Sami Vatanen

[Kin]

So in the Ducks/Preds series thread herman and I got talking a little bit about how the Ducks will deal with their situation going forward. He was looking at it from a "what can they do to give their current core one last shot at it" perspective whereas I was looking at it from a "they are going to look at blowing things up/cutting costs" standpoint but we both sort of landed on the same spot. They are very likely to have to deal one of their young RFA defensemen and Vatanen is the likely candidate.

Anaheim has good young D prospects in the system and other areas of cost cutting either would represent wholesale changes(One or both of Getzlaf/Perry) or are unlikely(I don't see anyone trading for Kesler or Bieksa's lousy contracts)

So assuming for a second that I'm right and that Vatanen is on the block and that Anaheim can't take back money for him...what would you guys be willing to part with for a 24 year old defenseman coming off two pretty excellent seasons who you'd have to pay some real money to?

Pittsburgh's pick, Kapanen and one of our future seconds?
   

 

[Tigger]

I can't help but think there's something going on with the assumption, wouldn't moving say Cogliano and Stoner make more sense? ( not that it would be easy mind you )

Going with the assumption, have to think Sami might be worth a little more than that, depending on his contract ask and Pitt's final position, if they go far it'll be close to the Leafs second. That said, I'm not super high on him and might need to give it a little more thought.

 

[Kin]

I can't help but think there's something going on with the assumption, wouldn't moving say Cogliano and Stoner make more sense? ( not that it would be easy mind you )

Yes and no. Remember, this is operating under the assumption that they want to stay relatively competitive while also cutting payroll. They have a ton of guys to sign, guys who will command big contracts(Lindholm, Andersson) and they have almost 25 million tied up just in Kesler/Getzlaf/Perry. When all is said and done they might have almost 40 million tied up in just 5 players. Trading Vatanen might be the start of their cap management, not the end point. 

So the thinking behind the assumption is that dealing Vatanen works from a financial standpoint but also from a need standpoint. Anaheim has drafted 4 defensemen in the top 2 rounds in the last three drafts. So the thinking is that if Vatanen comes out, they just plug Shea Theodore in. If Cogliano comes out, they have to go looking for another guy to take his place.   

Going with the assumption, have to think Sami might be worth a little more than that, depending on his contract ask and Pitt's final position, if they go far it'll be close to the Leafs second. That said, I'm not super high on him and might need to give it a little more thought.

Fair enough. There definitely isn't a blue chipper in the bunch but that offer would essentially be two low firsts and a second. That's not a bad haul. 

 

[herman]

Would an alternative to not taking on money be dumping more salary? Not that I want to take salary back now...

 

[McGarnagle]

Judging by the tone of Murray's post season interviews, I got the sense that he was looking to get one of his big NTC players to waive.

 

[Kin]

Would an alternative to not taking on money be dumping more salary? Not that I want to take salary back now...

I think the problem with that is that the Ducks don't have a lot of contracts that are both so bad that they would want to get rid of them like that but aren't bad enough to make us reconsider the whole thing. So, like, I wouldn't take back Bieksa or Kesler but I don't think Stoner/Cogliano help the problem. Likewise, I think Anaheim would genuinely want to get some good stuff back.

I just think that the Leafs, who are now pretty rich in low firsts/second rounders/guys like Kapanen that an interesting offer could be put together without really hurting prospect depth. 

 

[herman]

Would an alternative to not taking on money be dumping more salary? Not that I want to take salary back now...

I think the problem with that is that the Ducks don't have a lot of contracts that are both so bad that they would want to get rid of them like that but aren't bad enough to make us reconsider the whole thing. So, like, I wouldn't take back Bieksa or Kesler but I don't think Stoner/Cogliano help the problem. Likewise, I think Anaheim would genuinely want to get some good stuff back.

I just think that the Leafs, who are now pretty rich in low firsts/second rounders/guys like Kapanen that an interesting offer could be put together without really hurting prospect depth.

I agree with that read. I could see them taking someone a bit more immediate than (or in addition to) Kapanen (and the picks) on the lower cost range. Leivo?

 

[Kin]

I agree with that read. I could see them taking someone a bit more immediate than (or in addition to) Kapanen (and the picks) on the lower cost range. Leivo?

I think they'd probably be looking a little higher end than that. Hyman/Leipsic/Sosh seems more likely. 

 

[Tigger]

You could probably live with Leipsic, and if he can play, it might give them an opportunity to move a Cogliano down the line.

 

[herman]

I agree with that read. I could see them taking someone a bit more immediate than (or in addition to) Kapanen (and the picks) on the lower cost range. Leivo?

I think they'd probably be looking a little higher end than that. Hyman/Leipsic/Sosh seems more likely. 

We do have a rather large handful of energy scoring wingers, don't we? I think Soshnikov is the one I'd most like to keep, and wouldn't be too broken up parting with Hyman or Leipsic (or even Lindberg, but I'm more hesitant as he's a power+finesse winger).

 

[Al14]

I agree with that read. I could see them taking someone a bit more immediate than (or in addition to) Kapanen (and the picks) on the lower cost range. Leivo?

I think they'd probably be looking a little higher end than that. Hyman/Leipsic/Sosh seems more likely. 

We do have a rather large handful of energy scoring wingers, don't we? I think Soshnikov is the one I'd most like to keep, and wouldn't be too broken up parting with Hyman or Leipsic (or even Lindberg, but I'm more hesitant as he's a power+finesse winger).

If Soshnikov continues his upbeat play early next season, I'm all for keeping him too.

 

[Highlander]

Sosh is the real deal,  we need to keep him.

 

[Kin]

Great. Highlander and Al will get to work on trades where the Leafs don't give up anyone good and get really good players in return.

 

[Highlander]

Its my specialty, thanks for the recognition. LOL

 

[rdowdall]

Great. Highlander and Al will get to work on trades where the Leafs don't give up anyone good and get really good players in return.

So deals with Vancouver and Colorado then?

 

[Highlander]

Ok we trade the CN tower for one big Rocky Mountain, that would look great beside the Lake.  Vancouver not so sure perhaps, we get the Sedins for Bismark Biyombo (sorry for spelling)

 

[Al14]

Ok we trade the CN tower for one big Rocky Mountain, that would look great beside the Lake.  Vancouver not so sure perhaps, we get the Sedins for Bismark Biyombo (sorry for spelling)

Let's just pass on the Sedin sisters.  :-\

 

[Kin]

Ok we trade the CN tower for one big Rocky Mountain, that would look great beside the Lake.  Vancouver not so sure perhaps, we get the Sedins for Bismark Biyombo (sorry for spelling)

Let's just pass on the Sedin sisters.  :-\

LOL! Because those two gold-medal winning future HOFers are like women! LOL!

 

[Al14]

Ok we trade the CN tower for one big Rocky Mountain, that would look great beside the Lake.  Vancouver not so sure perhaps, we get the Sedins for Bismark Biyombo (sorry for spelling)

Let's just pass on the Sedin sisters.  :-\

LOL! Because those two gold-medal winning future HOFers are like women! LOL!

Even if they were rough and tough real Canadian men, they're too long in the tooth now, and, closer to staring on their retirement home shuffleboard team!

What have they really accomplished in the NHL to make the HHOF?  Bloody heck, even Paul Henderson isn't in the HHOF, and he deserves it more than either of the gold medal winning Sedins.

 

[Andy007]

Ok we trade the CN tower for one big Rocky Mountain, that would look great beside the Lake.  Vancouver not so sure perhaps, we get the Sedins for Bismark Biyombo (sorry for spelling)

Let's just pass on the Sedin sisters.  :-\

LOL! Because those two gold-medal winning future HOFers are like women! LOL!

Even if they were rough and tough real Canadian men, they're too long in the tooth now, and, closer to staring on their retirement home shuffleboard team!

What have they really accomplished in the NHL to make the HHOF?  Bloody heck, even Paul Henderson isn't in the HHOF, and he deserves it more than either of the gold medal winning Sedins.

So logically they should be described as women, and that that classification should be, in some way, insulting?