Quoting: Lepakage
Thanks for the context. Gardiner I was throwing in because right now you've got the cap space, he costs you no assets to obtain, and in a year or two if you're running into cap issues then he or another D becomes a tradeable asset. I also admitted that some of the salaries may be out of whack but the space is there. I was moreso going for a certain makeup then exact figures.
Most people I've talked to say that the RFA forwards wouldn't work going back to Tampa and that it would need to be one of the defenders going back, that also makes room for Gardiner.
Pirri has a career avg PPG of 0.47. Dallas has all of 3 players above that pace and they all play on the top line. Someone is going to give Pirri a decent contract and the stars need depth scoring. So, why not Pirri to Dallas? Hell, Pirri would be 8th for forward scoring in Dallas right now and he's only played 14 games.
Yes, I know Pirri's performed well for an AHL player. At least in VGK he is just that, and I don't see any teams paying +2M for an AHL player, unless it turns out to be a f**king Marchessault 2.0. I like him, but I wouldn't pay him that much.
Honka's should get a half of that offer, tops. He's been no good whatsoever, a 7th d-man.
And for Gardiner, I think he's just wasted money. Stars are one of the top teams in goals against, and since Gardiner's virtually no help at the defensive end, he'd might cause some issues to Montgomery's system. If we can't score, we certainly must have the defense, and Gardiner doesn't fit to that system.
Also it's not offensive D-men that we need. Klingberg, Heiskanen and Lindell can perform in both ends pretty well, and they are the biggest reason why Dallas still is in the playoff race.
I'd personally use that money for getting a scoring forward. We just simply need no more D-men. Our defense is pretty good.
And knowing Tampa's situation, I think DAL could just trade that 2019 1st round pick straight for Miller at the draft. We get a good forward, and Tampa saves money. Win-win solution.