Phoenix, Nashville, L.A., Vancouver and Calgary all seem to be showing early signs of trouble in the Western Conference! Meanwhile, Boston, Philly, Ottawa and Tampa are all surprisingly slow out of the gate in the East.
Dance anyone???
And-o would target Nashville! David Legwand, Scott Hartnell and Jordin Tootoo would pretty much fill the order (although they sure would cost dearly in return)!
Anyway...the point is...And-o can see many scenario's coming down the proverbial track where certain GM's might be willing to part ways with good centre's in exchange for draft picks...and/or younger prospects...and or maybe even aging super-stars (cough...Kovy...cough)!
I am with you And-o. Let's strike while the iron is hot! We can trade from a position of strength right now and I am sure there is a good pick-up to be had somewhere. I am not comfortable with our second line going forward mostly because we have too much of the same thing. We need a top-six with moxy and/or a a legit center so Pleks can play his two-way game on the 3rd-line.
My trading shortlist in order is: Kovy, Souray, Aebischer.
Then again, substitute Aeb for Theo and that was pretty much my list by Christmas last year...
Habtastic
P.S. Yes, I was one of the ones who had hoped for Theo instead of Garon to be traded. I was just never a big fan...
Get rid of Kovy, Huet/Aeibesher and Perezhogin and 1st rounder for Lecavalier. Eventually, the 7 mill will hurt TB with Richards getting 8 mill. Between the 3 guys we send back, we save 8 mill and TB gets deeper and better.
Surely, he could be had for the right price. TB won't win the cup again with this lineup so it might be time for them to install another 3 year plan.
Get rid of Kovy, Huet/Aeibesher and Perezhogin and 1st rounder for Lecavalier. Eventually, the 7 mill will hurt TB with Richards getting 8 mill. Between the 3 guys we send back, we save 8 mill and TB gets deeper and better.
Surely, he could be had for the right price. TB won't win the cup again with this lineup so it might be time for them to install another 3 year plan.
Just my thoughts...
Why would Tampa make this deal? If you combine Kovalev,Abeischer and Perez's salary they amount to virtually the same amount as Vinny's salary, so Tampa gets no cost savings. The best player in this deal is Vinny, and as Sam Pollock once said the team that gets the best player, wins the deal. Why would Tampa trade a franchise player for Kovalev, who at 33 is begining to enter the downside of his career, Abby a streaky type of goalie, and Perez who may or may not develop into a top tier player. If Tampa were to make this deal great....but does not seem very realisitic. Stranger things have happened, but can't see Feaster moving on this proposal.
Too early for Nashville and Ottawa....they are already starting to turn it around...they will be fine..
We need better offense...So trading with Vancity, Boston, and Calgary wouldn't yield much...who on those teams would be want..unless we picked up a Dman from Calgary to add to our depth...
As for Phoenix they could be a trading partner...but who's the power forward to pick up...I always like Nagy but he isn't the solution....Comrie or Reinprecht..no thanks.
Philly needs a more mobile defense unit..so maybe once we have everyone healthy they could be a partner...but who are they willing to give up that we would want...Richards or Carter..unlikely....the only one I could see working is Knuble.
Tampa could be an option. How about a Brad or Vinny which would be awesome...but who do they want...I think its too early for them to give up on Denis and they could use D-help...but I don't see the pieces being there for a trade.
What I could see working is picking up former hab Conroy from LA in exchange for a young forward and a goalie...to create a 1a 1b system with Cloutier..
But the reality is only time will tell...I still think it's too early to think trade.