Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom
Wow great topic, with rich insights!
Iggy, iggy iggy, what can we say. He has a NTC and NMC so he has final say on all transaction matters. I agree with the notion that we are sucking with him and without him. Last year, Post ASG he carried us I agree, but when he lost the steady play of Mo our team started to return to the style of play we see now. I still feel his style of play would be useful to our team even in a rebuild.
I see alternatives to trading him, but they may be as controversial as suggesting trading the ST. Albert Superstar. In a failing business, you must take stock of all assets in order to consider flexibility for return to profitability.
I say that if we can trade Gio we could land a sizable return. The play of Brodie has really inspired me of late. He has really become chippy and confident in front of the crease. Added to his offensive promise and I see a good replacement. To me if a real rebuild is the case, then players above the age of 25 with the exception of those with bad contracts, organizational importance, community importance and poor performance, should be moved. Unfortunately for Gio and his fans, it could be that he could land us a big package of picks considering his good contract and relative age.
Our defence without him would be less mobile, but I feel we have the assets in the pipeline or within the upcoming draft. Brodie also eases the loss of Gio.
So we move Gio, Bourque, Sarich, Hannan, stempniak, moss, glencross(due to stupidity), and that could jump start a rebuild so much so that we have a bunch of pick options for this upcoming draft. None of those players land a top 10, maybe gio, but a mid first and seconds and thirds in a deep draft could become valuable.
our defence is then Bou, Butler, Brodie, Babchuck, Carson, Smith, and depth options, too me that's fitting of a team with lottery aspirations in the deep 2012 draft.
if we tank at the right time ie this year and next year we could have a chance to get quality pieces. look at how Bartschi is doing? he fell in a deep draft and our mid 1st round pick looked good in that sense.
Another thought is trading Kipp. That is a surefire solution to expedite the rebuild as he has been the reason we have won at all this year. He routinely makes key saves to keep this team alive. Last night notwithstanding as I feel he was bailed out by the ineptness of the officials. He, if traded, could also be a chance for CT and Napolean to take up the mantle. It could be tough, but he could add to the pick and prospect haul, while securing lottery tickets.
In all, I wouldn't trade Iggy, I'd like it to be a cinderella story. If we get the right system with the incoming youth to this team, we could surprise. I feel we have a good opportunity seize upon our place as a bottom 5 team, since the problems they have aren't to be remedied without a stud centreman like one of the Staals, so what can you do? I say stay the course and keep the captain but send off his shipmates with any lustre. If you trade kipp, and your picks turn out and a few FA signings we could surprise again....soon, this way and 2-4 years.
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