CHI NYI
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 4,661
Likes: 2,253
Not bad, although I only see Carolina getting rid of Reimer if they get a big upgrade in net (Lehner or Markstrom). Dzingel would be a nice, cheap addition with some upside. I know they're SJ lifers, but I think there are better ways to spend $1.4 million than on another year of Thornton and Marleau. They aren't bad players, even in their early 40s, but you've seen what some teams have done with guys on bargain-bin type deals. Guys like Duclair, Chiasson, Kulak and the aforementioned Lehner were signed for cheap, given a role and performed incredibly well with the teams that took chances on them. I think San Jose should be investing in guys like that, rather than older guys like Marleau and Thornton.
As for who some of these low-risk guys could be, I'd suggest Brendan Perlini, Vlad Kamenev, Mark Jankowski or Joe Blandisi. All of these guys were once really highly thought of, but have struggled to make it in the NHL. All will probably go without a qualifying offer this offseason (except Kamenev maybe, but he'll be cheap to get in a trade), but could provide some value on a team with roster space and low-ish expectations like San Jose