Game Night - Ottawa @ Toronto - Sat, Feb 16, 2013

wprager wrote:

asq2 wrote:
Absolutely. We've had horrible luck but the positive angle is that the kids get some PT and we only have to suffer through the rest of a shortened season. And potentially getting a MacKinnon or Drouin or Jones could really help us in the future. Staying the course is paramount. The only "significant" piece we stand to lose after this year is Gonchar. I hope Murray really goes after a top-notch d-man to replace him and round out the top-4 with EK, Cowen and Methot. But d-men seem to be at a premium these days.

What if Alfie retires?

It's possible but I think he might stay on another year. This will probably not be super fun but he's not playing too many games and he knows Karlsson will be back the next season. Plus there's the incentive that he might play in the Olympics.

Here's hoping, anyway. We could make it a season to remember if he stays on another year.

asq2 wrote:

wprager wrote:

asq2 wrote:
Absolutely. We've had horrible luck but the positive angle is that the kids get some PT and we only have to suffer through the rest of a shortened season. And potentially getting a MacKinnon or Drouin or Jones could really help us in the future. Staying the course is paramount. The only "significant" piece we stand to lose after this year is Gonchar. I hope Murray really goes after a top-notch d-man to replace him and round out the top-4 with EK, Cowen and Methot. But d-men seem to be at a premium these days.

What if Alfie retires?

It's possible but I think he might stay on another year. This will probably not be super fun but he's not playing too many games and he knows Karlsson will be back the next season. Plus there's the incentive that he might play in the Olympics.

Here's hoping, anyway. We could make it a season to remember if he stays on another year.

I question whether Alfie actually makes the Olympics team. he's great but by next winter maybe Sweden decides to go younger.

He wouldn't make the Olympic team right now.

That being said, if they actually have a "3-year plan", whatever that means, then it doesn't make sense for Alfie not to be in the 3rd year.

I know the big prayer around here is we go out and sign Perry but I have to admit that I have huge doubts whether that actually happens or not. First off, he could very well resign with Anaheim. second I don't buy that "we have the cap space so that puts us ahead of so many teams" scenario. espeially with that darn buyout negotiated in the last CBA, I think if he becomes available teams will be inclined to make all the room needed with it.

I think we have a pretty small chance at landing him and at that I really the only chance we have at doing that is by trade and having him agree to resign before it all happens. too many big fish will beg for his services if he becomes UFA.

Flo The Action wrote:
I think we have a pretty small chance at landing him and at that I really the only chance we have at doing that is by trade and having him agree to resign before it all happens. too many big fish will beg for his services if he becomes UFA.

He'll test the market and see what happens. No reason to commit to a team right now when he can have all sorts of choices in the summer.

And yes a few teams will have the cap space due to amnesty buyouts. It's going to come down to where he wants to play.

Hoags wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:
I think we have a pretty small chance at landing him and at that I really the only chance we have at doing that is by trade and having him agree to resign before it all happens. too many big fish will beg for his services if he becomes UFA.

He'll test the market and see what happens. No reason to commit to a team right now when he can have all sorts of choices in the summer.

And yes a few teams will have the cap space due to amnesty buyouts. It's going to come down to where he wants to play.

well if he does tests the market then dare I say we should abandon all hope.

Flo The Action wrote:
well if he does tests the market then dare I say we should abandon all hope.

Not necessarily.

Just from his point of view, no reason to commit to us (or anyone else for that matter) when he can wait til July 1st and see what's out there.

Unfortunately we won't be impressing any FAs this summer since we will not be making any runs in the postseason due to injuries.

Any other big UFAs this summer?

Hoags wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:
well if he does tests the market then dare I say we should abandon all hope.

Not necessarily.

Just from his point of view, no reason to commit to us (or anyone else for that matter) when he can wait til July 1st and see what's out there.

Unfortunately we won't be impressing any FAs this summer since we will not be making any runs in the postseason due to injuries.

well that's part of it. I just think they'll be some contenders out there making a serious pitch to him for his services. he's also from near Toronto so there's always that nightmare scenario where he decides to play there.

Not sure he wants to go back playing under Carlyle.

Flo The Action wrote:
well that's part of it. I just think they'll be some contenders out there making a serious pitch to him for his services. he's also from near Toronto so there's always that nightmare scenario where he decides to play there.

Possibly, he spends his summers in London.

It probably depends on how much he likes Randy Carlyle and whether he wants to play for him again for another 7 years. Carlyle got fired from Anaheim so I'm guessing things weren't so great last time they were on the same team.

LeKing wrote:Any other big UFAs this summer?

Semin? and I'm saying this partly as a joke partly not. he's making a case for himself in Carolina at the moment.

Nathan Horton is an interesting name out there but I think he'll resign with Boston.

other then that Zidlicky is a right handed D-man that could be an interesting pick up for the 2nd pairing if we end up trading/parting ways with Gonchar.

Hoags wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:
well that's part of it. I just think they'll be some contenders out there making a serious pitch to him for his services. he's also from near Toronto so there's always that nightmare scenario where he decides to play there.

Possibly, he spends his summers in London.

It probably depends on how much he likes Randy Carlyle and whether he wants to play for him again for another 7 years. Carlyle got fired from Anaheim so I'm guessing things weren't so great last time they were on the same team.

good point.

I just see teams in the US going hard for him. maybe even the pens buying out Martin to make some capspace room for him. I know they need to resign Malkin soon and Letang.

possibly even Tampa as I'm sure they start thinking about how long St-louis will play for or at least play on the 1st line.

Isn't the cap going down big time this summer?

LeKing wrote:Isn't the cap going down big time this summer?

Going down to $64.3M, but teams will be able to do amnesty buyouts.

So any rich team with a bad contract(or two) will be able to make cap room instantly. And for a guy like Perry you can expect a few teams clearing room through buyouts or trades.

Hoags wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:
well if he does tests the market then dare I say we should abandon all hope.

Not necessarily.

Just from his point of view, no reason to commit to us (or anyone else for that matter) when he can wait til July 1st and see what's out there.

Unfortunately we won't be impressing any FAs this summer since we will not be making any runs in the postseason due to injuries.

We need Spezza back before the end of the season, showing that he's ready to lead again, offensively. We need Karlsson on the ice before July, showing signs of a successful recovery. We need the rookies to start playing like we all think they should. And getting Lehner up here to show off some of that swagger wouldn't hurt, either.

Things will start looking up when Spezza comes back and we make some moves at the trade deadline. The way things stand now, no, I don't think we are an attractive destination to most UFAs.

Wouldn't hurt if Alfie got a shave and haircut, either.