2023/2024 Trade Rumors and Speculation Thread

[Paulie Walnuts]

Talk about telling the NHL you are desperate for a centre converting a career LW to C.

[HighLifeMan]

Originally Posted by Sandman

What about Kent Johnson? Have they been using him as a winger?

Yes, he's a winger at this point.

He took 138 faceoff's last year and won just 29.5% of them.

[Flames1217]

Originally Posted by Bubba17

Playing center in Bantam doesn't really count, considering Iginla was in Jr. as a 16 year old. Slight difference in the competition levels.

Playing centre from 4-15 years old does though.

I understand where you are coming from but you can't ignore someone's pre-junior career. Kamloops already had Tucker, Stevens and Huska as thier centres so it didn't make sense to have Iggy playing on the 4th line.

If you grew up playing a position for the better part of ten years I am sure the transition isn't that bad, especially for someone as talented as Iggy was.

[Ashasx]

Laine at centre seems like an unbelievably dumb idea.

I get converting a winger to C, but Laine may literally be the worst choice to do that. He's one of the laziest players in the league and to expect him to take on the defensive responsibilities and skating required to play centre... it's just crazy to me.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Laine at centre seems like an unbelievably dumb idea.

I get converting a winger to C, but Laine may literally be the worst choice to do that. He's one of the laziest players in the league and to expect him to take on the defensive responsibilities and skating required to play centre... it's just crazy to me.

It's idiotic. Especially after the Texier experiment where they tried to convert him into a C. He was much younger than Laine at the time so it made somewhat more sense to try. Plus he has a high motor / effort level. But still, it seemed like a big reach and in the end failed totally.

Laine? An eight year nhl veteran who I don't think even played center in juniors.

[blankall]

The thinking with Laine at centre could be that Gaudreau would do a lot of the centre work, in terms of carrying the puck.....but then that line never play defence?

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by blankall

The thinking with Laine at centre could be that Gaudreau would do a lot of the centre work, in terms of carrying the puck.....but then that line never play defence?

He's a bit of a floater, too. That's a total no go at the centre position. And even worse is he floats even more when he gets pouty.

[NegativeSpace]

If that is the plan, the Columbus may be worse than last year.

[MrMike]

Yeah that's incredibly stupid. Go out and get a center dumb dumbs

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I think people are reading way too much into Friedman's tweet. Here is what the-rasta-masta posted:

That sure looks like a statement of information to me.

Here's what Elliotte wrote:

He says right up front that this is a prediction, and then covers that by noting he could be wrong about the numbers. I suspect he knows they will get a deal done, but it sure doesn't sound like he has any feel for what it will look like, and is just guessing.

Ah, I skimmed too quick and didn't see Elliot was just guessing at what the thought the numbers would be.

So then it comes back down to dissentowners $5m/3 years and rastas $4.5/2 years. Based on rasta's history with Flames info I'm leaning back towards that again. I really hope that's the contract.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Blue Jackets experimenting with Laine centering Gaudreau and Marchenko at the last couple of practices.

Reminds me of the times when fans suggested they convert Iginla to center.

Anyways looks like BJs still struggling to find a top line center.

I was reading yesterday they were running with Jenner, Fantilli (Laine on this wing), and Roslovic at centre. And Fantilli was impressing. For some reason, today it’s behind a paywall.

Feels weird to ask you of all people… but can you give me some more info? I’m looking into the jackets for Fantasy pool purposes

[GioforPM]

When Gaudreau went to CBJ I said "but they have no centres - he needs a good one" and was assured that their prospects (Sillinger and Johnson) would easily be top centres almost immediately.

Now Johnson is a winger and Sillinger is a near bust.

Laine is an even stupider idea though.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

When Gaudreau went to CBJ I said "but they have no centres - he needs a good one" and was assured that their prospects (Sillinger and Johnson) would easily be top centres almost immediately.

Now Johnson is a winger and Sillinger is a near bust.

Laine is an even stupider idea though.

How is Sillinger a near bust? The guy was picked one spot ahead of Coronato and isn’t even 21 yet. Hilarious to call him a bust because he had a sophomore slump.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

When Gaudreau went to CBJ I said "but they have no centres - he needs a good one" and was assured that their prospects (Sillinger and Johnson) would easily be top centres almost immediately.

Now Johnson is a winger and Sillinger is a near bust.

Laine is an even stupider idea though.

He is 20 years old.....labelling him a bust is a huge reach at this point.

No way there has been enough time to know what he will be.

He probably should have played in the A for a couple years though instead of being thrown into the fire immediately.

[Monahammer]

Sillinger had an unreal season at 17 in the dub. Definitely still upside in that player, and IMO the environment in Columbus is keeping him down even more than deserved. He had 16 goals as an 18year old in the NHL. Definitely not a bust.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

When Gaudreau went to CBJ I said "but they have no centres - he needs a good one" and was assured that their prospects (Sillinger and Johnson) would easily be top centres almost immediately.

Now Johnson is a winger and Sillinger is a near bust.

Laine is an even stupider idea though.

Johnson had his rookie season, may still be a centre who knows - but they got Fantilli, so it doesn't matter.

Sillinger had a sophomore slump year, but the Jackets were a tire fire last season so I'm not putting it all on a young player when he struggles in year 2.

The Jackets, other than hiring Babcock, are doing a lot of good right now.

[Heavy Jack]

It’s mind bottling how bad that Babcock hire was lol

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

It’s mind bottling how bad that Babcock hire was lol

The one thing they can be happy about is that Babcock was so efficient in...being Babcock, that he never really got the opportunity to do long term damage to the young, promising roster.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Johnson had his rookie season, may still be a centre who knows - but they got Fantilli, so it doesn't matter.

Sillinger had a sophomore slump year, but the Jackets were a tire fire last season so I'm not putting it all on a young player when he struggles in year 2.

The Jackets, other than hiring Babcock, are doing a lot of good right now.

I wonder if finishing tied for the third lowest point total in the league last year was part of their ‘plan’.

[Heavy Jack]

So true; CBJ - as much as I can’t stand them because of things lol - they’re doing really good things with their drafting right now, some big pieces that could become substantial if they’re handled the right way. Babcock being Babcock will be a bigger storyline for the development of that roster than they even realize!