Unofficial 2013-2014 Armchair GM Thread

[hockeyfan1]

The Islanders are apparently willing to give up some picks/prospects to a team that would take the DiPietro contract off their hands.

It would come down to exactly what the components of the deal would be, but it might be a situation that the Leafs can take advantage of.

Buying out Dipietro would be more cost-effective for Vancouver and a good deal for both clubs.

The Canucks would get some picks & prospects, while the Islander would have a veteran whose presence will provide advice & guidance to a young club.

 

[Corn Flake]

The Islanders are apparently willing to give up some picks/prospects to a team that would take the DiPietro contract off their hands.

It would come down to exactly what the components of the deal would be, but it might be a situation that the Leafs can take advantage of.

Buying out Dipietro would be more cost-effective for Vancouver and a good deal for both clubs.

The Canucks would get some picks & prospects, while the Islander would have a veteran whose presence will provide advice & guidance to a young club.

Would DiPietro not be a $24 mil buyout though?

 

[Britishbulldog]

The Islanders are apparently willing to give up some picks/prospects to a team that would take the DiPietro contract off their hands.

It would come down to exactly what the components of the deal would be, but it might be a situation that the Leafs can take advantage of.

Buying out Dipietro would be more cost-effective for Vancouver and a good deal for both clubs.

The Canucks would get some picks & prospects, while the Islander would have a veteran whose presence will provide advice & guidance to a young club.

Would DiPietro not be a $24 mil buyout though?

I counted it as a $36 MIL amnesty buyout but I could be misunderstanding the rules.  8 years left @ $4.5 per year.

 

[hockeyfan1]

The Islanders are apparently willing to give up some picks/prospects to a team that would take the DiPietro contract off their hands.

It would come down to exactly what the components of the deal would be, but it might be a situation that the Leafs can take advantage of.

Buying out DiPietro would be more cost-effective for Vancouver and a good deal for both clubs.

The Canucks would get some picks & prospects, while the Islander would have a veteran whose presence will provide advice & guidance to a young club.

Would DiPietro not be a $24 mil buyout though?

Yes, right about there.
According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, Luongo word be in the range of $40mil.

 

[skrackle]

The Islanders are apparently willing to give up some picks/prospects to a team that would take the DiPietro contract off their hands.

It would come down to exactly what the components of the deal would be, but it might be a situation that the Leafs can take advantage of.

Buying out DiPietro would be more cost-effective for Vancouver and a good deal for both clubs.

The Canucks would get some picks & prospects, while the Islander would have a veteran whose presence will provide advice & guidance to a young club.

Would DiPietro not be a $24 mil buyout though?

Yes, right about there.
According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, Luongo word be in the range of $40mil.

The rumoured Canucks/Islanders deal has been the most talked about, but I don't know that it's going to play out that way.

Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini will have to be ok with spending $24 million on a player that will, in all likelihood, never play for his team. And is he so certain that Luongo is the goalie that should move? Mike Gillis has apparently convinced him that the core of the team is capable of another shot at a Cup. Who should be in goal? Luongo has gotten the Canucks to a Cup final and has played well this year, whereas Schneider has looked shaky in the playoffs and has proven nothing yet. The Canucks picture is cloudy, at best.

As for the Islanders, they would rid themselves of the DiPietro boat anchor contract, only to take on an even bigger boat anchor with Luongo's contract. Does that really make any sense for them? They can't afford to get this wrong.

I don't know how this will play out, but I could see the Leafs stepping in and offering a simple solution to the Islanders, for the right price.

 

[caver]

With the news that Islanders captain Mark Streit will not be returning is there a chance they would pick up Komisarek ? Not that he replaces Streit but he gives a bigger cap hit than he is paid. 

 

[bustaheims]

With the news that Islanders captain Mark Streit will not be returning is there a chance they would pick up Komisarek ? Not that he replaces Streit but he gives a bigger cap hit than he is paid.

I think you answered your own question. Maybe they sign him cheap as a UFA after the Leafs buy him out, but, they don't trade for him - and Streit leaving has no impact on their opinion of adding him.

 

[Corn Flake]

The Islanders are apparently willing to give up some picks/prospects to a team that would take the DiPietro contract off their hands.

It would come down to exactly what the components of the deal would be, but it might be a situation that the Leafs can take advantage of.

Buying out DiPietro would be more cost-effective for Vancouver and a good deal for both clubs.

The Canucks would get some picks & prospects, while the Islander would have a veteran whose presence will provide advice & guidance to a young club.

Would DiPietro not be a $24 mil buyout though?

Yes, right about there.
According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, Luongo word be in the range of $40mil.

The rumoured Canucks/Islanders deal has been the most talked about, but I don't know that it's going to play out that way.

Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini will have to be ok with spending $24 million on a player that will, in all likelihood, never play for his team. And is he so certain that Luongo is the goalie that should move? Mike Gillis has apparently convinced him that the core of the team is capable of another shot at a Cup. Who should be in goal? Luongo has gotten the Canucks to a Cup final and has played well this year, whereas Schneider has looked shaky in the playoffs and has proven nothing yet. The Canucks picture is cloudy, at best.

As for the Islanders, they would rid themselves of the DiPietro boat anchor contract, only to take on an even bigger boat anchor with Luongo's contract. Does that really make any sense for them? They can't afford to get this wrong.

I don't know how this will play out, but I could see the Leafs stepping in and offering a simple solution to the Islanders, for the right price.

The Luongo for DiPietro deal is great for the Isles.. they get a goalie who can play, is still arguably top 10 in the league - maybe better - and would secure them in a position they have been wretched at for a long time.  They are never going to hit the cap so that's no big deal.  if he retires early the contract goes back to Van.. double good for NYI. 

Van's only other option with Luongo is pray some other team will take him on, or they have to trade Schneider.  I don't see another option for them.

For the Leafs, if they are willing to spend $20 mil on a buyout like that, they better be getting a massive return in picks & players to do it.  But, it's one of the few ways they can use their money over and above the cap to their advantage, and the window to use it is only this summer and next. 

I'm guessing the Leafs still use one buyout on Komi, but then use another on something like this, but the payout has to be huge for them to do it.

 

[oakl0008]

Just Announced: Edmonton has fired the head coach Ralph Krueger and are all but confirmed to be hiring Dallas Eakins.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2013-06-08/dallas-eakins-ralph-kreuger-fired-coaching-changes-nhl-free-agency?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

I'm sure we all saw this coming.

Still... 

 

[KoHo]

With his track record of developing young talent Eakins is probably the perfect coach for the Oilers. He's going to do great things with that group.

 

[Tigger]

Playing around with the Stastny notion and some clout on the back end, not sure how realistic it is or what you'd really have to trade to get Stastny, however...

FORWARDS
Joffrey Lupul ($5.250m) / Paul Stastny ($6.600m) / Phil Kessel ($5.400m)
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Mikhail Grabovski ($5.500m) / Nikolai Kulemin ($2.800m)
Joe Colborne ($0.957m) / Nazem Kadri ($2.551m) / Matt Frattin ($0.925m)
Boyd Gordon ($1.725m) / Jay McClement ($1.500m) / Colton Orr ($1.000m)
Ryan Hamilton ($0.800m) / Frazer McLaren ($0.796m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Carl Gunnarsson ($2.550m) / Dion Phaneuf ($6.500m)
Jake Gardiner ($1.117m) / Andrew Ference ($3.550m)
Jesse Blacker ($0.870m) / Rob Scuderi ($4.000m)
Mark Fraser ($0.860m) /
GOALTENDERS
James Reimer ($1.800m)
Ben Scrivens ($0.613m)
OTHER
Buyout: Darcy Tucker ($1.000m)
Buyout: Colby Armstrong ($1.000m)
RETAINED SALARY TRANSACTIONS (0.130% of upper limit)
Mike Komisarek ($0.045m?1.0%) John-Michael Liles ($0.039m?1.0%)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $63,996,042; BONUSES: $460,000
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $763,958

 

[Redleaf]

Playing around with the Stastny notion and some clout on the back end, not sure how realistic it is or what you'd really have to trade to get Stastny, however...

FORWARDS
Joffrey Lupul ($5.250m) / Paul Stastny ($6.600m) / Phil Kessel ($5.400m)
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Mikhail Grabovski ($5.500m) / Nikolai Kulemin ($2.800m)
Joe Colborne ($0.957m) / Nazem Kadri ($2.551m) / Matt Frattin ($0.925m)
Boyd Gordon ($1.725m) / Jay McClement ($1.500m) / Colton Orr ($1.000m)
Ryan Hamilton ($0.800m) / Frazer McLaren ($0.796m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Carl Gunnarsson ($2.550m) / Dion Phaneuf ($6.500m)
Jake Gardiner ($1.117m) / Andrew Ference ($3.550m)
Jesse Blacker ($0.870m) / Rob Scuderi ($4.000m)
Mark Fraser ($0.860m) /
GOALTENDERS
James Reimer ($1.800m)
Ben Scrivens ($0.613m)
OTHER
Buyout: Darcy Tucker ($1.000m)
Buyout: Colby Armstrong ($1.000m)
RETAINED SALARY TRANSACTIONS (0.130% of upper limit)
Mike Komisarek ($0.045m?1.0%) John-Michael Liles ($0.039m?1.0%)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $63,996,042; BONUSES: $460,000
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $763,958

What happened to our highest scoring playoff defenceman, Franson?

 

[Tigger]

I think the talk around here was him involved in the Stastny deal so I went with that, wouldn't mind keeping him either... and it's not very likely the team could get one never mind both of those free agent defencemen.

 

[caver]

Maybe the Leafs could follow Philly's lead and trade for the rights to some pending UFA's. Clowe, Clarkson, anybody else interesting to get the jump on other teams.

 

[Britishbulldog]

I kind of wish that Grabovski played similar to Krejci which I think is possible but even though they have similar scoring numbers, Krejic smokes Grabovski in assists.  Watching Boston play with Krejci and Bergeron shows how if your top 2 centers are talented they don't necessarily have to be 6'5" 235 lbs.

My wishes also include knowing if Grabovski is going to bounce back to 20 goals and 30 assists again which would be OK as the #1 center.

 

[mr grieves]

I kind of wish that Grabovski played similar to Krejci which I think is possible but even though they have similar scoring numbers, Krejic smokes Grabovski in assists.  Watching Boston play with Krejci and Bergeron shows how if your top 2 centers are talented they don't necessarily have to be 6'5" 235 lbs.

My wishes also include knowing if Grabovski is going to bounce back to 20 goals and 30 assists again which would be OK as the #1 center.

If Bozak is re-signed, I doubt it'll happen. Carlyle will play him on the first line, and Grabbo will be back to 3rd line minutes and wingers. Not scoring 50 points from there.

 

[Britishbulldog]

I kind of wish that Grabovski played similar to Krejci which I think is possible but even though they have similar scoring numbers, Krejic smokes Grabovski in assists.  Watching Boston play with Krejci and Bergeron shows how if your top 2 centers are talented they don't necessarily have to be 6'5" 235 lbs.

My wishes also include knowing if Grabovski is going to bounce back to 20 goals and 30 assists again which would be OK as the #1 center.

If Bozak is re-signed, I doubt it'll happen. Carlyle will play him on the first line, and Grabbo will be back to 3rd line minutes and wingers. Not scoring 50 points from there.

How I would like to see Bozak re-signed is in a Chris Kelly capacity as the 3rd line $3 MIL center.  There has been so much harping about the ability of Bozak away from Kessel and what Bozak is REALLY worth when looking at comparable players around the league and their salaries ($2.5-$2.8 MIL) that I can't see the Leafs management paying more than $3 - $3.5 a season to him, especially with the salary cap going down.

...but I hear what you are saying.

 

[Britishbulldog]

I have to say, I'm pretty skeptical that this will yield much for the Leafs. Both because I doubt teams are going to be willing to include significant assets in a deal like this and also because I doubt that when the Leafs say that they're willing to buy out another team's bad contract they mean a collossal 30-40 million dollar bad contract but more like a 2 year/10 million dollar mistake.

Well, history would seem to differ, wouldn't it?  Aside from the Franson example, it would be fair to consider Anaheim trading a broken and washed up Lupul as a similar situation.  Gardiner was included to make the deal palatable from the Leafs perspective.  After all, they were taking on Lupul for 2 years @ $4.25.  Pretty good prospect, I'd say.

I also think it's difficult to say whether would or would not take on a $30 - $40M buy-out.  If the organization is serous about utilizing the few remaining advantages it has, then it probably should consider it.

I think they'd be fairly moderate in what they'd blow to bury another GM's mistake - like the Lombardi/Lupul  scale.

Franson nor Gardiner were regarded at the time to be likely to turn out as well as they have. There was a chance they would but they were no sure thing. So credit to the Leafs but they might have been a little lucky on how those deals turned out (offsetting some of their bad luck some).

If a team wants the Leafs to eat $30-40 mil, I think the Leafs should get a franchise player in return - or something like that. That's a lot of dough - even for the Rogers/Bell folks. And that's part of the reason why I think it's so unlikely.

I am kind of with Champ Kind in my hopes.  If the richest franchise in the league is NOT going to use its significant advantage to long term benefits as was indicated by Leafs ownership when Burke was fired then it will be disappointing.  When will the next time be that the NHL will allow players to be traded and bought out by another team without penalty?  ...And that wasn't amnesty for just one player buy out but 2??  I can't see it happening EVER again.

I look at the Luongo situation as a unique situation for the Leafs as they could possibly get a decent asset or 2 from Vancouver for helping them.  A great #2 dman to play with Phaneuf is Bieska and he could play for another 4-5 years.  I would see if a trade like Liles for Bieska and Luongo would work.

Taking the scenario to the extreme...everyone knows that although Luongo would play for Toronto he REALLY wants to go back to Florida who don't have the assets or money to pull it off.  I would see if it is tampering to ask Florida if Toronto buys out Luongo so that Florida could get a great goalie on an affordable contract would Florida be willing to trade Gudbranson for the Leafs 1st pick this year and Gunnarsson. (Yeah, I know its nuts.  ...but I still like to go on crazy side once in a while).  In actuality a top 4 of Phaneuf, Gunnarsson, Bieska and Gardiner isn't that bad.

The Leafs could bury Komisarek for 1 final year and STILL sign Clarkson, trade for Stewart, Bieska and Gudbranson (or re-sign Gunnarsson) with almost $3 MIL in cap space.  The players I re-signed I am pretty sure are within $0.5 MIL + or -.

One step further would be helping NYI's ownership by taking Dipietro's horrible contract in a trade like Dipietro and NYIs 2014 1st for Komisarek.  That would allow an additional $2 MIL forward to be signed  leaving $4 MIL in cap space.

FORWARDS
Joffrey Lupul ($5.250m) / Nazem Kadri ($3.500m) / Phil Kessel ($5.400m)
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Mikhail Grabovski ($5.500m) / Chris Stewart ($3.750m)
Matt Frattin ($0.925m) / Joe Colborne ($0.900m) / David Clarkson ($3.750m)
TOP UFA ($2.000m) / Jay McClement ($1.500m) / Colton Orr ($0.925m)
Frazer McLaren ($0.696m) / Ryan Hamilton ($0.600m) /

DEFENSEMEN
Dion Phaneuf ($6.500m) / Kevin Bieksa ($4.600m)
Jake Gardiner ($1.117m) / Erik Gudbranson ($3.200m)
Mark Fraser ($0.800m) / Cody Franson ($2.750m)
Mike Kostka ($0.600m) /

GOALTENDERS
James Reimer ($1.800m)
Ben Scrivens ($0.613m)

OTHER
Buyout: Darcy Tucker ($1.000m)
Buyout: Colby Armstrong ($1.000m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $63,924,917; BONUSES: $2,600,000
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $3,975,083

 

[Jalili]

I heard Clarkson may cash in at $5m+ ...

If true then I really hope it's not the Leafs shelling out that kind of money.

 

[Jalili]

From looking at this year's crop of UFA players I can see why people are calling it a weak group.

But I think there's pretty decent depth in forwards, albeit lacking in star power. Plenty of serviceable 2nd/3rd line forwards though, depending on what you're looking for.