Quote:
Originally Posted by Duffalufagus
Several teams did not spend what I would call big assets. SJ/Nash/Peg got value imo.
|
Yeah really it's not that bad long term (Sharks excluded) for the other teams that did make moves today but IMO they were at stages where they were better positioned or needed to make these deals.
Nashville did good with Granlund deal but don't think Simmonds is actually a huge upgrade on Hartman at this stage. Didn't move Tolvanen, Fabbro, or their 1st so still have their top prospects and picks moving forward and personally think they will be a player for Duchene come July 1.
Winnipeg Did okay with a 1st and Lemieux for Hayes. Two years in a row with no 1st round picks now though and outside of Vesalainen most of their prospect depth has graduated (Stanley looks okay but not great).
Lots of major RFAs/UFAs after this season though so for them really this year and last year is the time to go for it since they probably can't afford them all- probably will re-coup some picks by moving an RFA or two in the offseason.
San Jose is the team that really needed to go all in for this season and did so. They have traded their 2016 1st, 2017 1st, 2019 1st, 2020 1st, 2019 2nd, 2020 3rd. So having a single first rounder over a 5 year period is tough for a team.
But with Pavelski, Thornton, Nyquist, Donskoi, & Karlsson all as UFAs you could argue that this is the year they needed to go for it. Issue is going to be goaltending if they run into Vegas round 1 - as Vegas holds the advantage there.
Vegas will be the team the Flames still have to worry about long term. This was the team that could handle trading for Stone and giving him the big contract but even they have burned assets lately but are able to do so because teams flubbed up the expansion draft so bad.
They have Glass, Hague, and Leschyshyn still as top prospects. They have traded their 2018 1st (Tatar), Suzuki (Pacioretty), and Brannstrom (Stone) now though. Plus still have all their 1sts moving forward, 2 extra 3rds this year, and and extra 2nd next year.
With William Karlsson as their only major RFA/UFA coming up too they are positioned really well moving forward. Plus I still think they move some pieces out at the draft and go hard at Erik Karlsson too.
So for the Flames really the key is just to keep winning your games and keep your cushion at the top of the division. You don't have to go through all 4 teams, so let Vegas/San Jose and Winnipeg/Nashville/St.Louis take care of each other first and just worry about them when you get to them.
Those 4 teams may feel like the big winners today but there is a decent chance that 2 of the 4 could be knocked out in the first round - then they likely won't be as excited.