Kris Letang - Must Move

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I agree with the post that said it doesn't make any sense to trade for a player that already has a huge contract or will have one soon if the Flames are going to be bad for the next few years.

Stay away from the huge contracts, build up the organization with good, young, cheap players and then when the team can compete in 3,4,5 years you look at something like this.

Now is not the time to pick up a guy like Letang.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Why would a high profile guy like Letang sign in Calgary where veteran players are asking for trades?

Millions and Millions of dollars.

The obstacles to signing Letang in pittsburgh is money. He probably wants Chara money.

I don't think teams will necessarily be lining up to pay it to him.

The Flames just spent 5.25 million per on Wideman, though, and Letang can actually play some D.

[moon]

Originally Posted by wretched34

But if they can't afford him for the 2014/2015 season, they can't afford to be asking for a huge return either, because they simply can't afford more big contracts.

So will their asking price be a top 4 D-man with a good contract $4M and under, plus picks and prospects? or a couple top propsects that they can save money on with ELC's?

They can ask a lot for him because he is one of the top dmen in the league and lots of teams will want him.

Carolina doesn't care if Pitt will have trouble re-signing him if Edmoton offers more than them and gets him. If it was a limited amount of teams interested or this off-season he was a UFA then his sign ability might matter but right now it means nothing.

There asking price will be huge and they will get it.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by wretched34

But if they can't afford him for the 2014/2015 season, they can't afford to be asking for a huge return either, because they simply can't afford more big contracts.

So will their asking price be a top 4 D-man with a good contract $4M and under, plus picks and prospects? or a couple top propsects that they can save money on with ELC's?

They can't afford him for the 2014/2015 season but a lot of other teams will be able to. There will be a bidding war for Letang even if his D is not all that great.

[Jackpot_Smooth]

Here's a guy Colorado can go after, if they draft mackinnon/drouin/barkov, they possibly make a trade for him with one of their other forwards like stastny maybe. Don't want him on calgary at this point, nor do i see him wanting to sign here when/if he hits ufa.

[moon]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Letang can be a game breaker, but defensively he's just brutal. Not sure i've seen a norris trophy candidate get beat so many times one on one.

Subban just won it getting beat much more often.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Jackpot_Smooth

Here's a guy Colorado can go after, if they draft mackinnon/drouin/barkov, they possibly make a trade for him with one of their other forwards like stastny maybe. Don't want him on calgary at this point, nor do i see him wanting to sign here when/if he hits ufa.

Can't see Statsny being appealing at all. Overpaid, mediocre and no spot for him on the Pens.

Would have to be Duchene or Landeskog from Avs.

[Hockeyguy15]

I would give Brodie and the other young D more minutes so they can develope rather than have Letang stealing them.

[Canada 02]

Letang to Colorado for the #1 pick

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Jackpot_Smooth

Here's a guy Colorado can go after, if they draft mackinnon/drouin/barkov, they possibly make a trade for him with one of their other forwards like stastny maybe. Don't want him on calgary at this point, nor do i see him wanting to sign here when/if he hits ufa.

The Pens aren't taking Stastny. The issue with the Pens is they are paying their 2 centres too much money. Taking on another high paid centre is the exact opposite of what they want to do.

A deal involving a player like Giordano may actually appeal to them. With cap constraints, the Pens are going to have to compromise on talent in order to take on good contract value.

To Pitts:

Giordano
Glencross
+

To Cal:

Letang

Letang is only just 26. As a defenceman, he may not reach his prime for 2-3 years, which puts his window exactly into the Flames own rebuild. If the Flames can find a taker for Wideman, we'd be looking at a huge upgrade in our top pairing. Letang paired with a stay at home veteran, gives you an excellent top pairing.

For Pitts, they get two gritty players in their prime on great contracts. Glencross' greatest skill is getting into scoring positions. He'd be a 30+ goal guy playing with either of Malkin or Crosby. If the Pens want a cheap d-man (IE under 5 mil), Giordano is about as good as you get.

This is all dependent on talks with Letang showing a willingness to sign an extension in Calgary. Offer him 6+mil on a long term and let him know the team is willing to build around him and I think he toughs out 2-3 years of rebuild. We aren't talking about a vet in the twilight of his career.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Jackpot_Smooth

Here's a guy Colorado can go after, if they draft mackinnon/drouin/barkov, they possibly make a trade for him with one of their other forwards like stastny maybe. Don't want him on calgary at this point, nor do i see him wanting to sign here when/if he hits ufa.

I can see the Avs wanting to acquire Letang but the Pens are not interested in what the Avs are selling. Stastny is too expensive to be a third line center and the position is filled by Sutter anyway.

I do think that a lot of teams will be knocking on the door looking to acquire Letang but I am not sure how many of them will actually make good trade partners for the Pens. Right now the Pens big needs are RWers and shutdown Dmen?

Maybe the Preds would be a good match for a trade partner. The Preds get an offensive guy that can help with their scoring and the Pens can get a defensive guy that can help prevent scoring (and maybe make Fleury look like a decent goalie again).

[Flame19,289]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Letang to Colorado for the #1 pick

I think Tyson Barrie + Colorado's 2nd Rounder (Pick #32) for Letang would be much more likely.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Letang to Colorado for the #1 pick

Bad move for Pitts. That pick won't develop for 2-3 years. They need someone in their prime now if Letang is on the way out. Downgrading the team for 2-3 years makes little sense for them. In 3 years, you're looking at a 30 year old Malkin. He'll still be good, but why burn prime years.

[wretched34]

Originally Posted by blankall

The Pens aren't taking Stastny. The issue with the Pens is they are paying their 2 centres too much money. Taking on another high paid centre is the exact opposite of what they want to do.

A deal involving a player like Giordano may actually appeal to them. With cap constraints, the Pens are going to have to compromise on talent in order to take on good contract value.

To Pitts:

Giordano
Glencross
+

To Cal:

Letang

Letang is only just 26. As a defenceman, he may not reach his prime for 2-3 years, which puts his window exactly into the Flames own rebuild. If the Flames can find a taker for Wideman, we'd be looking at a huge upgrade in our top pairing. Letang paired with a stay at home veteran, gives you an excellent top pairing.

For Pitts, they get two gritty players in their prime on great contracts. Glencross' greatest skill is getting into scoring positions. He'd be a 30+ goal guy playing with either of Malkin or Crosby. If the Pens want a cheap d-man (IE under 5 mil), Giordano is about as good as you get.

This is all dependent on talks with Letang showing a willingness to sign an extension in Calgary. Offer him 6+mil on a long term and let him know the team is willing to build around him and I think he toughs out 2-3 years of rebuild. We aren't talking about a vet in the twilight of his career.

Taking on Gio and Glencross would likely be to rich for their need, they are trying to stay away from the $6M + area.

If the Flames are able to come to a 5 year extension, i think acquiring Letang would be amazing, that'll give the Flames 2 good years with him, in his prime, and the time to build a great young core, and sign a suitable D partner for him. if the extension is there, it could be a huge peice to the re-build.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by blankall

Bad move for Pitts. That pick won't develop for 2-3 years. They need someone in their prime now if Letang is on the way out. Downgrading the team for 2-3 years makes little sense for them. In 3 years, you're looking at a 30 year old Malkin. He'll still be good, but why burn prime years.

the Pens would likely take Seth Jones in that scenario; he's ready

[blankall]

Originally Posted by wretched34

Taking on Gio and Glencross would likely be to rich for their need, they are trying to stay away from the $6M + area.

If the Flames are able to come to a 5 year extension, i think acquiring Letang would be amazing, that'll give the Flames 2 good years with him, in his prime, and the time to build a great young core, and sign a suitable D partner for him. if the extension is there, it could be a huge peice to the re-build.

The difference is that Pitts gets two capable roster players. A capable top 6 winger and a top 4 defenceman signed for 6.55 mil total is a huge bargain. I think Pitts is basically saying they cannot afford to pay one guy 6+ mil. Instead, I'm guessing, they are looking to fill out their roster with quality players in the 3 mil range. This deal gives them two of those. I'm guessing they'll want a 1st round pick back from us too.

[Rapidfire999]

Don't want. Why are we going to give up two good contracts, Gio and Glencross, for a possible bad one for 5+ years. I doubt he even wants to sign with calgary when we are competing for last place for a couple years.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Rapidfire999

Don't want. Why are we going to give up two good contracts, Gio and Glencross, for a possible bad one for 5+ years. I doubt he even wants to sign with calgary when we are competing for last place for a couple years.

Glencross I agree but Gio was nowhere near worth his contract last year. Hopefully that was just a blip because if he does not return to the Gio who inked that deal that is an ugly contract.

[Erick Estrada]

I would be a little surprised if the Penguins didn't explore every avenue possible before looking to trade him.

[dissentowner]

nm