Of course I didn’t finalize the roster, because I want everyone just to focus on this trade. I believe this trade could be a good one for both sides, as it gives Buffalo a RHD guy they can try to develop, and a guy Luukkonen can either tandem with, or Raanta can be the starter. Carolina gets a top 6 forward that is good on the PP. I think they will lose Trocheck, and probably Niederreiter, so Olofsson could come in at about 4M and replace one of those guys, and still help the team win!
Signing Bear on a bridge (2 years, 2M), I believe playing on the third pair, he can turn into a decent defence man. Raanta also had a very good .912SV% in 28 regular season games, and a .922SV% in 13 playoff games. He can help develop Luukkonen even more if they choose to play him in the NHL, or buy him some time at a very cheap 2M contract!
Carolinas PP was 13th in the regular season, and now is 12th in the playoffs. For a contender, that’s not good enough and I believe that’s part of the reason why Carolina got eliminated last round. Olofsson can help with that. With 49 points, 20 goals in 72 games, with 12 power play points, he has had a good year, and probably will get 4-5M on his next deal. Giving him a better chance with better line mates may get him to produce more 5v5 as well.
In the end, Carolina may have to add a bit, but I think it’s a decent trade! Let me know what you all think, and of course, have a great one!
Olofsson and Bear make sense but Raanta doesn't - Canes aren't ready for Koochie to be 1B/back-up yet. He needs a full season in AHL to continue developing and get accustomed to NA game. Bear+a pick for Olofsson would be more reaslitic imo.
Olofsson and Bear make sense but Raanta doesn't - Canes aren't ready for Koochie to be 1B/back-up yet. He needs a full season in AHL to continue developing and get accustomed to NA game. Bear+a pick for Olofsson would be more reaslitic imo.
I thought they would bring up Kochetkov next season, so they can move Raanta. If they don’t, Bear and a pick would work too. I threw in that second just in case if I have to take Raanta out, or if it’s not enough. That’s fair though. Bear, pick would work I think.
I thought they woudo bring up Kochetkov next season, so they can move Raanta. If they don’t, Bear and a pick would work too. I threw in that second just in case if I have to take Raanta out, or if it’s not enough. That’s fair though. Bear, pick would work I think.
With the last couple of years Freddy going down w/ knee injuries I think Canes want to still have Raanta. Raanta can't be a starter and has his own injury issues but he can jump in when needed and then you have Koochie as a third option if needed. Don't want to rush the kid at this point, especially with both Freddy and Raanta under contract for another year and having a reasonable amount of cap space to work with.
I thought they woudo bring up Kochetkov next season, so they can move Raanta. If they don’t, Bear and a pick would work too. I threw in that second just in case if I have to take Raanta out, or if it’s not enough. That’s fair though. Bear, pick would work I think.
Mind you, Raanta would have been likely to leave Carolina via UFA and not via trade. He is Father Finn, and his showing as a starter in the playoffs was really good. Raanta easily gets a second any day, but it could be pushed up to a first at the deadline. That being said, Koochie needs a full year in the AHL, after which he comes up.
With the last couple of years Freddy going down w/ knee injuries I think Canes want to still have Raanta. Raanta can't be a starter and has his own injury issues but he can jump in when needed and then you have Koochie as a third option if needed. Don't want to rush the kid at this point, especially with both Freddy and Raanta under contract for another year and having a reasonable amount of cap space to work with.
Oh yah and Kochetkov is waived exempt till the 2025-2026 NHL season. Anderson has had some horrible injury issues, which sucks as he’s a good goalie still. I know Raanta has injury issues too, but I believe he could take 40-50 games if needed. It doesn’t look like he’s been that bad recently when it comes to injuries, but I could be wrong. You’re right. I probably would keep Raanta too… I just thought Kochetkov was ready, and some Carolina fans seem to think he’s ready to be the backup. Yah when they first signed those two, I thought something would go bad, because when Anderson was in Toronto he had injury problems, and when Raanta was in Arizona, he had injury problems too. Was Anderson injured when it was playoff time? I still think a trade involving Bear to Buffalo, and Olofsson to Carolina would be a good one. It makes too much sense to me.
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