Of course, we would all be happy with a big name player but let's be realistic. If we can trade Connolly for cap room (i'm not a Connolly hater I just think he would be the most amount of money we would be able to get rid of, otherwise I would want to get rid of Pominville...)..then we can sign some good players that are not exactly superstars, but would really improve us. Saku Koivu to replace Connolly and add Ray Whitney. They are both veterans and will add depth. Then try to sign Hamhuis or Gonchar, but more realistically, resign Tallinder and add Martin, or resign Lydman and add Corvo.

Vanek-Roy-Whitney
Ennis-Koivu-Pominville
Hecht-Gaustad-Kennedy
Stafford-McCormick-Grier

Tallinder-Myers
Hamhuis-Rivet
Montador-Sekera/Butler/Weber

I know I'm missing some people but you get the idea.

I didn't really do any research or anything though. Does anyone have an estimate of what these players will go for and if it is do-able if we can clear up Connolly's salary?

The point about the depth though is look at the 4th line. Those players do belong there according to the other 3 lines, but they look like a good 3rd line.
We would have a lot more secondary scoring with this situation. A little coming from the blue lines and then mostly from the 3rd and 4th line. It would make up for the average scoring of the top 6. Thoughts?

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"Ah...composite sticks...you can't beat 'em...unless you have a wooden one..."-Harry Neale

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Just a few.

Re: Hamhuis, he's looking to be asking north of $4M, so he's probably not an option.

Re: Kennedy on the third line, he was a useless scorer on the third line all season but when Lindy bumped him up he immediately found his groove.

Re: Your whole plan, ditching Kaleta to add depth is a bit backwards. On the fourth line last season (remember that - the fourth line), Kaleta scored 15 points - 10+5 - in 55 games playing only 10:02 a night average (that equals 22 points - 15+7 - in 82 games). 4 of his 10 goals were game winners, two were shorthanded, and one was an OT game-winner. He draws more penalties per 60:00 TOI than any other player over the last three years (this is statistically proven), and is a fantastic PKer. To eliminate a guy who is getting better statistically every year and already scoring 10 goals a year as a 4th liner but will probably never make more than $1.25M is folly.

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mechaphil

Haha, i'm sorry. I told you I was missing someone, but one of my favorite Sabres, jeesh. I knew I was missing one because I added 2 forwards and only subtracted Connolly. Ditch Stafford then. send him to the minors, i'm sure someone will pick him up on waivers, or trade him for a pick. I haven't totally given up on him but him being on the 4th line is just a waste.
With my proposal, all of the players that are gone would be improved upon. Stafford replaced with Whitney. (more points, defensive capabilities, and leadership)...same with Koivu. Then if we keep the offensive defensman (Tallinder)...then we could sign a defensive d-man (Martin)....if we sign Lydman (defensive) then we could go for Corvo or Gonchar (offensive). It would improve our teams depth, leadership, and goal-scoring ability, and put us in a better position financially.
So is this realistic? Ditch Stafford off of that 4th line and insert Kaleta. That eliminates Connolly's salary of 4.5m, and Staffords of 2.5m (?). 7 million to put towards Martin, Koivu, and Whitney, plus whatever salary we already have, and the salary from Lydman or Tallinder gone.

_________________
"Ah...composite sticks...you can't beat 'em...unless you have a wooden one..."-Harry Neale

In Pegula We We Trust!

I'd have to crunch the numbers but that might work. I like that you leave nothing to chance by hoping for getting players in return for Connolly/Stafford/whatever by going a strictly UFA-driven route.

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mechaphil

Yeah, because we really don't trade unless it's the deadline. This, I think, is the most we can improve our team for the least amount of money without giving up anything that we aren't going to just replace.
The main thing is the leadership and depth. We could go out and sign Kovy for this money and get 40+ goals out of him, but he wouldn't play defense or buy into the system and would not be a good veteran presence. I think that's Darcy's thinking, but instead of complaining about how he never signs big names, I decided to go to better "Darcy-thinking" route, and be a little more realistic, lol.

_________________
"Ah...composite sticks...you can't beat 'em...unless you have a wooden one..."-Harry Neale

In Pegula We We Trust!

You can also factor in your Staal thread instead of Martin. =D

_________________
"Ah...composite sticks...you can't beat 'em...unless you have a wooden one..."-Harry Neale

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Now, Staal's presumed huge raise would make it impossible to Martin or Corvo. Maybe MA Bergeron would be cheap enough to come in, but no one else on the PP.

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mechaphil

I would definately not want Bergeron. BTW, I just looked at all of the goals from Ray Whitney this year and to be honest, Whitney could be our PP specialist. I'd be fine with Tallinder/Myers at the point. Almost all of Whitneys goals are far away slapshots from the left wing half boards. He shoots from around where Stamkos and Ovechkin score their one-timers from. He has a lot of point shots go in too. Probally only like 8 to 10 up close goals and the rest of his 11-13 were shots from far out that he sniped. I'd be more comfortable not having a guy ike Gonchar on the team if we had Whitney.
He had 7 pp goals on a team with Staal, and Jokinen getting 13 and 10 pp goals respectively.

_________________
"Ah...composite sticks...you can't beat 'em...unless you have a wooden one..."-Harry Neale

In Pegula We We Trust!

So imagine this for the PP



________________^^^^____________________
. . . VANEK

Whitney .. . . Roy/Ennis



Tallinder . . . Myers

Myers could find Whitney for the Stamkos slapper and Whitney is good from there on any shot....Roy and Ennis are good playmakers from the half wall and Vanek is good in front. Perfect!

_________________
"Ah...composite sticks...you can't beat 'em...unless you have a wooden one..."-Harry Neale

In Pegula We We Trust!

haha I knew my Ice setup would come out like crap, but if you quote it you can see it lol....and we still have Gaustad in front for the 2nd pp unit with Pominville, Roy/Ennis Rivet and whatever FA Dman we sign

_________________
"Ah...composite sticks...you can't beat 'em...unless you have a wooden one..."-Harry Neale

In Pegula We We Trust!

That would be pretty good. not gonna lie. Vanek would set the screen for Whitney's one timers, too.

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mechaphil

And hopefully he can also do this every once in a while =]...haha I'm acting like we already have him (please Darcy! )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESHcjZq4fzg

_________________
"Ah...composite sticks...you can't beat 'em...unless you have a wooden one..."-Harry Neale

In Pegula We We Trust!

Woah, crazy stereo vocals like it's Soundwave

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mechaphil

Haha, well thanks for having this chat with me. I honestly think this is the best way to very subtly but substantially increase this teams overall ability. We add more goals and the most intangibles. Increase defense and depth, with leadership and goal scoring ability, while breaking around or a little above even? DEAL!
I really wish others would voice their opinions as well. I got to go right now though, good chat!

_________________
"Ah...composite sticks...you can't beat 'em...unless you have a wooden one..."-Harry Neale

In Pegula We We Trust!