Quote:
Originally Posted by hockey.modern
With playoffs being a very slim chance now, I wonder if Brad Treliving will start to look at the options to deal some of the expiring deals for assets. It would be fantastic if we could snag up a few 2nd and 3rd round picks or maybe a possible 1st. Use those picks and try to get a RFA similar to the Dougie Hamilton deal last year along with what is currently looking to be a top 5 draft pick with ours. So that may leave us with a some options:
- Top 5 Draft Pick
- Grade A RFA/UFA
- Top 5 Draft Pick
- Multiple 2nd, 3rd round picks
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Jones, Hudler, Russell, Hiller, and Ramo are our expiring contracts.
I'm sure most people would be happy to get a medium-sized dog back for either Ramo or Hiller at this point, but Russell, Jones, and especially Hudler could bring back significant returns.
You think goal-starved Pittsburgh would be willing to give up a 1st to get Hudler? What about Tampa Bay? They're currently out of the playoffs and not exactly lighting it up. They've also got to worry about showing Stamkos they're serious about winning.
In the West, Nashville and LA and (if they get their act together to make a push for the playoffs) Anaheim could all use additional scoring.
There are, however, a bunch of really interesting forward UFA's this year, including E. Staal, Stamkos, Kopitar, Vrbata, Eriksson, Boedker and Hudler. Depending on how the season shakes out it could be a real buyer's market for forwards at the trade deadline.
Or Staal, Stamkos, Kopitar, and Eriksson resign, the Canucks stay within spitting distance of the playoffs (gross), and suddenly the top of the market for forwards is Boedker and Hudler.
I think it's not unreasonable to to think we might be looking at having two picks in the 1st round again this year, but that's a long way off and involves a lot of speculation.