2017/2018 Trade Speculation and Rumors

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

To bring the conversations together, Tavares should just go to the Sabres, probably a good mix of everything. Stay in New York but be close to Toronto. Have the cap-space to pay him but a contending team on the rise.

He has a point-per-game producing winger there waiting for him in Okposo. At least the last time they played together he was. And there's potentially 2 other franchise players in Eichel and Dahlin. That would be a coup. And his best buddy Moulson is there (sort of).

XXX-Tavares-Okposo
Mittelstadt-Eichel-Reinhart
XXX-O'Reilly-Pominville

Nylander, Rodrigues, or whoever breaks out fills in the XXX. That's a scary top 9 and most teams would be happy to have that 'second line' as their top line going forward. Dahlin-Ristolainen are likely to be a great top pairing in a couple years. If Ullmark meets even half-expectations, then that team is a contender if not favourite.

Thats 27-30 million tied up in your top 3 centers.

My guess is taveres signs with the jabs, Rangers or islanders.

[Oling_Roachinen]

It's Eichel's third season. Dahlin has yet to play in the NHL. Anything before doesn't matter.

It would have been that same leap of faith to sign with Pittsburgh in 06. Pittsburgh was terrible even after they got Crosby. It wasn't until Malkin showed up and the others matured (Fleury, Staal) that they made noise. And they did so very quickly.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Thats 27-30 million tied up in your top 3 centers.

I guess is taveres signs with the jabs, Rangers or islanders.

He won't sign with the Rangers, he is too much of a nice guy to do that to Islander fans. I only see two scenarios, 90% chance he stays with the NYI and the other 10% that he is a Hab. I can't see him anywhere else.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by bax

Vancouver has zero chance to sign Tavares. I would put the Flames odds at around 2%.

Both have zero chance.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Thats 27-30 million tied up in your top 3 centers.

Yep. Perfect model, we saw the Penguins do it with Malkin, Crosby and Staal. 22M when the cap was 56M.

With a 77M cap, that's the equivalent of 30M. O'Reilly can play on wing if needed and would on the PP. When your top pairing defender, and maybe your best player if Dahlin lives up to hype in the next couple years, is making under 1M you can get greedy with your centers for awhile. It's the team five years from now, but that's when O'Reilly's contract is over.

It's not the centers that matter, if you can get those three as your centers for 30M or under, you take that every single day. It's Okposo, Pomminville, Bogosian, and of course Moulson that actually hurt. But Bogosian is a potential IR candidate, Moulson is making 2M in actual salary next year for a player that is a year removed from being a 15-20-35 player and a PPG player in the AHL. He's not completely immovable, even if it might require an asset to get rid of.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

This is a trade speculation thread. Can you cry about your being upset Flames fans aren't giving a Canuck player enough credit elsewhere? Maybe the Canucks board?

Can you please try not to fight with everyone?

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

It's Eichel's third season. Dahlin has yet to play in the NHL. Anything before doesn't matter.

It would have been that same leap of faith to sign with Pittsburgh in 06. Pittsburgh was terrible even after they got Crosby. It wasn't until Malkin showed up and the others matured (Fleury, Staal) that they made noise. And they did so very quickly.

Yeah, so like I said it would be a massive leap of faith on his part if he wants to win.

Eichel and Tavares while awesome, does not equal Crosby and Malkin, so I don't know why you would even bring the Pens up.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Eichel and Tavares while awesome, does not equal Crosby and Malkin, so I don't know why you would even bring the Pens up.

Eichel, Tavares and Dahlin. That would be as good as of a 'top 3' this league has seen since the 05 lockout.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Yep. Perfect model, we saw the Penguins do it with Malkin, Crosby and Staal. 22M when the cap was 56M.

With a 77M cap, that's the equivalent of 30M. O'Reilly can play on wing if needed and would on the PP. When your top pairing defender, and maybe your best player if Dahlin lives up to hype in the next couple years, is making under 1M you can get greedy with your centers for awhile. It's the team five years from now, but that's when O'Reilly's contract is over.

It's not the centers that matter, if you can get those three as your centers for 30M or under, you take that every single day. It's Okposo, Pomminville, Bogosian, and of course Moulson that actually hurt. But Bogosian is a potential IR candidate, Moulson is making 2M in actual salary next year for a player that is a year removed from being a 15-20-35 player and a PPG player in the AHL. He's not completely immovable, even if it might require an asset to get rid of.

That would be an interesting approach.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Eichel, Tavares and Dahlin. That would be as good as of a 'top 3' this league has seen since the 05 lockout.

Meh the Pens had future Norris finalist Letang in the fold. Comparing that Pens core to what the Sabres have even with Tavares is nonsensical. Sorry.

...and even the Pens went 7 years between Cups.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Both have zero chance.

Is it wrong for me to want him to sign with the Flames just to see if you'd actually make good on getting that back tattoo?

[Oling_Roachinen]

At the time that the Penguins won their first cup, Letang was not anywhere close to future Norris winning Letang. Gonchar was closer.

A team built with Tavares, Eichel, Dahlin as the core pieces with O'Reilly, Ristolainen, Okposo, Mittelstadt, Reinhart and Nylander (if he meets his draft expectations) as complimentary core players would be insane. Easily a favourite within the next 4 years. I can't see how that would be debatable.

[dammage79]

I really believe that Vancouver will land one of Karlsson or Tavares. And will swing for both.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

At the time that the Penguins won their first cup, Letang was not anywhere close to future Norris winning Letang. Gonchar was closer.

A team built with Tavares, Eichel, Dahlin as the core pieces with O'Reilly, Ristolainen, Okposo, Mittelstadt, Reinhart and Nylander (if he meets his draft expectations) as complimentary core players would be insane. Easily a favourite within the next 4 years. I can't see how that would be debatable.

Haha, think what you want but they already have all those pieces except for Dahlin (who hasn't played an NHL game yet) and Tavares and finished with barely more than 60 points and have been the 2nd worst team in the league for nearly a decade without even a sniff of the playoffs.

Doesn't matter because Tavares won't sign there anyways IMO.

[iloveicedhockey]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I really believe that Vancouver will land one of Karlsson or Tavares. And will swing for both.

That is a bold prediction. I like it.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Haha, think what you want but they already have all those pieces except for Dahlin (who hasn't played an NHL game yet) and Tavares and finished with barely more than 60 points and have been the 2nd worst team in the league for nearly a decade without even a sniff of the playoffs.

Doesn't matter because Tavares won't sign there anyways IMO.

Eichel started the season as a 20 year old. Reinhart was 21. Mittelstadt was 18 and playing in College. Guhle is 20 and played in the AHL. Nylander was in the AHL (disapointing relatively) but was 19.

And when you say, other than Tavares and Dahlin they had those pieces (ignoring that they didn't), that's like saying other than Gaudreau and Monahan the Flames had their pieces...imagine how bad the team would have been without those two. Both Tavares and Dahlin would have teams willing to kill to be given the opportunity to build around. Blaming Tavares for Snow and friends ineptitude isn't fair. Any team that would be able to add Dahlin and Tavares without giving up anything (especially if they were able to supplement that with Mittelstadt) would become a contender, Sabres are the only team that has that opportunity though.

But I agree with your last take. I was being more facetious with Tavares signing there, it's Buffalo.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I really believe that Vancouver will land one of Karlsson or Tavares. And will swing for both.

Karlsson is not a UFA. What would they give up for him? Anything close to value would be a mistake, filling one hole but making many more. For a player who is signed until 2019...

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Is it wrong for me to want him to sign with the Flames just to see if you'd actually make good on getting that back tattoo?

Yes... yes it is.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think Vancouver is a contender in the Tavares sweepstakes... if they make him the highest paid player in the NHL for the next 7 straight seasons.

Even then, I think Tavares would politely say "no thank you" and join a team with a reasonable chance of actually winning something in the first half of his contract at least.

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Both have zero chance.

If rumours are true that he wants to play in Canada, with a contender, then the Flames definitely have a chance. Vancouver is not an option, they will be even farther back next season with the loss of the Sedins. Edmonton is already top heavy with high-priced forwards and really needs to shore up its depth and D. Winnipeg has no need. Ottawa is, like Vancouver, on a downward cycle at the moment, and is nowhere near being a contender, even with Tavares. Toronto, like Edmonton, is top heavy on (soon to be) high-priced forwards, while being short on D, and a 7-year 10+M contract does not fit with where their other contracts will be at the time (would be a better fit with a shorter deal). Montreal is intriguing, but the taxes (just like in B.C.) are much higher, so it would have to be a much higher contract value to have the same take-home pay, and I'm not sure they have the depth to be a contender, even with Tavares.

In Calgary (unlike Edmonton or Toronto), Tavares would be a clear 1C. He would be able to play with an elite LW and would have solid 2nd and 3rd lines to back him up, with a (properly coached) very capable D. The only other missing components would be a top 6 RW (could Tavares help Bennett reach his potential on the right side with Tkachuk on the left?) and a goaltender for 2019-20 and beyond. The core would be locked in for a few years to take multiple runs at the Cup, which would not be the case in Winnipeg, Vancouver, Montreal or Ottawa.

Of course, it's only a rumour that he wants to play in Canada. His friendship with Hamonic doesn't hurt, of course, but I doubt it will contribute much to Tavares' decision. So still not a high probability, but definitely more than zero.