A previously tabled deal left both sides at an impasse, as OTT insisted DAL relinquish Heiskanen, and DAL didn't want to take on Bobby Ryan's contact.
Weeks have passed, and the Karlsson trade talk has cooled... Until now. With recent news that Vancouver has entered the fold, others have reported that Benning has no interest in the deal, whatsoever, and also- in a world where OTT has no first round pick in 2019, Vancouver doesn't seem willing to entertain any offer which would send early picks the other way. Karlsson also reportedly doesn't want to sign an extension to a Canadian club. Tampa may be out, as Ottawa would prefer to move Karlsson to a Western team. Vegas may work, but they aren't deep enough to be able to relinquish key assets in order to make a play. Karlsson will also want to go to a team that is close to being competitive, as opposed to a team that is on the rebuild or a team that doesn't have depth in every position.
Getting Spezza off the books is paramount, and a team such as the NYR would be a great place for his services. A division where he could thrive as a playmaker, on a team on a mini rebuild, with sizable wingers to flank his playmaking prowess. Long term, Spezza could add a veteran presence and a cheap 3-4 year deal at a reasonable cost, for a Rangers team looking for a 2/3 center. To sweeten the deal, and to entice the Rangers to take the bait, Dallas will have to offer a pick or a prospect for the Rangers to offset risk. This is a very Chayka-esque move, and a team on a mini rebuild, such as the Rangers, would be wise to consider it. I didn't add such a move, but if Jim Nill wanted to add some cap to this season, he could certainly consider something along those lines. Otherwise, you ride the season out with Spezza and either move him at the TDL, or keep him until next summer, when he comes off the books. Seguin's new contract gets added next summer, when cap could increase and Spezza comes off the books, along with Niemi's buyout and Polak and Methot contracts.
Dallas has to re-sign Seguin, and this won't be easy unless he sees that they're truly willing to make bold moves in order to do whatever it takes to win NOW.
Many would like Dallas to go after a guy like Matt Duchene, but this isn't going to happen for a variety of reasons. For starters, such a deal for Duchene AND Karlsson, will have to include assets that Dallas won't want to part with. I also feel that Delandrea and others will be ready sooner than later, offsetting the need for Dallas to make bold moves for secondary scoring.
Jim Nill will need to do a better job of developing talent to build his team, surrounding blue chip talent with cheap, entry level depth, and allowing players to enter the league sooner, even if they make mistakes along the way. These players will develop into greater assets for the team to use in order to acquire players, picks and prospects down the road- as needed. The team currently has done a poor job of maximizing return on prospects and younger players, which has handcuffed their ability to make necessary moves in less creative ways. It's fantastic that Nill has shown a propensity for adding to his team through big trades. If his team did a better job of developing assets, he wouldn't have to. He could have moved a 21 year old Oleksiak for a lot more than a 4th round pick, like he got by holding onto him and watching his value diminish.
2 Million on Ryan- retained
Karlsson deal contingent on signing by set date. If no extension has been reached, Karlsson has to waive M-NTC and allow Dallas to take best offer available.
Too many players involved. Condense it a bit. Take three players out from Dallas side and add 1 better player. Ottawa can't even take on all those contracts because they are close to the limit anyway.
Heiskanen isn't going anywhere. Also- perhaps teams don't trade consecutive firsts in the same deal. But that's just semantics. I was less concerned with the picks, because who knows how OTT and DAL value them at this point in each team's respective stage. I don't think it's so much of an overpayment as it is valuing the return. Remember- if Dallas does not go big and get a Karlsson (or someone else), then there's a greater chance that they lose Seguin. Jim Nill is also at a point where his job is very much on the line this year. It's all or nothing. So he may be pushed to making moves that are high risk, high reward, just for the sake of keeping his job. The first round picks that he's surrendering may not evolve to anything beyond what he would be able to get from a 2nd or 3rd round pick. So that's a risk he's got to have to be willing to take.
I also do not want to get into the trap of overvaluing my favorite team's talent. Sure- it's a lot of bodies that are moving. But I would almost always rather have 1 great player, than 3 or 4 decent ones.
Honka, J. - the centerpiece for Ottawa in this deal. A former first rounder with obvious offensive IQ and playmaking acumen. He has untapped potential and is only a lesser known player by casual fans, for the fact that he's been tasked with playing on squads that had 8 or 9 defensemen, and coaches that preferred big bodied, veteran defensemen than younger defensemen.
Ritchie, B.- has size and top 6 potential, like his brother. More likely, he's going to be be a bottom six Chiasson type, who has the size to push players down low and play a heavy possession game. Ottawa would want him because of his upside, and Dallas would want to move him because they can replace him internally, with other (better) prospect options, long term.
Hanzal, M.- contract move. Best case scenario, OTT gets a huge, faceoff specialist and PK specialist, veteran center with only a few years left of term, and at less than 5 million per year. Worst case, they can put him on IR and regain some cap relief. The contract also offsets the term and total commitment cost that they would otherwise be paying Ryan, during a pending rebuild.
Janmark, M.- a versatile forward who can play a defensively responsible game, and is very affordable.
Lindell, E.- can play a complementary role in the top 4 of Ottawa's D-core.
Desrosiers, P.- a throw-in, was once CHL's Goaltender of the Year, and has shown considerable upside in past years. Has struggled a little of late, and could use a change in scenery. Low risk, high reward.
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