We have some genuinely great options coming through the pipeline at LD, but there is currently a hole at 2LD that could use to be patched for 2, maybe 3 seasons, who would be paired alongside Drysdale. With this in mind, the criteria I am searching for is a bit bigger than Drysdale, fast enough to keep up, and a bit more defensively responsible. While not looking for the cheapest option available, there are a number of options out there this year on teams that need to move cap hit, so we likely don't have to give much up. Boston and Pittsburgh are obvious trade partners, as both are looking to clear cap, and both currently have 8 Defenseman on their rosters. ONLY ONE OF THESE LD TRADES WOULD HAPPEN.
Here are the options I have identified, and why we should consider them.
From Pittsburg:
Marcus Pettersson (Maybe) He puts up decent metrics, but he is on the outside looking in in Pitt, as this point getting bumped to the third pairing rather consistently with their emerging talents. With POJ knocking on the door, and clearing 4 million in cap space for three seasons, Anaheim could get paid decently to take him off their books, and he could return to the position of 2LD. I would try to pry Pitts 2023 2nd out of them for the space, but would settle for NJ's 3rd in return for FC. Maybe send back an overage mid grade prospect who would be a reclamation project for Pitt. This would also make a nice homecoming story, as we drafted him.
Brian Dumolin (Maybe) I think he would be a good pairing with Drysdale, however, with only a season left on his deal, its less appealing, and Anaheim is likely on his M-NTC
From Boston:
Mike Reilly (Yes) Boston also needs to move out a Defenseman, and clear cap. Though they have injuries that clear the cap issue, when they come back there will be issues. Grzelcyk is expected back at the start of November, meaning the logjam at LD is back. Boston could try waiving Reilly in order to hang onto him until more players return and see if he needs to get called back up, but they can't bury his contract and be cap compliant once everyone returns. Reilly has been in several ACGM's from Boston fans, though they think we would pay for him. I would try to pry a 2023 3rd from them, may take a 4th, and again may send an overage reclamation project prospect back the other way to improve the optics to the Boston media.
Derek Forbort (Yes) a less desirable option from Boston with the thought of pairing him with Drysdale, but would be an acceptable slot in. He has an 8 team no trade list, of which we can assume 7 are the Canadian teams, would be curious to see if Anaheim is on the list or not. More defensively minded that Reilly, a skosh older, and marginally more attractive real money owed.
From Vegas:
Alec Martinez (Yes) I know, I know, why help out our division rivals, why the oldest defenseman they have, why why why? Martinez, while old, is still highly mobile and defensively responsible. At two years of 5.25 AAV, we could extract a healthy price from Vegas if they can convince him to go to Anaheim, as he has a 12 team no trade list. Its not likely to happen, but he would make an excellent stop gap and partner for Drysdale.
Shea Theodore (Yes) This would cost us dearly to get him back, and I am still furious at GMBM for giving him away for a guy we hardly used and jettisoned shortly afterward. If we had admitted to being in the decline when we gave up Theodore, our rebuild could have been done by now, and we would be a powerhouse in an otherwise weak pacific division. I think Theodore/Drysdale would be a sight to behold, possibly both talented enough offensively to run two D on the powerplay. I am not sure the cost, but with three seasons at 5.2 AAV, he certainly earns his contract, and he has no trade protection. I want him back, so so bad, but maybe not as much as I want...
Nicolas Hague (Yes) Hooooo Mama do I want this man in a Ducks uniform. However, as a stop gap measure, he is the worst option as I would want to keep him around. Vegas currently has about 2.1 million left in cap room, still needs at least 1 forward, but preferably 3, so they are possibly shopping him. Maybe we can send over a cheaper forward to make it easier on them, or perhaps we take Broissoit's contract with his signing rights to help them clear cap space. This option may also cost us some assets, if the number is right, I would bite, Maybe we offer sheet him?
Vegas has about 2.1 million in cap space right now, needs at least one more forward, preferably two, and needs to get out from under Broissoits contract, and still hasn't resigned Hague. They have 6 defenseman under contract for the next two seasons, and do not have a 2023 2nd.
It seems unlikely that they will be able to keep him at this point. They will get a late 2023 2nd, relief from Broissoits contract, and a useable bottom 6 forward at league minimum cap hit.
We could also threaten to offer sheet him, but I am trying to make a relatively fair deal for him, knowing that it helps vegas out Cap wise. Hell, use the space to go sign Milano.
4 Million is too much to be paying for a guy who has been bumped down to 3rd pairing, and the Pens could use the cap space to shore up needs elsewhere on their roster.
A single second round pick can get his contract off your books, preventing 6 years of a 2 million cap loss from a buyout. He is still a decent player, but has run out of runway in Pittsburgh.
PIT
Future Considerations
See description for reasoning. See description for reasoning. ONLY ONE OF THESE THREE LD TRADES WOULD HAPPEN, NOT ALL.
Clears 3 million in cap space for two seasons. Reilly is on the outside looking in. He was a good pickup at 1.5 million, but has not worked out after you signed that larger contract.
You just signed Lindhold, Forbort has trade protection likely preventing him from going to Anaheim, and Gryzlyk was a much better defenseman last season. 3 Million AAV is a luxury you can't spend on a 4LD.
This trade is less likely to happen due in offseason due to boston injuries, but team may face recapture penalty if they attempt to waive him and no one grabs him, and I am not sure what teams in the league would snag him given the cap situation league wide this year. But with that said, he likely stays because Boston will be playing musical chairs with with IR this season given their rosters age.
BOS
Future Considerations
See description for reasoning. See description for reasoning. ONLY ONE OF THESE THREE LD TRADES WOULD HAPPEN, NOT ALL.
There are two factors that have pretty much closed the Pettersson trade window:
1) Matheson getting traded
2) Dumoulin is very unlikely to be extended
What was once a surplus on the left side is now becoming a need. Next our left side is likely to be Pettersson, POJ and Smith. Plus, while I know the flat cap has killed teams making teams taking on salary requiring incentive, there's no chance Hextall does this. He's been pretty open about the fact he won't add sweetener for teams to take our players.
There are two factors that have pretty much closed the Pettersson trade window:
1) Matheson getting traded
2) Dumoulin is very unlikely to be extended
What was once a surplus on the left side is now becoming a need. Next our left side is likely to be Pettersson, POJ and Smith. Plus, while I know the flat cap has killed teams making teams taking on salary requiring incentive, there's no chance Hextall does this. He's been pretty open about the fact he won't add sweetener for teams to take our players.
Agreed. Hextall is big on keeping draft capital and wants a fair return for the likes of Pettersson but there is just none to be had with the flat cap.
Pens decline. They won’t pay to lose Pettersson. He is worth his contract and hasn’t been bumped down to the 3rd pair. Idk where you got that from but he was the 2nd pair with Marino last year.
Both Letang and Petry want defensive defenseman partners so the likelihood MP gets traded is probably close to zero. With the acquisition of Ty Smith, I could see POJ getting traded before Pettersson.
Hague deal but the 2nd a 3rd since we are eating salary for Vegas as well
Yeah, potentially, but I don't see a whole lot of value difference between Col's 2nd and our 3rd, and seeing "2nd round pick" is more alluring, even its 60-64 OA.
I wanted the trade to look alluring enough to Vegas fans to see if they bite or throw a fit over Hague's value.
The difference being I'd be willing to pay or make a deal work for a guy I want, versus being miserly cheap about a guy who we could just slot in/deal with.
Pens decline. They won’t pay to lose Pettersson. He is worth his contract and hasn’t been bumped down to the 3rd pair. Idk where you got that from but he was the 2nd pair with Marino last year.
Both Letang and Petry want defensive defenseman partners so the likelihood MP gets traded is probably close to zero. With the acquisition of Ty Smith, I could see POJ getting traded before Pettersson.
Pensburgh.com and an SI article, both of which were written before you shipped Matheson out last month which I missed when I wrote this ACGM.
Any of these trades would likely have to include Vaak, Mahura or Benoit. I doubt any of them make it thru waivers so would have to use them as a sweetener to pull just a little bit more value in return.
Any of these trades would likely have to include Vaak, Mahura or Benoit. I doubt any of them make it thru waivers so would have to use them as a sweetener to pull just a little bit more value in return.
I'd send out Mahura, I would consider Vaak, but I would like to keep Benoit, but don't we not need to deal with waivers until near the start of the season, otherwise we are just assigning them to the AHL for the season?
Boston is not paying to move Reilly. For 3 reasons.
1- he has value
2- Mac and Grizz are out to start the year
3- they are cap compliant simply by burying Wagner and Foligno
You want him -make a reasonable offer.
I’m not sure where people get Reilly is bad. His advanced metrics last year were good. He is definitely better and cheaper then what many FA defenseman got just a month ago.
I’m not sure where people get Reilly is bad. His advanced metrics last year were good. He is definitely better and cheaper then what many FA defenseman got just a month ago.
Him being the go to guy on multiple ACGM's from Boston is where I pulled it from. WIth Gryz back from injury, he seems to be the 4th LD, and if everyone is healthy at the same time, the Bruins are 2+ over the cap.
I'd send out Mahura, I would consider Vaak, but I would like to keep Benoit, but don't we not need to deal with waivers until near the start of the season, otherwise we are just assigning them to the AHL for the season?
I think you’re right but still with White and Juolevi there’s not much space down there either and I’d argue all 3 of those guys are past the AHL point if they’re ever gonna be NHLers.
Him being the go to guy on multiple ACGM's from Boston is where I pulled it from. WIth Gryz back from injury, he seems to be the 4th LD, and if everyone is healthy at the same time, the Bruins are 2+ over the cap.
They are fine with the cap and he can play on the right side if needed. Most ACGM have a 3rd coming back, not going with. Someone will get hurt by the time McAvoy gets back anyway.
I'd send out Mahura, I would consider Vaak, but I would like to keep Benoit, but don't we not need to deal with waivers until near the start of the season, otherwise we are just assigning them to the AHL for the season?
That’s where you would start to get our interest. Mahura is a similar style to Reilly, not as good but cheaper. A straight swap of the 2 would not be out of the question. Gets Boston out of having to bury anyone while maintaining enough D depth. Mahura would likely serve as the 6th to start the year. 7th when Grizz returned. With everyone healthy he’d either be placed on waivers or they carry 8 d. It’s a downgrade in talent but it makes sense.
That’s where you would start to get our interest. Mahura is a similar style to Reilly, not as good but cheaper. A straight swap of the 2 would not be out of the question. Gets Boston out of having to bury anyone while maintaining enough D depth. Mahura would likely serve as the 6th to start the year. 7th when Grizz returned. With everyone healthy he’d either be placed on waivers or they carry 8 d. It’s a downgrade in talent but it makes sense.
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