8
« on: Yesterday at 12:02:16 PM »
KEEP
Matthews - Easy decision
Marner - Last year, I'd say his 11M could be split between 2 top-6 wingers, but he is still more valuable to this team than on the market, especially if he can be paired with Tavares to upgrade that line once again.
Nylander - incredible value for the cap hit, still has clear room for improvement; can carry a lower line or add every offensive element to a top line; PP wizard in every conceivable role.
Tavares - NMC; he's a sunk cost, so the key here is to bolster his weakness (skating speed) so we can leverage his strengths more consistently (puck control, shooting, space making)
Bunting - Easy decision
Kampf - Palatable contract for a steadying presence and reliable toolkit
Kase - injury concerns will keep him very affordable; gotta keep him with his Czechmate
Engvall - he started to show more snarl; let's practice that for the full season because he has the build and speed to tilt his minutes
Rielly - Similar to Tavares, there are some very rare strengths to Rielly's game, but we need to mitigate his weakness (rush defense)
Brodie - Speaking of mitigating weaknesses on D, this guy
Sandin - Still rounding out his game; can crush 3rd pair min, but can he tread water or truly swim with top-4 min?
Liljegren - he looks more and more like Luigi with every passing day, and as the second guy on a top-4 pair, he is doing just fine. Experience will help with anticipation and speed up decision making that way.
Giordano - If he can take a cheapo deal, we can easily make 3 top-4 pairs and extend the longevity of
Muzzin - still so solid in his play, even if his hips, knees, and back are not quite holding up. Take it easy on him in the regular season and save him for the playoffs.
TOSS
- Mikheyev (UFA) is going to price himself out of our roster; I like what he does (PK, zoom zoom) but the tenacity on the puck hardly ever translates to scoring for himself or his linemates in a sustainable way
- Kerfoot (1 year, 3.5M) is also a valuable member of the team as a utility player, but we could easily use this cap hit for 3 Marlies grads to get similar production.
- Clifford - I don't see it; make room for Marlies
MAYBE
Campbell - $ or $$$$?
Mrazek - what's on the market? I think he'd be a serviceable backup 1/B still, just rotten injury luck this past year
Holl - I like him fine, but if there's an improvement to be made, his handedness, TOI, and cap hit has market value
Spezza - as an assistant coach; his voice of experience is valuable, moreso than his diminishing on-ice contributions; if we have the cap room and he doesn't mind sitting half the season, then sign him as usual.
Simmonds - ditto
Show Posts