sweetlou

Love the people that think trade proposals are brutal...remember NJ got Hall for Larsson?? WPG is up against the cap with a lot of RFA's to sign. Trouba does not want to play there and I think WPG wants to keep Copp, Laine, and Connor over Ehlers. By them getting Risto for Trouba it gives WPG a 2nd RD behind Byfuglien for the next couple of years at a cheaper salary then Trouba will get. Moving on from Ehlers who had a disappointing injury year for them in a reduced role with the emergence of Connor. Its not always a straight up trade that you have to look at. It is what the trade allows the team to do for other players.

I think Winnipeg may try to move Ehlers salary and keep Copp who is a center and would be about 3 million cheaper. Ehlers lost his place in the line up with the emergence of Connor who is probably looking at getting $5-6 million himself. I would be willing to throw in the late 1st rd pick to complete the trade. I still think Tampa may end up buying out Callahan because they will not find someone to take on his cap hit.

I would be for shortening the preseason to 4 games, and shortening the regular season by 8 games. Training camp would start at the beginning of October. You have one week of camp before two weeks of preseason games. Season would start around 20th of October. Teams would still have a "bye" week during January built around the All-Star game. No games three days before the All-Star game and no games until four days after. That way everyone including the All-Stars have a little break. Season would still end in beginning of April. The reduced schedule does two things. It cuts back on the back to back games and makes the pay for each game go up for players. This would also help potentially cut back on injuries and give coaches more practice time during the season. The salaries could remain relatively the same since they are now playing less games, owners could argue not increasing salaries because they would be losing revenue on lost ticket and concession sales. Where the owners would get the return on lost revenue is by maxing contracts at five years. I would also like to see contracts not guaranteed after the third year. I don't think it will ever happen, but I don't like how owners have to continue to pay for players who either start to suck or get injured half way through long contracts. Instead of buy-outs you can just cut the player. Players who get hurt have insurance, the team should not be on the hook.

Another idea I have been toying with is McCabe rights and Sheary to Tampa for Miller and Killorn. Would free up about 7 million for Tampa and they could sign McCabe for about 2.5 million. Sheary only having one year left doesn't hurt Tampa long term.

I have been mulling the idea in my head of Risto and Nylander for Ehlers and the rights to Trouba. I wonder if Winnipeg would ask Trouba what teams he was interested in and then do a sign and trade so he could sign for eight years. If they trade his rights then he can only sign for a max of seven years.

https://www.nhl.com/jets/video/year-end--trouba-tanev/t-277437442/c-67880303 Would love to see both these guys in Buffalo next year!!!

If I am trading with Tampa it is with the understanding that I may be helping an in division rival for the next few years and I am looking for a better return for the three to five year window. That being said I don't give them cap relief with Callahan but look for Tampa to buy him out and then Buffalo could sign him for a cheap one year 1 million dollar deal if they want his leadership. If you want Okposo as your 3rd line RW then Callahan slots in on the fourth line RW. I see this more of a probability then him being added to a trade. Tampa would still need cap relief and still would look to their younger players in exchange for Risto. I would still look to trade Risto out west, either Vancouver or Edmonton, but if I am looking at Tampa the deal would be... Risto, Thompson, and 2021 2nd rd pick for Miller, Killorn, and Foote.

updated poll to include number of years

Larry averaged 1.5 hits for the year. Yes he had some games where he would have 3 or 4 hits a game, but that means you have to have games where you don't have a single hit. I have never thought of Larry as a hitter. To me he is slow, some what responsible in his own end, and a 50% face off guy. On most teams he is in the minors. which is where he was before being traded to Buffalo. It is time to move on from him and get some better players!!

The more I look at Tanev, the more I think he should be on Botts radar. Undrafted college kid who played four years at Providence and then signed with Winnipeg. Has played three years and would be a great third line RW. Led Jets in hits and scored 14 goals. Projected to sign 3 year deal around $3 million.

sorry didn't realize I had comments turned off

Pick 2 forwards and 1 defenseman

I think there is space on this team for 3 of the following players...Girgensons, Wilson, ERod, Larsson, and Sobotka. They would fill the left side and center of the fourth line. I still have Okposo penciled in to the fourth line right wing. The other three battle it out each and every practice and games to see who sticks. You can rotate them in on back to back games. If a certain chemistry clicks with players then you ride that wave. I personally would like to see Wilson and Girgensons rotate on the left with ERod at center.

Valtteri Filppula is only UFA that fits the bill. Not sure I would sign him to a two year deal. Maybe one year at $2.5 Mil AAV. I've also wondered if Botts would ever consider signing a big name like Duchene, or Hayes with the possibility of moving Mitts to a top six wing?

Boucher, Smith, and Dineen

Watching O'Reilly's "great" defense on the tying goal was a thing of beauty!!

This whole off season has been a mess in my opinion. Have Sharks got the benefit in two game sevens that have helped them win series?? Of course they have. Boston has benefited as well. Kardi got suspended for rest of series against Boston. He deserved it but that definitely helped Boston. Chara and Marchand continue to get away with things without getting suspensions. MacAvoy finally got the one game he deserved.

Looking at major overhaul on team, and some more interesting off season move ideas... Sign our own RFA's- McCabe- 3yrs- $3M AAV ERod- 2yrs- $1.25M AAV Sign UFA's- Skinner- 6/7 yrs- $8M AAV Ferland- 4yrs- $4M AAV Tanev- 3yrs- $2.75M AAV Chairot- 2yrs- $2.5M AAV Trades- Nylander and Sheary to Pittsburgh for Kessel and DeSmith. Thompson and Ullmark to Vegas for rights to RFA William Karlsson. Sign RFA Karlsson to 6yr, $6.5M AAV contract. Okposo and Risto to Edmonton for Lucic, Benning, and 2020 3rd rd pick. Scandella to Montreal for 2020 6th rd pick. Sobotka to Ottawa for 2020 6th rd pick, or buyout or KHL. Offer sheet Kasperi Kapanen of Toronto a 3yr $4M AAV. Would cost Sabres 2020 2nd rd pick in compensation. New line up- Forwards- Olofsson- Eichel- Kessel Skinner- Karlsson- Reinhart Ferland- Mitts- Kapanen Lucic- ERod- Tanev extras- Wilson, Routsalainen Defense- Dahlin-Montour McCabe- Bogo Chairot- Benning extra- Pilut, Nelson Goalies- Hutton DeSmith

So Sharks play in two game sevens and get calls in both games that help them win series??? Looking forward to a Sharks- Bruins finals...would be nice to see Joe win won against his old team!!

What is wrong with title??

I'd actually prefer Kapanen, but thought Toronto more willing to give up on Kadri.

So Buffalo and Toronto are looking for shake ups after yet another disappointing season. Buffalo needs a shakeup and identity. Toronto needs a shakeup and cap relief. Each team has a player that I think would be interesting to package together and send to a Canadian team out West. Enter Vancouver. They have cap space and a young Swedish center in Elias Peterson. Vancouver so loved their Sweedish Sedin twins so why not give them the Sweedish Nylander brothers. How it shakes up in a three way trade. Vancouver gets William Nylander from Toronto. Vancouver gets Alex Nylander and Rasmus Ristolainen from Buffalo. Toronto gets 1st rd #10 2019 pick and Marcus Granlund from Vancouver. Cap space. Buffalo gets Jake Virtanen and Troy Stecher from Vancouver. Buffalo gets Nazem Kadri from Toronto. How trade looks for each team. Toronto trades Nazem Kadri and William Nylander for #10 first rd pick and Marcus Granlund. (This gives them 3rd line center, a first rd pick and cap space) Vancouver trades Marcus Granlund, Jake Virtanen, Troy Stecher, #10 2019 pick and for William Nylander, Alex Nylander, and Rasmus Ristolainen. (This gives them 2 more young talented wingers and a #2RD) Buffalo trades Alex Nylander and Rasmus Ristolainen for Nazem Kadri, Jake Virtanen, and Troy Stecher. (Gives Sabres young but veteran 2nd line center. Also physical winger who can score) I know its another one of my trade specialties, thoughts????

As someone stated in another thread, I do like Filppula for third line center as I like the idea of putting Mitts on a top six wing and still acquiring a second line center for long term. Colin Wilson would be another guy I would sign for a couple of years to be third line center. Still eyeing Duchene, Hayes, or trade for William Karlsson to center second line.

I think JBotts getting the right players in here this off season is almost more important then who the coach is. If you look at teams the last five years, coaches can only coach players that are good enough to play any system. Bad coaches make players look bad. Good coaches make mediocre players play better. Its still ultimately up to the players how hard they want to play. Having the right style of players that play hard every shift is more important than a skilled player who shows up once every 5th shift and goes in streaks as far as scoring. Would I rather have Sheary with his speed and tenacity, or Reinhart and his I play for me attitude? Would I rather have ERod and his effort, or Larsson/Sobotka who have mental lapses on defensive assignments and always seem to be moving in slow motion? I think players like William Karlsson, Kasperi Kapanen, and Michael Ferland top my list for this off season.

Because they only have about 12 million to hit expected cap of 83 million and they still need to sign Marner, Johnson, two more forwards and two defenseman. They won't have enough money to go around unless they unload Marleau (unlikely), or Kadri, (possible).