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Tavares

bustaheims said:
Nik the Trik said:
It's a side point but unless the Caps are super confident in Samsonov coming over and playing a big role right away I wouldn't be too eager to deal Grubauer after the year Holtby just had.
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The chatter seems to indicate they're pretty set on moving him. He's a year away from becoming a UFA, and will need a more expensive contract than they can afford to give someone they expect to be their backup.
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Still not what I'd do. Keep him until the deadline and move him if/when you're confident Holtby has a bounce back year.
 
Nik the Trik said:
Still not what I'd do. Keep him until the deadline and move him if/when you're confident Holtby has a bounce back year.
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Sure, but, really, Holtby's play doesn't really factor into to the decision much. With their cap situation, holding on to Grubauer means creating a hole in another area instead. He's made it known he wants to be a #1 somewhere. He's already proven he deserves that chance, and he's not going to sign a team-friendly deal to be an insurance policy for one season. With only ~$16M in cap space to sign their other RFAs and fill holes from UFAs they don't bring back, they really can't afford to sign him to the type of contract he'll be looking for.
 
Nik the Trik said:
It's a side point but unless the Caps are super confident in Samsonov coming over and playing a big role right away I wouldn't be too eager to deal Grubauer after the year Holtby just had.
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Further to what busta's said, I'd imagine Holtby's cup run probably eased their concerns in that regard.

But I wonder if they'd be interested in a veteran stop-gap backup for next season. Say, someone with a catchy, backup-related nickname?
 
bustaheims said:
Sure, but, really, Holtby's play doesn't really factor into to the decision much. With their cap situation, holding on to Grubauer means creating a hole in another area instead. He's made it known he wants to be a #1 somewhere. He's already proven he deserves that chance, and he's not going to sign a team-friendly deal to be an insurance policy for one season. With only ~$16M in cap space to sign their other RFAs and fill holes from UFAs they don't bring back, they really can't afford to sign him to the type of contract he'll be looking for.
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I think they've got enough leverage to sign him to a one year deal if they want. Nobody is going to throw a huge offer sheet at him and, if they do, the Caps would probably be happy to let them.

If he wants to be a #1 somewhere and nobody offersheets him, his best bet is to re-sign for effectively whatever Washington wants. Holding out won't do him any favours.
 
Nik the Trik said:
I think they've got enough leverage to sign him to a one year deal if they want. Nobody is going to throw a huge offer sheet at him and, if they do, the Caps would probably be happy to let them.

If he wants to be a #1 somewhere and nobody offersheets him, his best bet is to re-sign for effectively whatever Washington wants. Holding out won't do him any favours.
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Sure, but how often do players and teams stick to the strictly logical? It's also in the Caps' long-term interests to pick up value for him now instead of at the deadline. They could conceivably pry a 1st round pick from someone like Ottawa or Detroit (each have acquired a pick late in the round and need an upgrade in net), whereas they're unlikely to get near that value at the deadline. From an asset management perspective, they should trade him now and sign a reasonable backup as a free agent.
 
bustaheims said:
Sure, but how often do players and teams stick to the strictly logical? It's also in the Caps' long-term interests to pick up value for him now instead of at the deadline. They could conceivably pry a 1st round pick from someone like Ottawa or Detroit (each have acquired a pick late in the round and need an upgrade in net), whereas they're unlikely to get near that value at the deadline. From an asset management perspective, they should trade him now and sign a reasonable backup as a free agent.
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I disagree about what they might get for him at the deadline. It's a world where even 4th line C's get 2nd round picks. If he looks good next year and there's a team with goaltending concerns I think Washington could end up with something even better(a pick that might be mid-1st or a more NHL ready prospect).
 
Nik the Trik said:
I disagree about what they might get for him at the deadline. It's a world where even 4th line C's get 2nd round picks. If he looks good next year and there's a team with goaltending concerns I think Washington could end up with something even better(a pick that might be mid-1st or a more NHL ready prospect).
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Based on what goalies have gone for at recent deadlines compared to what they're gone for around the draft in that same period (UFA rights not included), I have to disagree.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Sharks just freed up $2.8333mil by buying out Paul Martin's contract.

Wonder what that cap space is for...
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Since Thornton is really on his last leg (literally), I bet they go after Tavares full-on.

Like $11m-$12m full on.
 
From Arthur Staple of The Athletic:

It?s believed at least three teams are assured of meetings with Tavares and his camp: The Leafs, Sharks, and Stars. The Lightning and Kings ? the latter a long-desired destination of Tavares if he were to leave the Isles ? could also get into the mix.
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This is assuming he doesn't re-sign with the Islanders in the next couple days.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
From Arthur Staple of The Athletic:

It?s believed at least three teams are assured of meetings with Tavares and his camp: The Leafs, Sharks, and Stars. The Lightning and Kings ? the latter a long-desired destination of Tavares if he were to leave the Isles ? could also get into the mix.
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This is assuming he doesn't re-sign with the Islanders in the next couple days.
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So we've narrowed it down to everyone who was ever rumoured to be in the running.

Minus the Habs.
 
Nik the Trik said:
So we've narrowed it down to everyone who was ever rumoured to be in the running.

Minus the Habs.
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I don't think we've heard Dallas or Tampa before. Not sure how the Lightning would make that work.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Nik the Trik said:
So we've narrowed it down to everyone who was ever rumoured to be in the running.

Minus the Habs.
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I don't think we've heard Dallas or Tampa before. Not sure how the Lightning would make that work.
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Also minus St. Louis (who is also out of the running for Kovalchuk, ha) and I think Detroit was also sitting, waiting, wishing.
 
I'm not sure how much this means but:

https://twitter.com/TheFourthPeriod/status/1010562607277924352
 
Nik the Trik said:
I'm not sure how much this means but:

https://twitter.com/TheFourthPeriod/status/1010562607277924352
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It means no signing with the Islanders before the week leading to free agency. That's about it.
 
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