25 NHL discussion thread

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

25 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

What's so weird in this instance is that STL went after TWO players. That, to me, reeks of a deliberate intention to poke Bowman, or at least the Oilers, right in the eye.

 

I don't think it's weird, I think it's very strategic. St Louis has an aging defense, Broberg is the guy they really want to help rebuild it.  Almost all their defense is 32 +, Leddy, Krug, Faulk, Scandella, Suter,  Parayko is 31.  A bunch of old timers.

 

I think the signing of Holloway is almost a smoke screen as they know the Oilers will match. They is no way in hell they will accept a 3rd round pick for guy who was drafted 14th overall and looked really good in the playoffs, still only 22. But by forcing them to match on Holloway it will make it harder for the Oilers to match on Broberg. 

 

I think the Blues will look to trade some of their veteran D if the Oilers don't match on Broberg.

 

Just when things were getting really boring on the hockey front, the Blues have spiced things up. 

 

 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

11 minutes ago, dlbalr said:

 

To be fair, I don't think AFP was factoring in a predatory offer sheet into their projections. 

 

Fair point, it is hard to factor that in and it also rarely happens. 

[dlbalr]

34 minutes ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

I think the Blues will look to trade some of their veteran D if the Oilers don't match on Broberg.

 

Krug might be out for the season so it's possible they view Broberg as his replacement for this coming season.  Suter's only on a one-year deal so there's the longer-term spot if Krug is able to return.

[Commandant]

1 hour ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

Interesting history of offer sheets here: A brief history of offer sheets in the NHL’s salary cap era - Daily Faceoff

 

They are still quite aberrant, being way less frequent than online discussion and talk shows would like.

 

Why? At least two possible reasons. One is that it's still considered a violation of The Code. Another is that you need special conditions. You have to be a team with (1) cap room (2) not a lot of high-value prospects of your own, lest you invite retaliation, and (3) you need to find a team like the Oil that is capped out but has exactly the player(s) you want.

 

What's so weird in this instance is that STL went after TWO players. That, to me, reeks of a deliberate intention to poke Bowman, or at least the Oilers, right in the eye.

 

I think going after two players is assuming the Oilers can match one but not both, and based on the overpay being huge on one, and little on the other, we can see which one they think the oilers will match. 

[Dalhabs]

Good we are not the bad guy here. Maybe we can be the "good guy" helping oilers by fleezing them while taking on some short term cap.

[DON]

8 hours ago, Dalhabs said:

Good we are not the bad guy here. Maybe we can be the "good guy" helping oilers by fleezing them while taking on some short term cap.

Draisaitl in a Hab jersey would look good.

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

In other news, the reason the Leafs have gone nowhere in the last decade has finally been revealed. It was John Tavares’s captaincy. With Matthews wearing the C, a Cup is guaranteed. 

[TurdBurglar]

TSN reported yesterday Edmonton is exploring trading Kulak and Ceci to match both offer sheets. 

[dlbalr]

5 hours ago, TurdBurglar said:

TSN reported yesterday Edmonton is exploring trading Kulak and Ceci to match both offer sheets. 

 

It's actually a report from the Ottawa Sun (or Citizen, they both post Garrioch's stuff). https://ottawacitizen.com/ottawa-senators/take-care-of-business-oilers-should-have-used-senators-shane-pinto-blueprint-to-sign-rfas

 

Where I'm seeing some differing opinions is the cost to move the players out.  Garrioch thinks a first-round pick or a second-round pick might be needed for them whereas others since that article was posted on Thursday think it'll be considerably less.

[tomh009]

It would likely be a late pick, so I would think a first-rounder, at least for someone to take Ceci.

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

13 minutes ago, tomh009 said:

It would likely be a late pick, so I would think a first-rounder, at least for someone to take Ceci.

That's what I think. A 2nd rounder is likely in the 55-60 range which is not a big incentive to take on Ceci's contract. 

[dlbalr]

One thing to keep in mind, Edmonton doesn't have a pick in the first two rounds in 2025.  That won't make things easy for them if the asking price is that high.

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

41 minutes ago, dlbalr said:

One thing to keep in mind, Edmonton doesn't have a pick in the first two rounds in 2025.  That won't make things easy for them if the asking price is that high.

Yes, I am assuming you would be willing to accept 2026 picks.

[dlbalr]

11 hours ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

Yes, I am assuming you would be willing to accept 2026 picks.

 

I have no problem with that, especially with the Habs having a dozen picks in 2025 already.  But generally speaking, the later the pick in terms of having to wait for it, the higher the asking price.  I'm saying it's not good for Edmonton's sake that they don't have those 2025 picks available.

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

1 hour ago, dlbalr said:

 I'm saying it's not good for Edmonton's sake that they don't have those 2025 picks available.

 

That's very true, it does make it more complicated for them. 

[Plutarch]

If they match both are they still under the off-season cap? If both ceci and kulak were waived + Kane on ir would they have enough cap?

 

I didn't check because I haven't bothered to figure out puckpedias future thing.

[dlbalr]

14 minutes ago, Plutarch said:

If they match both are they still under the off-season cap? If both ceci and kulak were waived + Kane on ir would they have enough cap?

 

I didn't check because I haven't bothered to figure out puckpedias future thing.

 

Yes, they'd still be under the offseason cap ($88M + 10% is $96.8M).

 

But waiving Kulak/Ceci only saves a maximum of $1.15M each.  The savings are even less considering they'd need a body to replace them with on the roster so the net savings is only a few hundred thousand apiece.  With that in mind, I don't think waiving those two and LTIR'ing Kane get them to compliance.

[GHT120]

 

$1M AAV for 24/25 and 25/26 ... so fully buriable if needed.

[dlbalr]

15 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

$1M AAV for 24/25 and 25/26 ... so fully buriable if needed.

 

I wonder if he's the Holloway replacement at less than half the cost.  That's a pretty minimal return for Podkolzin though.

 

If they match Broberg, don't match Holloway, waive/demote Josh Brown ($1M), and LTIR Kane, I think that gets them into compliance for now with a 22-player roster.  It creates the hassle of freeing up $5.25 million when Kane can come back but that would let them kick the can down the road.

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

Ceci to San Jose. Looks like the Oilers are matching 

[Commandant]

Ceci and a 3rd for Ty Emberson

 

Given that, I'm glad the Habs aren't involved.  Not near enough to take on Ceci. 

 

Emberson might even be an NHL player (played 30 games for the Sharks last year).  I mean he's not great but you could do worse as a 7th Dman.  At 950K, he is buriable if they don't go that route. 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

11 minutes ago, Commandant said:

 

Given that, I'm glad the Habs aren't involved.  Not near enough to take on Ceci.

Agreed, the Oilers did well here.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Edmonton escaped too easy. 
 

Why would the Sharks do this?

[Helmethead]

18 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Edmonton escaped too easy. 
 

Why would the Sharks do this?

Mike Grier. 
 

Stan Bowman first hired him I believe. 
 

And he’s an ex-oiler to boot. 

[Dalhabs]

3 hours ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Edmonton escaped too easy. 
 

Why would the Sharks do this?

Maybe a favour for a future favour. I dont know. But they are still in cap trouble. The raise for Draisaitl will be hefty.