Decided to embed the LaLonde/Yzerman presser because specific players were mentioned.
You would have to be about my age, but at one point MTV was pretty much just music videos. It was a mish-mash where you could hear Cindy Lauper and then The Clash. Even to a wimpy young kid that song would pump me and my friends up into a tepid frenzy. I unwittingly hum through it when I look at roster changes, but what a great hook.
To the task at hand, the estimated minimum cap growth is still listed for next year’s season (roughly 4 million). I think that may be revised as it has been multiple times, but that is (literally) another post altogether. However, in good faith, let’s say that the cap is around 87 million next year. Detroit is listed as having 13 players signed and 30m in room. Most of you have thoughts on what Seider and Raymond will be looking at in terms of extension. At the beginning of the year, I thought the 7-8m AAV max term for Seider and possibly a bridge for Raymond in the 5m range. Then goals happened. The young man broke 30. That’s a raise if you compare the dollars on the team where Copp is making 5m+ and Debrincat is making 7.875.
In the “old days”, the GM and player’s agent would bring a stack of papers that backed up their numbers. We’re hearing that, in Vancouver’s case, Hronek is up for a sizeable raise due to on team comparables. Now, it is really difficult to figure out a number for Raymond. This was a break out year and the office will likely lean on that. Still, the 22 year old outperformed all but one player in goal scoring and the agent will lean into that. Let’s say, conservatively, that 13m will be tied up between Seider and Raymond. It could well be 15m. Regardless, here is the list of players and their status:
Signed:
Larkin, Debrincat, Copp, Compher, Fabbri, Rasmussen, Chiarot, Holl, Walman, Maata, Petry, Lyon, Husso. That’s what Cap Friendly has listed on the main roster. I think it’s safe to say the Edvinsson will have a spot. We don’t know the Berggren situation but if they can get the extension finished it will be based on his being on the main roster. All we’ve heard is that JB is said to have turned down an extension earlier in the year. The sources aren’t satisfactory to many fans, but his deployment spoke volumes. Something didn’t connect.
Of this group, as previously stated, Seider and Raymond are going to be the priority. Veleno added speed, physicality and better puck management to his game so I think it’s safe to say he should have an offer. McIsaac, no clue. Things haven’t gone well and he was loaned overseas at one point this season to find his game. Johansson? Would seem like at least a qualifier. With Buium coming to town and Eddy likely leaving (town being GR) for Detroit that makes some sense.
There should be some emphasis on seeing if Kane wants to stick. Sprong is a player I’d like to see stick around. Gostisbehere and Perron are tougher calls. They add value on the power play, for sure. Ghost has made some really good plays this year. No clue on Detroit’s plans there. Reimer may move on. Hirose is a tough case. He has done well in the AHL but hasn’t been able to grab an NHL spot. He may want some assurance of opportunity. It’s difficult to know what the Griffins are going to do with the playoffs coming up. Bertuzzi came out of his shell in post season action in the AHL. Someone may increase their stock. Danielson and Sandin-Pelikka may also have spots.
It’s probably fair to say that the coming year will be the highest expectation for the team to be playing in late April at least. Last year goals scored were added. Now, goals against needs to be lessened. That’s going to take some sort of revamp on the blue line and more solid goalie numbers. we don’t know how Lyon would perform over 82 games as the go to (say 50 to 55 games) and there’s that part of history that feels like Detroit will put Husso back in net the second he’s available.
Personal thoughts:
Get your RFA’s taken care of quickly so you have a clear outline of what’s available for free agency. Try to move Holl and possibly even Copp. I love what Copp did defensively but the price tag seems steep for someone who found their groove on the 3rd line. He and Compher were very good together in PK situations so you’d have to be confident someone can slide in and have the same impact. For UFAs, it just depends on the dollars tied up. It may be time to have Perron move on and give Sprong more opportunity. Gostisbehere, that could well depend on $. Very valuable on the power play.
Now I’d like to hear your thoughts. Are there trades you’d try to make (possibly costing a late round pick) and who would you let walk in free agency? I don’t know if Cossa is ready for full NHL duty but he has certainly improved his game. Would you move on from Husso if the opportunity presented itself? Let me know, and thanks for stopping by
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