Pesce is my top target for any team needing a RD.

Doubt he can ask for much more then his current AAV due to his lack of production - he’ll just be looking for some term.

He’ll be 30 next NOV.

Probably a 4-4.75m aav x 4-6 years.

He stays in Carolina or is a top target - he brings exactly what many teams top 4 needs - a stable DFD. And he’s a RD which makes him all the more lucrative.

Toronto for example could go for Pesce to slap next Rielly and then target some more to build a stronger 2nd pair.

I feel like Pesce and Montour seem to be the big fish targets with Tanev being the replacement one...

I have this weird feeling, though, Marner's going to VGK for Theodore+ coming back...

That's it? If Pesce's only asking 4 for 6 years... Toronto could prob afford:

Rielly-Pesce
McCabe-Montour
Eddy-Lilly
Benoit

While still keeping Bert and Domi

Well some people will argue like “IF PESCE IS ONLY ASKING THAT MUCH WHY WOULDNT CAROLINA SIGN HIM”

But how can a guy with a career high of 30p ask for more?
He got 18p this year.

He’s obviously a DFD - but I can’t see anyone paying DFD highly anymore. We saw Vlasic’s contract lol. If a DFD can’t keep up his defensive play - he becomes a healthy scratch level player.

So it’s up to Pesce imo. I’d want the Sharks to sign him too. He’s a player I want. But I can’t see a contending team like Toronto saying here is a 5x5 for 20 points.

I'd think Toronto would pony that up bc it's not just Pesce whom you're helping, you're helping out Rielly and McCabe as well

And the Leafs PK sucks so they need help there as well

I'm fairly certain that Pesce will get a contract between $5 and $6 mil AAV with 5-6 years term.

Theodore's role certainly has diminished in Vegas with the Hanifin signing. But he seems more like Rielly than anyone else and guess I thought TML needed more stout defensive guys given that they already have offensive blueliners in the mix.

Tampa has reacquired McDonagh from Nashville? Do they know their cap situation?

Do they know their draft picks situation?

maybe they know Stamkos is gone

Do they even know there's a draft?

TML just needs better blue liners lol...

There's a bit more than that but that should be the starting point

TOR needs

1. Balance in the forward group not just try to be top heavy

2. A dcore combining size, puck movement, scoring and physicality

3. A starting goalie who can play 42-55 games

TBL must have something planned as to why they brought back McDonagh as I thought Sergechev was fine at second pair and Lilleberg did fine at third pair towards the end

Also surprised no retention involved

I.E. Better defenders

Not better so much as finding the right guys. You can build a dcore relatively the same as last year but if those guys excel in the right area's your blue line is missing your set.

TOR Dcore last playoffs was fine the problem was they couldnt move the puck. They matched the physicality aspect and the blocked shots, defense but the issue came offensively and maneuverability wise.

I think TBL plan is gonna be like what they did with Namestnikov trade Sheary and Jeannot for a lesser return to create more cap space

Think Brisbois is gonna bite the bullet on the Jeannot front and go you know what I ****ed up gonna just get rid of this now

Jeannot was the first name that came to mind for me. Idk what the market for him is, it's hard for me to judge him objectively since I always thought that trade was terrible from the start, but Tampa can't really afford to give up assets to move him if that's what it would take. His buyout is pretty manageable with 1.5m in cap savings this year at just a 762k cap cost next year

When TBL got rid of Namestnikov no assets were needed. They just took a lesser player and did some ret.

I think you could do the same

TOR kind of did the same years ago trading 3.4m Johnsson for Joey Anderson who made league min

Nothing wrong that - but that’s a scary contract.

If he can’t provide his solid defensive work, gets injured more, or just falls off a little overall - he immediately becomes an overpaid 3rd pair, number 5-7.

I’m rooting for him tho, not against.

San Jose has got nearly 40m in cap space and they’re in the market for adding veteran depth and experience.

I’d be on the lookout to see Grier helping out these teams for assets in return. I think he wouldn’t be against taking on both (4+ mil) for bottom 6 depth / having some guys with experience in the locker room.

After going 7-1 in round 1, I went 2-2 in round 2

My round 3 preds are:
Florida in 7
Dallas in 6

Also thinking through the Predators plan with this move also. Could open up a spot for Spencer Stastney (LD) who impressed them in his stint there this past year or free them up to chase someone in free agency. Preds have decent cap space with only Jason Zucker and Alex Carrier as notable UFA's. I like Sherwood too but he'll be cheap in any case.

They have lots of young forward talent in the pipeline that have gained succesful and solid pro experience in Milwaukee.

IMO, if they are going to maintain their playoff spot and challenger for deeper runs then they could use another top 6 Center as ideally Novak is a 3C with PP usage and not a 2C. Elias Lindholm with Ryan O'Reilly would be a very good 1-2 punch down the middle and he plays Trotz-Brunette style hockey.

NSH to me rn is in no man's land. They need to make a choice soon on what direction they want to go. Rebuild or compete

Josi, Forsberg, ROR, and Saros aint getting any younger

Imo they should look to trade some of the vets and kind of be bad for a while amass some nice assets then go for it again rather than waste Saros, Josi, Forsberg, etc.

You can see that they are building for the future but not doing a full tear-down. A tear-down is the worst way to build a team, IMO. The losing just takes a massive toll.

They brought in the vets to be a "shield" for the younger players to acclimate and grow into the NHL and show them how to be winners, play/practice the right way, be good pro's/teammates, and have favorable matchups by playing down in the lineup. This also helped build a winning culture in their AHL squad too.

They have Wood, Kemell, Molendyk, Svechkov, Schaefer, and L'Heureux to go along with Evangelista, Tomasino, Parssinen, Del Gaizo, and Afanasyev and of course Askarov.

If they move Saros they will get even more assets in return and with Askarov there it might not alter their performance that much.

I think they are sitting in a great spot for near-term success.