murray to make changes to the roster?

SpezDispenser wrote:

PKC wrote:
I think gauging the trade price for Iginla is a tough exercise. His contract is very high and there is no knowing whether his declining skills are a result of being stuck on a bad team or just him losing his touch.

But if the price to Ottawa is Michalek + Cowen, I'd definitely do it. He would give us a top line sniper who can play with grit and heart. Basically, we'd have two Alfredssons on the team simultaneously.

That's a tough decision though. I love Iginla (kinda), but he's getting older and soon he and Alfie will be well past their expiry date (although Alfie is a freak). An astute GM would cash in right now on Iginla - if that's what they want to do and that means a real high price that would be hard to imagine paying from an Ottawa POV. If we were legitimate contenders I would think about it, but we're not really there yet and I don't think Iginla would be enough to take us there.

I agree that Ottawa would probably not be his destination of choice, but I think everyone always forgets how tough the trade market is. The value going each way isn't what it used to be, especially when you're dealing the best player in the trade.

Think back to all the big deals of the last few years, almost none seem to be even. The team acquiring the best player(s) are the ones who always win the trade. Why? Mostly because the salary cap doesn't allow for star players to be traded for picks and prospects anymore. And mostly because no one can survive in the league as a high end team when they trade the high picks and prospects.

Not that Iginla's return will be insignificant but look at the most recent big name trades.

. Chris Pronger for Sbisa (who doesn't rate anywhere close to Cowen's potential), Lupul (who's very close to Michalek in offensive ability) and two firsts and a conditional third.
. Luongo, Auld and Allen for Bertuzzi, Krajicek and a sixth.
. Heatley for Michalek and Cheechoo.
. Thornton for Sturm, Primeau and Stuart.
. Phaneuf, Sjostrom and Aulie for Stajan, Hagman, Mayers and White.

Every time a big name player starts showing up in the rumor mill, everyone says "wait until you see the return this guy gets" and "he's worth at least x and y and z". And then every time the deal is actually made, everyone sits around and says "we/they didn't get enough."

To be completely honest, in the current financial landscape of the NHL, there is no way to consummate a fair trade involving a superstar player. It can't be done. And if Iginla is traded, it won't be any different.

His big ticket might prevent a fair trade in this day and age, that's true.

I don't think his skills are declining, he was great in the Olympics but he was playing with Crosby (can't ask for a better centre).

In Calgary his centre is Jokinen and he has Sutter and his huge ears chewing him out after every game to so I can imagine he might be worn out over there. He pretty much has to single handedly win games for them over there (along with Kipper).

Still he IS the face of the Flames and if trading him doesn't improve the team(it won't) the Sutter's are as good as gone.

They'd have to be really desperate.

PKC wrote:I agree that Ottawa would probably not be his destination of choice, but I think everyone always forgets how tough the trade market is. The value going each way isn't what it used to be, especially when you're dealing the best player in the trade.

Think back to all the big deals of the last few years, almost none seem to be even. The team acquiring the best player(s) are the ones who always win the trade. Why? Mostly because the salary cap doesn't allow for star players to be traded for picks and prospects anymore. And mostly because no one can survive in the league as a high end team when they trade the high picks and prospects.

Not that Iginla's return will be insignificant but look at the most recent big name trades.

. Chris Pronger for Sbisa (who doesn't rate anywhere close to Cowen's potential), Lupul (who's very close to Michalek in offensive ability) and two firsts and a conditional third.
. Luongo, Auld and Allen for Bertuzzi, Krajicek and a sixth.
. Heatley for Michalek and Cheechoo.
. Thornton for Sturm, Primeau and Stuart.
. Phaneuf, Sjostrom and Aulie for Stajan, Hagman, Mayers and White.

Every time a big name player starts showing up in the rumor mill, everyone says "wait until you see the return this guy gets" and "he's worth at least x and y and z". And then every time the deal is actually made, everyone sits around and says "we/they didn't get enough."

To be completely honest, in the current financial landscape of the NHL, there is no way to consummate a fair trade involving a superstar player. It can't be done. And if Iginla is traded, it won't be any different.

Well constructed thoughts. Let me confuse everybody now with these additional thoughts.

The only teams that can bring a superstar player on a give back fair value are the teams at the bottom of the salary cap chart and they are usually at the bottom of the standings. Being at the bottom of the standings usually prevents the superstar with a NTC from wanting to go there though. Plus, the teams at the bottom of the standings don't want to give their young players away that the superstar trading, rebuilding team wants in return.

It is a tough riddle to crack, that is for sure.

If any team grabs Iginla, my money is on St. Louis. They have the answer to the Caramilk secret.

Agreed. Everyone seems to automatically think LA but St. Louis definitely fit the bill. Despite their current thrift they were once a big spending team. I'm not sure money is an issue there.

SeawaySensFan wrote:Agreed. Everyone seems to automatically think LA but St. Louis definitely fit the bill. Despite their current thrift they were once a big spending team. I'm not sure money is an issue there.

yeah but L.A. is such a sexy option... plus they have enough prospects also to make it happen.

Flo The Action wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:Agreed. Everyone seems to automatically think LA but St. Louis definitely fit the bill. Despite their current thrift they were once a big spending team. I'm not sure money is an issue there.

yeah but L.A. is such a sexy option... plus they have enough prospects also to make it happen.

Too bad Lombardi has again and again proven himself to be too chicken Dung to do anything substantial to put his team over the top.

rooneypoo wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:Agreed. Everyone seems to automatically think LA but St. Louis definitely fit the bill. Despite their current thrift they were once a big spending team. I'm not sure money is an issue there.

yeah but L.A. is such a sexy option... plus they have enough prospects also to make it happen.

Too bad Lombardi has again and again proven himself to be too chicken Dung to do anything substantial to put his team over the top.

I'm pretty sure St. Louis is not doing too bad with their prospect depth as well.

Any changes from Murray forthcoming?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Any changes from Murray forthcoming?

I was wondering the very same thing. All this talk about "murray to make changes to the roster?" has made me wonder about changes to the roster that might be forthcoming.

rooneypoo wrote:Too bad Lombardi has again and again proven himself to be too chicken Dung to do anything substantial to put his team over the top.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Any changes from Murray forthcoming?

In all seriousness, there's no question that Murray will try to dump Lee, but we all know Murray, he's stubborn as a mule, so he'll try to pry someone good from someone and it'll take a while. There's no doubt (to quote Jacques Martin) that Lee will be gone soon, we simply don't need him with Hale around.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Any changes from Murray forthcoming?

In all seriousness, there's no question that Murray will try to dump Lee, but we all know Murray, he's stubborn as a mule, so he'll try to pry someone good from someone and it'll take a while. There's no doubt (to quote Jacques Martin) that Lee will be gone soon, we simply don't need him with Hale around.

Soon?

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Any changes from Murray forthcoming?

In all seriousness, there's no question that Murray will try to dump Lee, but we all know Murray, he's stubborn as a mule, so he'll try to pry someone good from someone and it'll take a while. There's no doubt (to quote Jacques Martin) that Lee will be gone soon, we simply don't need him with Hale around.

With cap space as important and scarce as it is in OTT right now, Hale proving to be the steadier and more reliable 7th D, and Kuba on the verge of returning, the end is very nigh for Brian Lee in Ottawa. I don't think he lasts the month.

I think Murray wants to package Lee as part of a bigger deal....he knows he's not going to get anything worthwhile by trading him straight up (unless he wants to do Lee a favor and ship him out asap). Its a shame since, with Kuba's injury, it was Lee's time to showcase himself to the management, but what a disaster. Even as the 7th d-man, he's had to be replaced by an AHL call-up.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:
Soon?

I echo Rooney, I don't think he lasts the month - but I can see him gone in the next 10 days.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:
Soon?

I echo Rooney, I don't think he lasts the month - but I can see him gone in the next 10 days.

I'll say 9 - 11 days. Give or take.

I'll say "another 10 to 14 days". To be different.