You made them worse and ain’t no way Pinto signs for 1.6M

You have to move someone to make them cap compliant. Who would you move? Only other option is Joseph who has had better 5v5 production per 60 over the last 3 seasons, is an excellent penalty killer (which we are lacking) and had 35% offensive zone starts last year. Kubalik would be a very poor 3rd liner but is not good enough to be in the top 6.

Pinto has no arbitration rights and has no leverage so I wouldnt be surprised if he gets sub $2m. He could get more $ if you send Smejkal to the minors and would still fit in the lineup.

1. IMO, Pinto will get a bridge deal with an AAV closer to 2.5 million.


2. Kubalik was the key piece in the Cat trade.

I don't think it would be a good idea to throw him away for a 3rd when we haven't seen him play for Ottawa.

You can’t trade Kubalik just after acquiring him. And he’s on a way better deal than Joseph.

Move Joseph and Forsberg or place him on LTIR.
Bernard Docker to the minors there’s no place for him.
Sign cheap free agents that are going to want league minimum. Forward group should look like this.

Tkachuk Stutzle Giroux
Batherson Norris Tarasenko
Kubalik Pinto Greig
Kelly Kastelic MacEwen

I love that you're arguing for Joz 5v5 production being a positive when he had 0 5v5 goals last year in 56 games.

The Hawks agree. Kubalik can be traded wherever as long as it isn't to Chicago. We don't do retreads any more.

Why not? See Ryan McLeod? Ty Dellandrea? Oliver Wahlstrom? Pinto has no leverage


How are they worse? By losing Kubalik?

Sure he's a pretty decent offensive player but look at the other players, do you think there will be a lot of PP time available? Kubalik scored 17 of his 45 pts on the PP last season

Over the last 2 years, Kubalik has 51 ESP despite only missing 5 games. Joseph has 45 ES + PK pts despite missing 39 games...

So Joseph has a better scoring rate at ES (1.58 pts per 60 ES minutes vs 1.53 for Kubalik), is quite better defensively and is a TOP PK forward in the NHL.

What was Ottawa's weakness last season? 5v5, they finished 25th in GF%

Kubalik's contract (1 year vs 2.5 AAV) makes him attractive and would return a decent pick while clearing 2.5 AAV

Joseph's is a cap casualty (3 years vs 2.95 AAV) and would cost a decent pick to move

What do you think someone smart should do?


Batherson has never played LW
Greig is also a LW (well he's a Center but no spot)

Forsberg and Bernard-Docker will be on the roster


No, the key piece was by far the 1st round pick... which was 75% of the value received

The other pieces were secondary... Kubalik maybe worth a 2nd, Sebrango maybe a 5th

Read my post above. The only smart play is to trade Kubalik who isn't that much needed anymore after Tarasenko's signing.

Stutzle, Tkachuk, Giroux, Norris, Batherson, Tarasenko, Greig, Pinto, Chabot, Chychrun, Sanderson, Brannstrom... offense should be fine lol but 5v5 defense is a big question mark.