The annual NHL free agent frenzy kicked off on Friday. Though the frenzy was slightly more subdued than some years, there were still a ton of free agent signings over the weekend.
The Hurricanes made a small splash signing former Rangers right wing Jesper Fast. I wrote about the addition HERE.
Today’s Daily Cup of Joe sorts through the numerous signings and makes a fairly short list of deals I would steal with a couple important disclaimers. First, many of the deals identified were cases where players took significant discounts to pick their destination, so these deals would not likely have actually been available to the Hurricanes. Also, my list of steals does not consider the salary cap. The Hurricanes have only a couple million available right now, so many of these deals would require additional financial maneuvering.
Without further ado, the deals I like are:
Henrik Lundqvist
I am on record as liking the idea of upgrading in net as long as the term and salary are reasonable. At only $1.5 million per year, I would have been willing to place a low risk bet that Lundqvist could have a last second wind energized by a new team and with a better defense in front of him. I was figuring something like $3 million for one year, so $1.5 million is even better. But this is very clearly one of the deals where the player chose his destination, and it was not based on money.
Patrick Maroon
Another of the discounted deals was Patrick Maroon who re-signed with the Lightning for two years at a mere $900,000 per year. He played a significant role in making the Lightning tougher to play against which factored into the Stanley Cup success. Just like with Lundqvist, Maroon would not have been available to the Hurricanes for this price or even more.
Wayne Simmonds
Hockey warrior Wayne Simmonds signed a one-year deal for $1.5 million with the Maple Leafs. At 32 years old with a lot of tough miles behind him, Simmonds was overpaid on his $5 million contract last year with the Devils, but at $1.5 million he slots more as a third or even fourth line depth forward. At that price and in that role, I think he could still have value as another player who plays with an edge and nastiness that makes him an unpleasant opponent. And he could still be a net front presence on a second power play unit.
Braden Holtby
I go back and forth and am at least tempted (not sold) on Holtby and his newest contract for $4.3 million per year for two years. Holtby’s play has declined over the past couple years such that he might just on the downswing for his career. But I have some modest appetite for risk with a potentally higher-end goalie. Two years at $4.3 million is at least close to where I take that risk. My math would have him replacing Reimer who then gets traded, so the salary cap hit this year is less than $1 million more. Assuming Reimer is tradeable which seems likely given his unique contract, I would play the low risk/potentially high reward game for Holtby for one year at $4 million or two years at $3.5 million, so this is close.
There are also a few depth defensemen including Trevor van Riemsdyk whose contracts I like, but the Hurricanes do not have room for another defenseman on a one-way contract.
How short my list is especially if you exclude the deals that would not have been available to the Hurricanes says a lot about the current year’s free agent market and also how much better the Hurricanes existing lineup is compared to years past.
What say you Canes fans?
1) What are your thoughts on the deals that I would steal if given the opportunity?
2) What other players would you add if you could take their contract?
Go Canes!
It is a rather short list, but other than Maroon, who is an older version of what I hope Foegele turns into, I’m not sold on the others.
The King – yes, low risk with low salary but not much of upgrade at this stage of his career. Two years of Holtby after the last two years of declining performance (in front of a great team) at that $4M+ salary is also a bit much for me with no surety of upgraded performance. Simmons – I like the player but wonder how much he has left in the tank.
The real interesting deal is Taylor Hall. I know there are mixed views on this site on his character, etc., but one year at $8M is the moon-shot bet that seems reasonable to me and fills our largest need. Obviously, we would have to make some other moves to clear space for him, moves that are very hard to make these days, but he would have put us much closer to contending at least for next year.
Other than the King I don’t feel so sad about missing out on these deals.I would rather have taken a bet on Taylor Hall (not a sure bet, he has issues and the teams he has played on have always somehow managed to fail), but there are other deals I would have taken (note, only 1, max 2 of them, but all look more interesting than Fast):
:
Craig Smith (upgrade on Fast, only a slight upgrade on salary)
Namestikov – low risk low reward, could find chemistry with a fellow Russian, was willing to sign in Detroit.
Tyler Johnson (for 5.5 mill, 1 year)
Troy Stecker (if we could’ve unloaded Gardner’s contract), granted he is not a UFA.
Kyle turris – scoring third line center, not a bad bet but a somewhat risky one.
Tyler ennis – for 1 mill he could’ve come in handy
Greiss – not a bad deal if we ended up trading a goalie,
no King, but he has been almost as effective against the Canes.
Maroon and Simmonds went to were they wanted to go and would rather have Fast or Craig Smith. The canes must think Fast is a better fit-especially for 2 years. Craig Smith is 31 and declining.
Thought that Hall would go for more and more term but yeah I yr at 8m works. Would have to move Nino and probably Gardener but that is OK.
Would have liked to get Toffoli but it looks like the canes will see if Dzingel, Foegle or Nino can fill that top 6 role.
I think Fast will turn out to be a good deal. Speedy, some scoring ability but also very high character team guy. I think we did okay on that.
Going after Hall was too expensive for me. We would have to have trades to clear salary and that is very difficult now. Most teams are trying to reduce cap now, not add to it. And only one year, a good way to mess up team chemistry long term for a short term deal. Due to salaries it would only be one year. Why disrupt things for that. It would mean loosing multiple players to make that work. Not worth it for one year IMO.
We know who are weak links are. I would be surprised to see any of our high cap under performing contracts moved. We threw away all our prospects, what do we use for sweetener.
I do not think I would have gone for any of these. Again, some were not real. The only thing that would have moved the needle is a high end scorer and we are just not in a position to afford or retain that.
Some of these are players wanting to go some particular place, not real options.
I think our D is complete. We hired a new two way contract and did not pick up TVR which tells you we have 7. Bean will be here this year. The only chance for D change is some swap of equivalent salaries. I see no reason to do that. Gardner could still come around.
With Fast, the forwards are complete. Very little cap space, so I see no changes there as well. I do not see takers on Nino or Dzingel.
I do not see why trading Reiner always comes up when he was our better goalie.
I think we may be done for trades. You never know? I just look at the conditions and do not see much room for changes. DW always has some surprises. I think it’s possible we do go with the 3 goalies. Could always be a trade there.