Gerber to be Waived, EDM Wants Fisher

You really don't want to be just giving up Fisher. Souray can be good, but he's unhealthy. He has horrible shoulders from fighting and likely the toll of having a very hard shot. Our luck, we'd get him and he'd spend most of the time on the IR. Not worth it. You're better getting a younger, healthier player with longevity. Minnesota and Nashville have a surplus of young defenceman that might be had.

Right now, Columbus NEEDS a center with the unfortunate injury and loss of Brassard for the year. If Kris Russel is the guy they are shopping, send Vermette there. Include Schubert if you need to. He can be to us now what Krlsson could be for us later. Columbus is not going to deal a roster player, or one of value or quality, with the way they are playing. Teams in Playoff position do not subtract, they add or make better.

DashRiprock wrote:You really don't want to be just giving up Fisher. Souray can be good, but he's unhealthy. He has horrible shoulders from fighting and likely the toll of having a very hard shot. Our luck, we'd get him and he'd spend most of the time on the IR. Not worth it. You're better getting a younger, healthier player with longevity. Minnesota and Nashville have a surplus of young defenceman that might be had.

Right now, Columbus NEEDS a center with the unfortunate injury and loss of Brassard for the year. If Kris Russel is the guy they are shopping, send Vermette there. Include Schubert if you need to. He can be to us now what Krlsson could be for us later. Columbus is not going to deal a roster player, or one of value or quality, with the way they are playing. Teams in Playoff position do not subtract, they add or make better.

So Russell isn't of value or quality? You'd honestly give up Vermette AND Schubert for Russell? I couldn't. Vermette's value will be high at the deadline, and I bet he fetches us a player the calibre of Russell on his own. A guy who can pot 25 a season, kill penalties, has playoff experience and is winning faceoffs at a 60% clip should be a very attractive commodity at the deadline. I don't think anyone just wants to give Fisher up either. What I do want to give up is that incredibly Dung contract he is signed to. Even when he's scoring at his regular pace, there is no room for that contract with the others we are carrying. Someone has to be move, so it might as well be the guy who isn't producing and has a history of injuries.

You're right though...if we are targetting young d-men or prospects, Nashville is the way to go. Plus they are starving for offence.

Gerber will get waived if Elliott shows enough to deserve to stay with the big club. Otherwise expect Gerber to play out his contract here.

I suspect that Elliott will be here until the end of the week. He will then be sent down for the rest of the season.

hemlock wrote:

DashRiprock wrote:You really don't want to be just giving up Fisher. Souray can be good, but he's unhealthy. He has horrible shoulders from fighting and likely the toll of having a very hard shot. Our luck, we'd get him and he'd spend most of the time on the IR. Not worth it. You're better getting a younger, healthier player with longevity. Minnesota and Nashville have a surplus of young defenceman that might be had.

Right now, Columbus NEEDS a center with the unfortunate injury and loss of Brassard for the year. If Kris Russel is the guy they are shopping, send Vermette there. Include Schubert if you need to. He can be to us now what Krlsson could be for us later. Columbus is not going to deal a roster player, or one of value or quality, with the way they are playing. Teams in Playoff position do not subtract, they add or make better.

So Russell isn't of value or quality? You'd honestly give up Vermette AND Schubert for Russell? I couldn't. Vermette's value will be high at the deadline, and I bet he fetches us a player the calibre of Russell on his own. A guy who can pot 25 a season, kill penalties, has playoff experience and is winning faceoffs at a 60% clip should be a very attractive commodity at the deadline. I don't think anyone just wants to give Fisher up either. What I do want to give up is that incredibly Dung contract he is signed to. Even when he's scoring at his regular pace, there is no room for that contract with the others we are carrying. Someone has to be move, so it might as well be the guy who isn't producing and has a history of injuries.

You're right though...if we are targetting young d-men or prospects, Nashville is the way to go. Plus they are starving for offence.

I wasn't implying Russel wasn't of quality, but rather meant Columbus isn't going to move someone crucial to their success, like Nash, or other top 6 forward or top 4 d-men. Russel is supposed to be quite good, but right now to Columbus, I think they could afford to move him for a playoff berth. And obviously Vermete + Schubert for Russel is not the deal alone, Columbus would likely send a pick or other prospect as well.

I'm not certain Vermette alone could land us a better return at the deadline though. He's struggling considerably and teams are going to try and fleece Ottawa who are seen as desperate to make changes.

Ottawa may be seen as desperate now but when the reality of being a basement team sinks in they will not be in any rush to make moves and therefore not desperate.

I agree. Desperatation level goes down as the deadline approaches and mathematical elimination looms. Vermette is still a premier PK specialist and top-10 face off guy in the league (probably top-3 if he played center regularly). Just like Heatley is still a 50-goal scorer (just not this season) Vermette is easily a 20-goal scorer who could get 30 with a little puck luck and some 1st PP unit time.