Campbell for Elvis: 1-For-1. This has been an idea floating around for a bit, and among CBJ fans it's been conflicting. I haven't heard EDM's thoughts on it, and wanted to see what a consensus may be. Ultimately, it's both teams gambling on a "change of scenery" bounce-back. Maybe there is an asset or two added by someone, but wanted to see
****This trade would be made during the off-season; but, for simplicities sake, I just used the current season roster, and adjusted the cap to what it will be next year*****
For CBJ: A (slightly) smaller cap hit, $4.5M saved in actual cash, and only a two-year age difference. Particularly now that Tarry is getting more starts and maybe developing some momentum, it's looking more like the team is leaning on him. Jet is still waivers-exempt next year, and I want him to have all the time in the AHL he can. Ivanov, assuming he keeps it up in the KHL, is still probably 3+ years away. I also just really don't believe there is the kind of market for Elvis that some people think there is, unless you want it to hurt. If it was as easy as "trade him for future considerations," or put him on waivers, then you would've seen it happen already. Maybe NJ or DET does something stupid in the offseason, but I don't foresee it.
For EDM: Nobody is paying for that contract or taking it on for charity, and not sure EDM (in a win-now situation) wants to give up considerable trade assets just to sell him to AZ. Worst case, you're getting ****ed in a buy-out or having to bury the player regardless, hoping for a waiver-claim.
Over the past two season/ career:
Elvis: 3.76 GAA, 889 s% (66 GP); 3.17 GAA, .905 s%
Jack: 3.96 and .881 s% (41 GP); 2.76 GAA, .909 s%
GSAx/60: Elvis' last 3 seasons: -0.025, -0.996, +0.072
Jack's last 3 seasons: -0.810, -0.542, -0.049
I also imagine no NTC concerns, since both players would likely welcome exits out of their current situation.
Realistically, CBJ probably stand pat and give Elvis another season to see if he can re-coup his value, and if Jet can develop into what they hope he can be; but, was just a thought on this.
I also just really don't believe there is the kind of market for Elvis that some people think there is, unless you want it to hurt. If it was as easy as "trade him for future considerations," or put him on waivers, then you would've seen it happen already.
I do not agree. Especially in the offseason, when the cap goes up almost the amount of his full cap hit. I do not expect any material return for Elvis, but I think everyone involved is motivated to move him. I do not think Columbus will have to pay for the experience, whether in retention, adding, or taking back a worse player. He's not a net negative, and there will be some GM who looks at his numbers and thinks "he did this behind the worst defense in the league. Our defense is not that bad. This is worth the gamble, and he will be motivated in a new home."
Edmonton's situation with Campbell is always going to come down to the salary cap.
Conventional wisdom suggests that unless there's a team willing to take Campbell on as the cap-recapture part of a deal, or to take him for cheap, the Oilers are aiming to buy Soup out in the summer. A few AGM's I've tinkered with for next year have seen Edmonton run a cheap backup to Skinner - I typically use Rodrigue here - because the equal-to-or-greater-than $3M bonus hit that Edmonton is getting from Connor Brown doesn't leave a lot of room for quality investment across the roster. Assuming Edmonton moves Kulak and buys Campbell out, and that the trio of Broberg, Holloway, and Rodrigue all sign for just their qualifying offers, the Oilers are looking at having a hair over $12M to find two top-six wingers, a middle-six winger, a #4C, and a #2RD.
Do I think Merzlikins has a really good chance to bounce back to form on a team that hasn't been as awful as Columbus has in recent memory? Absolutely. But it's coming at the loss of almost $3.5M in cap space (the difference between the sum cost of QO Rodrigue and Campbell's buyout and Elvis' cap hit) and could be the difference between Edmonton having to forsake improvements that are going to be absolutely crucial in other areas of the roster.
If Columbus does this with some sort of retention in exchange for an asset (how much for a first?) then it's much more amenable to where the Oilers are going to be this summer, but I still think that being able to use that $3.5M to add to the skating portion of the roster makes running a rookie backup tolerable, if not legitimately feasible.
FWIW I got them from Moneypuck, they deserve the credit.
I like the idea of a swap, if for no other reason than neither is likely the long term starter, and Jack is reportedly a good-natured, awesome person; not to say Elvis isn't, but both players would welcome a swap and brining that kind of person into this locker room as the backup should only help. And I think he's better than the AHL-backup he's been this season, so it's fine to take that risk.
However, one-for-one is poor asset management given the situation IMO. EDM is in a full cap crunch, we're not. Perception is Campbell is washed/a cup dump, and Elvis is an upgrade. The Peeke trade showed us Columbus is able to move overpaid players with term without retention, too. I think the new GM could shake down Edmonton for at least a mid-round pick in a swap, or a B-prospect. Definitely not a 1st or 2nd, but something to take advantage of the situation.
McDavid, Connor
$250,000)
CaseyFlyman, BoomerTheHero, Viqsi and 1 other person liked this.
CapFriendly
CapFriendly