2015/2016 Trade Speculation and Rumors

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Ruthless is the future. Hockey is probably the deepest ingrained of the old boys, honor bound, do right by my people attitude but that type of sentimentality gets you nothing in a salary cap league.

I've been saying this for years but the model is the NFL where ruthlessness reigns. You simply don't have the room for sentimentality when you're governed by an uncompromising hard call in a zero sum league. Either you have players performing over or under the value of their contract and the teams with the best ratio of those players are the ones who contend.

Yep. The cap climate has hardened to the point that a couple bad contracts are enough to scupper a team's fortunes - and a GM's career. We're going to see more and more teams let players just walk instead of giving in to their demands for salary or ice time. And the strong teams will survive these losses because they'll have the drafting, development, and coaching in place. A lot of people hate them, but the NE Patriots have written the textbook on how to manage personnel in a league with a hard salary cap.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

Wasn't it revealed that MSL had asked to be traded long before the whole Olympic thing happened?

Yes serveral times and Yzerman convinced him to stay.

[mikephoen]

Less than 60 days until the trade deadline. The damn has to burst soon, no? You would think that with Drouin, Rychel, Hamonic, and Johansen all demanding trades plus all the UFAs on bottom feeding teams, the trades have to start coming in. The large supply of UFAs might be holding prices down, so teams are waiting I guess?

[Hackey]

I don't have a good feeling about this years deadline. Seems like it might be a buyers market. Hopefully I'm wrong.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Ruthless is the future. Hockey is probably the deepest ingrained of the old boys, honor bound, do right by my people attitude but that type of sentimentality gets you nothing in a salary cap league.

I've been saying this for years but the model is the NFL where ruthlessness reigns. You simply don't have the room for sentimentality when you're governed by an uncompromising hard call in a zero sum league. Either you have players performing over or under the value of their contract and the teams with the best ratio of those players are the ones who contend.

Agreed on the NFL. However, when contracts are not guaranteed it allows more freedom.

Since they are in the NHL guys aren't as likely to sign short term contracts.

[sureLoss]

Too many teams still in the playoff mix to begin selling yet. Out of 30 teams, only Buffalo and Columbus are more than 7 points out of a playoff spot.

Almost every team out of a playoff spot just needs to go on a winning streak and will be back in playoff position.

[sureLoss]

Boychuk out 4-6 weeks... makes a Hamonic trade before the trade deadline even more unlikely.

[Poe969]

if the Flames fall out of playoff race by the deadline, I hope that there are a lot of teams still in it. There seems to be a lot of players that could be available but teams wouldn't trade if they have a chance to make it. By the deadline I would prefer for the Flames to be a lock for the playoffs and a dark hoarse team for the cup or be a team that is clearly selling.

[Da_Chief]

NFL and NHL are two totally different beasts.

Guaranteed contracts vs non-guaranteed - Allows more room. You can't just be ruthless to Raymond, LeCavalier, Clarkson etc cause you still have to pay them.

Maturity of player - You can cut players and find physically ready players who are ready to step in. Look at the David Jones thread, some here feel Agostino/Shore etc aren't ready. You look at Patriots, they bring in Lewis he gets hurt, in comes White and Blount gets hurt. Players off practise rosters can contribute.

Fans - NFL is a money making machine, they don't care about players. Fans will still show up. Half the NHL can't sellout even if the team is winning.

Need to win - GM/Coaches will get their pink slip a lot faster in the NFL then NHL. NHL allows more time.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Poe969

if the Flames fall out of playoff race by the deadline, I hope that there are a lot of teams still in it. There seems to be a lot of players that could be available but teams wouldn't trade if they have a chance to make it. By the deadline I would prefer for the Flames to be a lock for the playoffs and a dark hoarse team for the cup or be a team that is clearly selling.

I'd prefer this as well but if I was betting I'd say were neither.

[sureLoss]

Seeing lots of chatter now about how the senators are now willing to move Jared Cowen.

Good luck with that $3.1 million cap hit.

[bubbsy]

eklund stating preds and jackets talking about a johansen:

Hearing a few names including a top flight defenseman and a veteran forward could be soon heading to Columbus for Ryan Johansen.....

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklun...en--e4/1/73729

at least that would shutdown all the oiler hopes and prayers for getting one of the preds great young dmen.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Seeing lots of chatter now about how the senators are now willing to move Jared Cowen.

Good luck with that $3.1 million cap hit.

Is cowan really that bad at 3.1? I honestly have no idea.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Is cowan really that bad at 3.1? I honestly have no idea.

Yeah, it's pretty bloody awful.

His "Hockey IQ" is about as low as can be for an NHL defender.

[868904]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Yeah, it's pretty bloody awful.

His "Hockey IQ" is about as low as can be for an NHL defender.

How did he even get that contract? I always thought he'd be a good fit for the Flames despite his warts, seeing as how the Flames are quite mobile but lack size, but not at that price.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Ruthless is the future. Hockey is probably the deepest ingrained of the old boys, honor bound, do right by my people attitude but that type of sentimentality gets you nothing in a salary cap league.

I've been saying this for years but the model is the NFL where ruthlessness reigns. You simply don't have the room for sentimentality when you're governed by an uncompromising hard call in a zero sum league. Either you have players performing over or under the value of their contract and the teams with the best ratio of those players are the ones who contend.

Yeah I think Yzerman is simply ahead of the curve and when half the league is saddled with these boat anchor deals at the end of this decade that are paying players big dollars for past performance the Lightning could be sitting pretty.

[Badgers Nose]

I wonder if the Flames are in on Hayes with their RW woes. Might be worth buying low?

Old news, but seems like he is not making progress getting back into Alain's good books:

http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hoc...the-dog-house/

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

He won that trade. St. Louis was not a big factor for the Rangers in the post-season, and in the following season Callahan outscored him (in addition to providing top-notch grit and two-way play). Not to mention the 1st and two 2nds. And of course St. Louis is retired now.

Although that Callaghan extension now looks terrible. I'd rather have free cap space than that contract for a 30'ish player with "Intangibles".

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

I wonder if the Flames are in on Hayes with their RW woes. Might be worth buying low?

Old news, but seems like he is not making progress getting back into Alain's good books:

http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hoc...the-dog-house/

Treliving should be all over this.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Hackey

I don't have a good feeling about this years deadline. Seems like it might be a buyers market. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Solution... Be a buyer (just be sure to put "NO RENTALS!" and "NO TRADING FIRST ROUND PICKS!" signs on Trelivings office wall).

I mean when young controllable talent is rumored to be wanting out of (or unhappy with) their current situation (Drouin, Rychel, Haynes, Hamonic) then that's the kind of buying I can get behind. Sure it would suck if we couldn't get a standard payout on Hudler/Russell but there are opportunities to be had at the right price.