Other than Stamkos, which FA forward do you want?

[krsmith17 7,191]

Sorry forgot the ninja ... I was being slightly sarcastic in that proposed trade, but I thought it might have been obvious with my "massive potential" to go along with the fact that I've said numerous times how I don't see Marchenko as anything more than a 3rd pairing shut-down defender. So no, I don't think he would get us Nugent-Hopkins...

[poel 28]

There's no one I disagree with more when it comes to player analysis than poel... Smith sucks, Helm sucks, Nyquist sucks, Tatar sucks, and now Brad Richards is a better option than David Backes? LOL

If you don't like Backes, you don't have to want him here, but please don't say that Richards is a better player, because it couldn't be further from the truth. Backes is better in every facet of the game. Backes will put up 40-50 points, while Richards will put 20-30 points... Backes is younger, bigger, faster, shoots right, better at faceoffs, hits more, blocks more shots, icorsi, ifenwick, etc, etc... Backes >>>>> Richards, and it's not close...

I didn't say that. I said that I rather keep Richards than to sign Backes.

Richards may not be the better player but he'll be cheaper and has the better hands. We need skilled possession players and Backes is the exact opposite of it. He wouldn't help us in our situation and is gonna get overpaid. Just remember that we have to replace Datsyuk and even though we all know that that's not possible we still need a similar type of Center. Richards comes closer to what we need than Backes, is cheaper and already knows the system. And no, that doesn't automatically make Richards the better player even if you for some interesting reasons want to see me to write exactly that.

[krsmith17 7,191]

No, we do not need the player that is closest to style of play as Datsyuk, we need the player that is closest to a number one center. Richards isn't close to that anymore, and while Backes may not be considered a bonafied number one center anymore, he's the best available and still a much better option than Richards. Money isn't an issue, I'd prefer to pay Backes $6M rather than Richards at $3M again. Now term is a completely different story and like I said, I wouldn't want Backes at anything long term, but if we can get him for a 2-3 year contract, no matter what we're paying him, he's a massive upgrade over Richards...

[poel 28]

Agreed.

For a guy who never hit the 30 goal mark - what he could ask for is insane.

The Leafs can have him.

To those who want Okposo: He's looking at a contract of at least 7 million according to sources and there are rumors that with Stamkos gone that could balloon to near 8, as a lot of teams need to answer scoring concerns. He's got a skill set that has been shown to potentially age like milk and wants a massive contract, well beyond his worth. This could be David Clarkson level bad contract before it's over.

Okposo brings so much more than just scoring. To compare him to Clarkson who has 0 skills is really crazy. Okposo primarily is powerforward who besides that is a puck hog. 7 millions might just be a bit too steep for him but I'd like to have him for 6.

No, we do not need the player that is closest to style of play as Datsyuk, we need the player that is closest to a number one center. Richards isn't close to that anymore, and while Backes may not be considered a bonafied number one center anymore, he's the best available and still a much better option than Richards. Money isn't an issue, I'd prefer to pay Backes $6M rather than Richards at $3M again. Now term is a completely different story and like I said, I wouldn't want Backes at anything long term, but if we can get him for a 2-3 year contract, no matter what we're paying him, he's a massive upgrade over Richards...

Backes is far away from being a number 1 center and the best FA available. Staal is the only one who might play another year or two like a nr1 Center.

I'm also pretty sure that Shipachev will be far better than Backes.

And yes...we need a Datsyuk-style of player. We hardly ever had the puck, were one of the worst possession teams. And we just lost our best possession player. While I think that possession is overrated you still cannot win games if you're chasing the puck all season long. Surely not with our defense.

Edited June 30, 2016 by poel

[amato 3,210]

Sorry forgot the ninja ... I was being slightly sarcastic in that proposed trade, but I thought it might have been obvious with my "massive potential" to go along with the fact that I've said numerous times how I don't see Marchenko as anything more than a 3rd pairing shut-down defender. So no, I don't think he would get us Nugent-Hopkins...

I figured as much.. I was less taking your suggestion seriously and more trying to state Larssons porential. While I do agree the oilers overpayed (you have to for top d men), I think Larsson is being underrated by most of the hockey world.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

There isn't a #1 center left. Staal might not be a #2 even, he's fallen off quite a bit. Backes is better, but if won't sign for under five years, Staal at one year might be the better option. Richards is just bad.

[kliq 3,763]

Something isn't right here. Firstly you don't want stupid contracts but then you talk about signing Backes or even Nielsen longterm. Really hoping that Holland learned from mistakes like Legwand, Weiss or partly Richards. I'd rather have Richards back than to sign Nielsen or Backes even short term. They wouldn't help us at all but we'd have to overpay to get them.

What's wrong is a misplaced comma. I didnt mean "I would rather go with the kids, then sign a guy like Frans Nielsen to a long term deal. I meant "I would rather go with the kids than sign a guy like Frans Nielsen to a long term deal".

For the record, I do NOT want to sign Nielson.

As for Backes, I said I would be open to having him on a short term deal. But I dont think that will be an option because there is always a team out there that overpays.

Edited June 30, 2016 by kliq

[BobL 28]

I've more or less felt it was Stamkos, or bust.

Granted there are some decent ufa forwards available, but none of them will be the franchise guy that we need.

Which might be a good argument for Staal for a short contract... then hope something better is available when his contract ends. I don't know what UFAs there might be the next couple years, so I don't know who that is, but... just thinkin'.

[krsmith17 7,191]

poel, seriously stop talking out of your a** and just making up s***. We were not even close to being "one of the worst possession teams". We actually had the puck more than most teams in the entire league, ranked 8th at 51.7% corsi... Let me guess, that's another stat that is inaccurate because your eyeball test says so?... We do not have to / can not replicate what we had in Datsyuk, and Backes is the best option at center available via free agency. Like I said, he's not a bonafide number one anymore but he is certainly a borderline number one, and definitely a better option than a 20 year old Larkin, who has played in a limited center role last season, or Zetterberg who should be playing limited minutes to get the most out of him for a full season...

[Rivalred 630]

Of we can sign offense and get bigger up front, go for it

[LeftWinger 5,067]

i've heard subtle rumours about nugent hopkins and the wings.....i have no clue what it would take to get him or if we have nearly enough assets to get it done

You would think, realistically, that if Larsson got you Hall, Marchenko would get you RNH.

[BobL 28]

You would think, realistically, that if Larsson got you Hall, Marchenko would get you RNH.

Trade 'em E.

[poel 28]

poel, seriously stop talking out of your a** and just making up s***. We were not even close to being "one of the worst possession teams". We actually had the puck more than most teams in the entire league, ranked 8th at 51.7% corsi... Let me guess, that's another stat that is inaccurate because your eyeball test says so?... We do not have to / can not replicate what we had in Datsyuk, and Backes is the best option at center available via free agency. Like I said, he's not a bonafide number one anymore but he is certainly a borderline number one, and definitely a better option than a 20 year old Larkin, who has played in a limited center role last season, or Zetterberg who should be playing limited minutes to get the most out of him for a full season...

I'm not into this advanced thing and could be wrong...but isn't corsi just about the shots? Doesn't have a lot to do with possession numbers then. I hope that you don't wanna disagree with me that Datsyuk was our puck hog...nobody on our team can hold the puck like him...not even Zetterberg. Probably they all never will be able to do what he did. Not even Larkin.

Backes only played 2nd or even 3rd line last season. What exactly makes you think that he could be a 1st line Center let alone be better than Zetterberg?

I say get Staal short term or sign Shipachev. Otherwise trade for a true top6 Center. Still think Hanzal would be ideal.

Edited June 30, 2016 by poel

[Jacksoni 418]

I'm not into this advanced thing and could be wrong...but isn't corsi just about the shots? Doesn't have a lot to do with possession numbers then. I hope that you don't wanna disagree with me that Datsyuk was our puck hog...nobody on our team can hold the puck like him...not even Zetterberg. Probably they all never will be able to do what he did. Not even Larkin.

Backes only played 2nd or even 3rd line last season. What exactly makes you think that he could be a 1st line Center let alone be better than Zetterberg?

I say get Staal short term or sign Shipachev. Otherwise trade for a true top6 Center. Still think Hanzal would be ideal.

Noone projected in our lineup is even close to having the puck control that Pavel Datsyuk has/had. That goes for almost all other teams in the NHL. He is generational in that regard.

Backes did play 2C/3C as you mentioned last season. But we are in dire straits. He could be pushed in a 1C role for a year or two, I believe. He's skilled enough to share the workload for some solution with Zetterberg and probably the other center being Riley Sheahan.

[marcaractac 3,963]

Backes and Okposo/Brouwer. Give the team some big bodies that show up in the playoffs. They bring an element that will allow guys like Goose and Tats to do their thing.

If all else fails and the above go elsewhere, if Staal can be had for a year or 2, do it. Give depth down the middle while Larkin and AA grow into their roles as top 2 NHL centers. Hank needs to play on the wing. Period.

[marcaractac 3,963]

Loui Eriksson the best fit at Center for the Wings now that Stamkos is not available?

He's a winger

[krsmith17 7,191]

Backes was only listed as a 2nd / 3rd line center / winger because Hitch likes to have a balanced top 9. Stastny is the only center that I would consider better than Backes right now, and he's also way better than anything we have right now. Backes was 2nd only to Steen in average time on ice per game. While he wouldn't light the league on fire, he can definitely handle 1st line center, and would be an upgrade over anything we have at the moment...

Zetterberg may be the better player at the age of 36, but that's even debatable. Regardless, Hank should be getting reduced minutes to keep him fresh and shouldn't be anywhere near that number one spot, or else he'll be burnt out by Christmas... again... Larkin isn't ready for the number one spot yet, and could use a year or two as our number two center to prepare himself to take over that position in the near future...

[matt198913 932]

We need a center

[NerveDamage 4,176]

We need a center

and a top D

[VM1138 1,921]

You don't know that and you can't dismiss someone of his caliber over two bad seasons on a terrible team that he was probably sick of. I'm not saying Staal is my dream signing, but we desperately need centers, true centers. There are very few that can put up the possible points that he can. You're looking at Staal who has scored 40+ goals twice, 30 goals three times, 20 goals four times, and had 18 in the lockout season. He's only had less than 30 assists in 2 seasons (his rookie year and last season). He'll be 32 at the start of the season and I believe still has plenty to prove. I'm not saying he's guaranteed, but there are worse options, and if it's a 3 year or less deal for around 5 million or less, why not? I'd rather take a risk on him over Nielsen. Nielsen has pretty much shown his ceiling (right around 50 points). I'm personally between Staal and Backes at this point for our center need/s. We really really need to lock up Okposo. Shoots right and adds a different dimension to our present wingers. Hopefully, we don't lose another one to Minny.

People are thinking of Staal because of name recognition. He isn't of any notable caliber anymore. He's a worse Zetterberg from what I've read this year. Can barely play. Even one year would be a waste.

[Dabura 12,228]

This poll is useless. Besides Stamkos and Okposo you forgot the best FA's.

- Shipachev

- Radulov

- Boedker

Boedker is crap and Radulov is staying in Russia.

_______

Okposo.

Offer-sheet Kucherov.

Kick the tires on Hanzal.

Acquire Shattenkirk.

Do stuff.

[matt198913 932]

No offer sheets! Trade for a Dman, and don't give away term. Money is fine term is not

[frankgrimes 1,836]

No offer sheets! Trade for a Dman, and don't give away term. Money is fine term is not

Tatar/Nyquist + first round pick + Marchenko for Fowler would be too nice to be true

[krsmith17 7,191]

I wouldn't mind Fowler, but he wouldn't be my first choice. Kenny needs to find a way to pry Trouba out of Winnipeg...

I also agree that it's fine to overpay to the cap as long as we're not overpaying on term. 2-3 year deals for any of these guys would be ideal.

[Superman54 91]

Sign Martin....let Helm walk (hurts me)...trade for Duchene (overpay but change is needed, and so is a center) and I'll be OK. The defense is another issue entirely but I feel a young franchise center is top priority

Larkin can be that but help is always welcomed.