You decide: Who should Ron Francis pursue at goalie and from available free agent forwards?

by | May 19, 2016 | Daily Cup of Joe

Who do you think Ron Francis SHOULD add (if available for a reasonable price) as a second goalie?

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Who do you think Ron Francis WILL add as a second goalie?

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For building out the top half of the roster (realizing that there might also be need to add a depth forward or 2), who do you think Ron Francis should pursue from the list of available free agent forw

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I would also love to hear everyone’s thoughts on actual availability, price, risks and other thoughts especially on the goalies. I continue to think that what Ron Francis does with that second goalie slot is potentially the most important decision that he will make this summer for the 2016-17 season.

Go Canes!

7 Comments

  1. minjaben
    minjaben on May 19, 2016 at 1:44 pm

    In the goalie polls, I’m a bit confused as why you thought both Bishop and Vasilevskiy are both options while for every other good pair (Gibson/Andersen, Murray/Fleury, Elliot/Allen, etc.) you only made one of the two available? Considering you said “if available for a reasonable price” I went with the youngest elite and chose Vasilevskiy. However, I don’t he really would be available and probably not for a reasonable price if he was available. What I keep thinking is a very Ron Francis move is that he will bring in Jimmy Howard in a cap deal much like Versteeg was brought in last year, coming with either another player we would like to get or a pick for helping out the Wings.

    As for the forwards, I one of the players I voted for was “other”. I wouldn’t be against or surprised to see us go after McGinn from the Ducks. I think he would provide the kind of 3rd line forward I think we may end up picking up in addition to a top line capable player.

    • Matt Karash
      Matt Karash on May 19, 2016 at 3:38 pm

      I included players that I thought could be available and left out those that I thought would not. This is my opinion and could obviously be wrong.

      For Pit and Ana, I do not see either trading their young ‘goalie of the future’ so I only included the veteran (Fleury & Andersen). For whatever reason, I think Yzerman’s decision could be different especially if Bishop returns and pushes TB further in playoffs and Stamkos departs and offers some cap relief.

      Regardless, the impending expansion draft is well-timed for the Canes and should open up a bunch of options that would not otherwise be available.

      • minjaben
        minjaben on May 19, 2016 at 5:41 pm

        Well, I could see Gibson being available for similar reasons. The Ducks looked better with him in goal than Gibson in their playoffs against the Preds. Additionally, with the expansion draft potentially coming up next year, they may elect to trade some of their RFA defenders this year instead of signing them to save cap and not have to worry about who to protect next year. In a situation like that, they would also have the cap room to keep a more expensive Andersen who has played better than Gibson in the playoffs (and often the regular season as well).

        • minjaben
          minjaben on May 19, 2016 at 5:42 pm

          Clearly, I don’t understand how to use your HTML quote tabs…. 🙁

  2. puckgod
    puckgod on May 19, 2016 at 3:16 pm

    I think we should try to get the best goalie money can buy!! I’m tired of seeing us trying to GET BY, with a cheapo, soso, medium-priced ineffective goalie! That said I’m not sure if that is Bishop, Andersson, or someone else…
    There are a few good options at forward, both Rfa and Ufa, and my choices would include at least two of -Kucherov/ Stamkos/ Okposo/ Versteeg/ Eriksson/ Ladd… and one more guy like Perron!

  3. RedRyder
    RedRyder on May 19, 2016 at 4:56 pm

    Goalie: I voted Andersen. As puckgod said we need to go after the best. This will define whether we go to the playoffs or not next year. We have built an excellent defense corp and now need to take full advantage of it.
    Forwards: I would prefer Okposo and/or Ladd with Lucic as a possibility. I did not select Versteeg, but if we got Okposo or Ladd, then Versteeg or Ericksson would be another option for the second forward.

  4. puckgod
    puckgod on May 19, 2016 at 5:09 pm

    I can’t believe THAT many people think RF will sign Ward or Staal… REALLY?

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