The Official 2011/2012 Armchair GM thread

[Kin]

Ok, so Columbus sucks, will likely continue to suck, are right near the cap and are drawing no one to their games. 

You know where I am going with this

I should point out that I do not think they will blow it up (certainly not 5 games into the season after having just acquired Carter/Wisniewski) but ANY chance that sometime in the not too distant future they say 'to hell with it, let's blow this thing up' and deal Nash?  Probably not eh?

I doubt it. The only way I could see it is if the current owners want to sell the team and find local owners. Then they might want to cut payroll significantly.

Of course, that doesn't mean they'd trade Nash for a discount.

 

[Erndog]

Ok, so Columbus sucks, will likely continue to suck, are right near the cap and are drawing no one to their games. 

You know where I am going with this

I should point out that I do not think they will blow it up (certainly not 5 games into the season after having just acquired Carter/Wisniewski) but ANY chance that sometime in the not too distant future they say 'to hell with it, let's blow this thing up' and deal Nash?  Probably not eh?

I doubt it. The only way I could see it is if the current owners want to sell the team and find local owners. Then they might want to cut payroll significantly.

Of course, that doesn't mean they'd trade Nash for a discount.

Yeah.  I definitely think they are still too early in the 'Look, we have 2 shiny new toys!  Let's see how we do with both of them in the lineup!' phase.  So I don't think it would happen anytime soon. 

I do think, though, that if middle of next year they are still a basement team they may go the way of the Sens and try and clean house.  Still, having said that, the Sens kept Spezza, so I would imagine Columbus would want to keep Nash.  He's the only face of the franchise and it could be an even bigger disaster among the community if they dealt him.

 

[Erndog]

I've beaten this drum before but I would take a serious run at Jason Spezza.

He's got a reasonable contract (including this year, 4 years at $7M) so we wouldn't be married to the guy real long-term like some of those 10+ year contracts we see.  He's on a terrible team and still pretty much a point-per-game player.  I don't think 30 goals and 50 assists playing alongside Kessel is an unreasonable target.

He's 28 years old so he fits right in to what we are doing here.  He's from Toronto.  He's really rounded out his game a lot the last few years.  He's probably the only #1 center who might be available in the next 2 years (taking into consideration that his team is terrible and rebuilding and may actually move him unlike so many other potential centers out there).

I really think he would fit in very well with our forwards and, like I said, is probably one of the only legitimate #1 center options out there for the forseable future.  I know I'm going to read some "pass" and "I'll puke if Spezza is a Sen" comments but putting aside my feelings for the Sens he would certainly be a nice addition and fill a huge hole we have.

Murray liked Kadri at the draft.  They desparately need young forwards.  Colborne may make some sense for them as well...

Just tossin' out some ideas here.

 

[maplesyrup]

I've beaten this drum before but I would take a serious run at Jason Spezza.

He's got a reasonable contract (including this year, 4 years at $7M) so we wouldn't be married to the guy real long-term like some of those 10+ year contracts we see.  He's on a terrible team and still pretty much a point-per-game player.  I don't think 30 goals and 50 assists playing alongside Kessel is an unreasonable target.

He's 28 years old so he fits right in to what we are doing here.  He's from Toronto.  He's really rounded out his game a lot the last few years.  He's probably the only #1 center who might be available in the next 2 years (taking into consideration that his team is terrible and rebuilding and may actually move him unlike so many other potential centers out there).

I really think he would fit in very well with our forwards and, like I said, is probably one of the only legitimate #1 center options out there for the forseable future.  I know I'm going to read some "pass" and "I'll puke if Spezza is a Sen" comments but putting aside my feelings for the Sens he would certainly be a nice addition and fill a huge hole we have.

Murray liked Kadri at the draft.  They desparately need young forwards.  Colborne may make some sense for them as well...

Just tossin' out some ideas here.

I'm down given the right price but I'm curious how we'd fit him under the cap. CONNOLLY! * shakes fist *

 

[Erndog]

I've beaten this drum before but I would take a serious run at Jason Spezza.

He's got a reasonable contract (including this year, 4 years at $7M) so we wouldn't be married to the guy real long-term like some of those 10+ year contracts we see.  He's on a terrible team and still pretty much a point-per-game player.  I don't think 30 goals and 50 assists playing alongside Kessel is an unreasonable target.

He's 28 years old so he fits right in to what we are doing here.  He's from Toronto.  He's really rounded out his game a lot the last few years.  He's probably the only #1 center who might be available in the next 2 years (taking into consideration that his team is terrible and rebuilding and may actually move him unlike so many other potential centers out there).

I really think he would fit in very well with our forwards and, like I said, is probably one of the only legitimate #1 center options out there for the forseable future.  I know I'm going to read some "pass" and "I'll puke if Spezza is a Sen" comments but putting aside my feelings for the Sens he would certainly be a nice addition and fill a huge hole we have.

Murray liked Kadri at the draft.  They desparately need young forwards.  Colborne may make some sense for them as well...

Just tossin' out some ideas here.

I'm down given the right price but I'm curious how we'd fit him under the cap. CONNOLLY! * shakes fist *

Maybe something like a Phaneuf deal?  4 for 2?  They can give us something back they don't want (either to shed salary, or whatever).

They liked Kadri right?  Colborne is a big center who may be close to NHL ready.  Or perhaps Frattin?  They would need some salary back and a player who can step right in so maybe... ummm... Lombardi?  Auld looks finished so maybe an upgrade there?

Kadri + Colborne + Lombardi + (pick?  Mckegg?  Ross?  Gustavsson/Scrivens?  Gardiner/Blacker?).  They'd probably want a 1st.

for

Spezza + throw in



Lupul-Spezza-Kessel
Kulemin-Grabovski-MacArthur
Frattin-Bozak-Armstrong
Dupuis-Steckal-Brown

Still have Connolly to fit in when healthy. 

We finally have depth.  Almost too much (even after this trade).  Might as well package 2-3 for an upgrade somewhere.

 

[maplesyrup]

I'm not sure we can fit that under the cap right now... Maybe if Connolly stays on the IR for quite some time longer and your proposed deal happens much later in the year?

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I'm not sure we can fit that under the cap right now... Maybe if Connolly stays on the IR for quite some time longer and your proposed deal happens much later in the year?

Why not trade Connolly to the turds in that deal? Maybe they would take Komisarek, as the last two years of his deal are less money coming out. I think Burke could be more creative with that deal.

I also wouldn't give both Kadri and Colborne. I'd give up one, plus a prospect and a high pick, but that's it, because we'd be taking the other contract that they don't want as well and would have to deal with it, before we could fit Spezza under the cap ourselves.

 

[Erndog]

I'm not sure we can fit that under the cap right now... Maybe if Connolly stays on the IR for quite some time longer and your proposed deal happens much later in the year?

Yeah.  Might be tight.

Kadri is $1.72M and Lombardi is $3.5M.  Spezza is $7M.  Difference is about $1.8M.

I think we have some injury relief with Connolly.  And we could always do something with Rosehill (who is sitting eating up cap space).

I think it can jive sooner rather then later.  Plus I don't think they would deal Spezza two weeks into the season regardless how bad things look right now.

 

[Erndog]

I also wouldn't give both Kadri and Colborne. I'd give up one, plus a prospect and a high pick, but that's it, because we'd be taking the other contract that they don't want as well and would have to deal with it, before we could fit Spezza under the cap ourselves.

Colborne is a prospect though.  They are going to want a highly touted prospect.  Not some random.

We don't really have that blue chip A+ prospect (like Brayden Schenn was or Columbus' 8th overall was).  Kadri and Colborne look more like B+ prospects so we may have to include both to make it enticing.

Either way, like you said, Burke can get creative here.  I think the pieces to make this work for both sides are there it's just a matter of Ottawa actually wanting to deal/help us (I have no doubts Burke would be interested in dealing with them for Spezza).

 

[maplesyrup]

Later in the year (once cap space becomes available)... Grabo + Kadri + a conditional pick for Spezza and a conditional pick. If the turds lose Grabs we surrender the pick. If the re-sign him, they surrender the pick.... Or something like that.

Edit: Though I think we'd have to sweeten the pot ever so slightly still. - Another prospect or depth roster player maybe?

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Colborne is a prospect though.  They are going to want a highly touted prospect.  Not some random.

We don't really have that blue chip A+ prospect (like Brayden Schenn was or Columbus' 8th overall was).  Kadri and Colborne look more like B+ prospects so we may have to include both to make it enticing.

Either way, like you said, Burke can get creative here.  I think the pieces to make this work for both sides are there it's just a matter of Ottawa actually wanting to deal/help us (I have no doubts Burke would be interested in dealing with them for Spezza).

I realize he's a prospect, so is Kadri quite frankly. I just see giving up both is a hit to our system. Blacker, McKegg, Mikus, Holzer, D'Amigo and a few others are also prospects that Burke can work into any deal. I also realize that Burke is going to have to add some quality to land a player like Spezza, but I don't think two of them should be from the same position.

I really think a defenseman has to go in any trade, so that takes one guy out, to promote Aulie to the big club, or simply to let Franson play ever night. I also think that Connolly will become a bit of a problem up top if we acquire Spezza, as Connolly makes too much money to play anywhere else other than the top line IMO.

They're still going to have to fill their top line center position with another also, as the rest of the season still has to be played. So something like this is what I was thinking.

To Toronto: Spezza, Kuba

To Ottawa: Connolly, Komisarek, Kadri, McKegg and a 1st 2012

I just threw that out, I'm not sure it could even come close, but it is just an example of what I'm talking about

 

[Corn Flake]

I'm not sure we can fit that under the cap right now... Maybe if Connolly stays on the IR for quite some time longer and your proposed deal happens much later in the year?

Why not trade Connolly to the turds in that deal? Maybe they would take Komisarek, as the last two years of his deal are less money coming out. I think Burke could be more creative with that deal.

I also wouldn't give both Kadri and Colborne. I'd give up one, plus a prospect and a high pick, but that's it, because we'd be taking the other contract that they don't want as well and would have to deal with it, before we could fit Spezza under the cap ourselves.

My thoughts about Spezza aside, thats probably how it has to be done... either Connolly or Komisarek has to go in that trade for sure, plus a 3rd player. 

Kadri, Komi/Connolly + body for Spezza + something.

Sens would have cap floor issues as much as the Leafs would have cap ceiling issues if they money wasn't almost balanced in the trade.

 

[AvroArrow]

If we went this way, I'd prefer something like Corn Flake's deal.  I'm not a big fan of moving Colborne in this deal, but I'd have no problems moving Kadri.

 

[maplesyrup]

If we went this way, I'd prefer something like Corn Flake's deal.  I'm not a big fan of moving Colborne in this deal, but I'd have no problems moving Kadri.

The problem with any deal involving Komi is his NTC. That's why personally I chose to propose a deal that doesn't.

 

[Corn Flake]

If we went this way, I'd prefer something like Corn Flake's deal.  I'm not a big fan of moving Colborne in this deal, but I'd have no problems moving Kadri.

The problem with any deal involving Komi is his NTC. That's why personally I chose to propose a deal that doesn't.

He has a 10 team no-trade list though, right? Sens would have to be on that list for it to be an issue.

 

[maplesyrup]

If we went this way, I'd prefer something like Corn Flake's deal.  I'm not a big fan of moving Colborne in this deal, but I'd have no problems moving Kadri.

The problem with any deal involving Komi is his NTC. That's why personally I chose to propose a deal that doesn't.

He has a 10 team no-trade list though, right? Sens would have to be on that list for it to be an issue.

... and they may be.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'd try to dangle Franson in the trade here. Can't see why Ottawa would be interested in Komi with a few overpaid and underperforming veteran defencemen already. I like Franson and haven't soured on him at all, but in a trade like this he could be an important piece.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I'd try to dangle Franson in the trade here. Can't see why Ottawa would be interested in Komi with a few overpaid and underperforming veteran defencemen already. I like Franson and haven't soured on him at all, but in a trade like this he could be an important piece.

I wouldn't be opposed to that, as if we trade a defenseman, I think it has to be a right-side playing D', rather than one that plays the left, just to make things work better for us.

 

[Corn Flake]

I'd try to dangle Franson in the trade here. Can't see why Ottawa would be interested in Komi with a few overpaid and underperforming veteran defencemen already. I like Franson and haven't soured on him at all, but in a trade like this he could be an important piece.

I think they would take Connolly over Komi as well, but I threw his name in as a contract option in that something significant has to go back their way. Kadri is the key value in the trade though - whichever of the two pieces I suggested is really there for cap balance. 

Franson... possible he could be moved in something. Quickly seems to be the odd man out on defense.  Still should have piles of value.  Would be difficult to part with both Kadri and Franson in one trade.  Plus I don't think Burke would need to.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm just thinking out loud here, but...

Spezza and Kuba for Kadri, Bozak, Franson, and a first.

It's quality for quantity, but Kadri, Franson, and the 1st are all decent value. And Bozak can help replace what Kelly brought to the table before they dealt him, or be a stop-gap top-6 centre for them.

No idea how this works cap-wise as I haven't checked, but I'd imagine it will be very tight and other moves might be necessary. Maybe put Mac in too. Ottawa could definitely use some help on the wings. Kuba would likely be waived unless it's not necessary to get under the cap.