Who adds what?
Rejoint: juill. 2017
Messages: 13,677
Mentions "j'aime": 2,703
This makes sense, but with the salary cap going up three to five million dollars and only a few elite free agents I kind of see Tavares getting 15 x 8 on the open market, Carlson getting 9x8, Miller reupping reasonably before hitting free agency, and Vegas promoting Thomas Hyka to a top six role next fall, out of camp, while their three first picks try out the AHL.
That gives them an extra defenseman, so I think they can trade one of McNabb or Theodore (plus different numbers of picks (both are very good, but Theodore is five years younger, and will be RFA after his current deal, so Theodore and a 1st would be enough, if it's McNabb, they throw in a 1st, 2nd, Hyka, and maybe Dansk?) for Carlson at the deadine, have three right handed defensemen in the playoffs this spring, and sign Carlson more inexpensively, before July.
Carlson played with Schmidt to his left in Washington a bit last year, and did pretty well together. Schmidt is palying 23 minutes per game with Vegas this year. Carlson is playing 25 in Washington and is 3rd among defensemen in scoring with 45 points. He also starts most of his shifts in the defensive zone, and has more even strength points this year than Mike Green and Duncan Keith put together, so he's not a one trick pony or a power play specialist, although he does have 23 points on Washington's power play this year.
I mean, sure, if Tavares is available, he's a more valuable rental player, but I think as far as guys who could really be moved at the deadline, Carlson is the best fit for a team like Vegas that has ten left handed defensemen and only two righties. As good as Schmidt is on the right hand side, he's left handed and is a little bit more effective, defensively, on the left hand side of the ice.