Tried to make this as realistic to the rumors as possible, and quite frankly, it turned out good. Johnson trade isn't rumored, but we need to move him. This roster gets our team younger and more competitive and while making some big moves, they are needed with our pathetic finish. Let's dive in, shall we.
RFAs:
Jarry) Out of the Penguins RFAs, we are going with Jarry for the future. Penciling in 5 years $4 million. I always thought he was the future after Fleury, and then he won back-to-back cups as a rookie. That's the kind of pedigree a team like Toronto is looking for in a franchise goalie, that a change of scenery could bring forth. It looked like Murray would be the future franchise goalie for the Penguins, but between the cap and the looming expansion draft, I believe a trade is imminent as this problem needs addressed sooner than later. Murray still has amazing stats and has shown he can win in the playoffs. Some people think Andersen is an amazing goalie, I'm not trying to say he's bad, but clearly doesn't have the pedigree Murray does. In addition to this is the rumor by Kyperos as well as the connections with Dudas. I had pondered dumping Johnson in on this trade too, but figured that would be too much to be realistic as Toronto needs to upgrade their defense and are close to the cap.
Lafferty) Gets a one year prove it deal as he has shown promise but nothing too amazing to warrant anything more.
McCann) 3 years $3.25. This is relatively cheap after a poor showing in the playoffs, there's nothing but upside with McCann.
Trades:
Seem like a lot? It's called for, and Rutherford knows change is needed. We need to get younger.
Bjugstad for a 4th) Cap dump, Buffalo needs center depth, probable to happen as he just didn't fit here or really even get a chance.
Rust and Simon for Domi) This will upset yinzers, but what do you think it's going to take to get Domi? Just want to trade them Lafferty and think they'll accept it. I'll interject here to say that anyone entertaining trading Letang in these is straight up not watching the games and being willfully ignorant to think that would be fair trade value. Previous reports had us coming in with Sheary/Rust + Simon before he got dealt to the Habs, but Rutherford is pretty open about who he targets. See Zucker coming here after failing to nab him previously. Rust had a great season. It should push that package over the edge. Lock him up for his prime to let him be a star here. $5.5 x 5 years but could go something like $6 x 6 years as well and still have space.
Jack Johnson + 1st for Stephen Johns + Jason Dickinson) Look, this needs to happen. We can't buy out Johnson, it's not toooo expensive but we need every little bit of cap space while we still have about a 3 year window left if we retool correctly this summer. It's going to take a 1st to do that. Stephen Johns has Pittsburgh roots and we need a good RHD. Dickinson adding center depth to balance the deal.
Murray + ZAR for Andersen, Bracco + Dermott) I'll start with that ZAR is a solid player, but with one year left on his contract where would he fit? We aren't really going to pay him unless he has a damn good year and frankly just doesn't fit imo. However, he would be a good enough sweetener to let the Leafs get that last year at a cheap $1 mil for a solid depth player that's relatively young. Murray needs to go as aforementioned above. Swap for Andersen and dump him to the Wild who's an obvious choice to need a goalie after Dubnyk's year. Bracco has been disappointing for them but still could have promise. From what I read, with their cap issue they might even have to let him walk, easier addition to the trade. We would be wanting Dermott here though as more of a centerpiece in return for Murray + ZAR as a sweetener and lock him up for his youth.
I don't mind the Rust/Domi deal tbh, and I would be willing to only get one of Johns/Dickinson, but I would really really not want to give up ZAR, especially bc we'd rush Poulin and play Bracco (who is simply not an NHLer) on the third line, which even with Domi would be an atrocious third line (still)
If Rutherford is sticking to his "get younger" plan, that third line could be flying. I like the general idea of these trades and how our team can look after a Murray trade which I feel is the biggest one besides Domi. Those two are our blockbuster moves and the others are for cap purposes. Keeping ZAR or not wouldn't really affect this much, he's only at $1 mil so maybe Toronto keeps Brocco or we don't even go after him as well, and just keep ZAR. Still relatively the same lineup with that, which yeah, I might do if I can edit this. However, with what I read about Brocco it sounds like he's a hidden gem stuck where something's just hasn't clicked.
Or Minnesota can keep their pick and sign a UFA since there's a bunch available this offseason.
They could give us a fourth for all I care, we just aren't going to keep Andersen after a Murray trade with Toronto. We have good connections with Minnesota, and they need a goalie. Easy cap dump, and Andersen is most certainly better than the other free agents.
They could give us a fourth for all I care, we just aren't going to keep Andersen after a Murray trade with Toronto. We have good connections with Minnesota, and they need a goalie. Easy cap dump, and Andersen is most certainly better than the other free agents.
I'd take Khudobin for a year over him or just give Kahkonen a longer look since he's pretty much ready to go. Stalock was a good enough backup. Buyout or bury Dubnyk and you have better goaltending. There's zero reason to give up an asset for Andersen.
They could give us a fourth for all I care, we just aren't going to keep Andersen after a Murray trade with Toronto. We have good connections with Minnesota, and they need a goalie. Easy cap dump, and Andersen is most certainly better than the other free agents.
MN owns PIT's unprotected 1st next year; that is enough to make put a damper on anything to help PIT be a better team next season.
I don't think Domi goes for that. MB is still in his reset plan, he's probably looking at receiving younger pieces. That said I don't mind Rust being in the trade I just think you are missing value and simon shouldn't be included in the trade. I can see MTL taking on salary tho if it means getting a better return.
"Rust and Simon for Domi) This will upset yinzers, but what do you think it's going to take to get Domi? Just want to trade them Lafferty and think they'll accept it. I'll interject here to say that anyone entertaining trading Letang in these is straight up not watching the games and being willfully ignorant to think that would be fair trade value. Previous reports had us coming in with Sheary/Rust + Simon before he got dealt to the Habs, but Rutherford is pretty open about who he targets."
So basically after back to back 9 goals seasons in Arizona he offered Rust+Simon, now after 28 and 17 goals seasons he'll still offer Rust+Simon. Don't you think you'll have to pay a little more than the previous offer? I mean Domi doubled (Almost tripled) his goal production since in Montreal and had to get them himself whereas Rust's playing with Crosby so it surely makes life a little easier.
Also Rust being 3 years older than Domi doesn't offer any incentive to our retool process (Simon's a bottom six forward and offers no value in this trade compared to two years ago when he could still be considered a prospect and offered some appeal), please try again with a serious offer. @Choino
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