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Originally Posted by TOfan
LeBrun with an article this morning on the goalie market, and John Gibson specifically. Lebrun states there are three teams that appear to be interested. Colorado, Carolina, and Edmonton.
Colorado believes their issues can be solved internally. Andersen’s durability is a concern in Carolina and even if Kotchetkov is their guy, they’ll need a goalie in case he gets injured. Edmonton was mentioned briefly as a possibility due to their status as a cup contender.
LeBrun believes Gibson would have a good amount of value, particularly with the cap rising and if Anaheim retains salary. He also mentioned people like to think Gibson is 37, but he’s 31. There are executives around the league who believe he is a very good goalie.
Interesting to see how/if this affects what the Flames might do. If Carolina is thinking Kotchetkov is their guy would Vladar with retention be of interest? I’d have to think so base on how they appear to value goaltending.
Does Vladar for a second get it done? Vladar for Kotkeniemi? Other pieces involved too in a bigger deal? Does Andersson fit there?
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I'm sure Carolina would love to get one or both of Vladar and/or Andersson, especially after losing Pesce and Skjei in the offseason. Vladar will get a 2nd or 3rd, but Andersson should pull in a decent haul. Unfortunately, Carolina'a pipeline looks a lot like ours, being full of quality D and winger prospects, but short on any "true" centers. We aren't getting D Alexander Nikishin, a 6'4" future superstar, and even though I like Kotkaniemi- I think I would rather go for youth, as he's now 24. Here's a few suggestions to add to a package:
-W Nikita Artamonov, 5'11",190lbs. There will be a whole lot of teams that will regret not taking this kid in the first round this past summer, all he seems to do is produce. At the tender age of 19, he's put up 13 goals and 22 points in 28 KHL games, already the 12th-most points by an under-20 player (he owns the 11th-most points as well from last year, when he had 23 points in 54 games). His ppg of 0.79, if he can sustain it for the rest of the season, is approaching the 19 year-old seasons of Kaprizov (0.86), Michkov (0.85), and Kuznetsov (0.84).
-RW Justin Poirier, 5'9",183lbs: Jeremie's brother sits second in the Q scoring race (and first in goals) in his D+1 season with 20 goals and 35 points in just 20 games- on pace to rack up 116 points in 66 games. He's a pure sniper with a nasty disposition.
-LD Noel Fransen, 6'1",187lbs: In his D+1 year, he's already too good for junior, and is plying his trade in the Allsvenskan- Sweden's second-highest pro league, putting up an impressive 10 points in 18 games. He's a dynamic offensive threat who kills it on the powerplay with high-end skill and speed.
-LD Simon Forsmark, 6'2",192lbs: 21 year-old who is already in his second full season in the SHL, with 8 points in 18 games. He's a skilled, poised two-way defender who destroyed the junior ranks in Sweden. I was a fan of his in his draft year, in 2022.
-RD Scott Morrow, 6'2",194lbs: Offensive D with a good all-around game. He put up impressive numbers in college, and this season has put up 6 points in 12 AHL games thus far in his first year of pro.
-C/W Brad Nadeau, 5'11",172lbs: A former teammate of Aydar Suniev's two seasons ago in the BCHL, he turned pro this season after spending 2023-24 in the NCAA, where he amassed an incredible 46 points in 37 games. He might project as a winger at the NHL level, but has a superhuman shot to go with his skill and speed.
-RD Aleksi Heimosalmi, 5'11", 181lbs: Drafted in the second round of 2021, he lacks ideal size but skates like the wind and plays a good two-way game. He was tied for 3rd in scoring by D at the 2022 World Juniors with 7 points in 7 games.
-RW Felix Unger-Sorum, 5'11, 172lbs: 19 year-old playmaker was taken in the second round of the 2023 Draft. He's had a rough start to his AHL career, with only 2 points in his first 12 games, but he projects as a solid middle-six winger.