Yesterday’s Daily Cup of Joe which is HERE, stepped through the Canes free agent decisions for forwards.
Today’s article looks at the team’s free agent defensemen.
Tony DeAngelo
For: DeAngelo was a decent proxy for Dougie Hamilton offensively with 51 point in 64 games. His point play on the power play was actually a bit more multi-dimensional than Hamilton who was mostly just a trigger man. And DeAngelo also produced at even strength. And though imperfect, he proved to adequate defensively in a #4 slot during the regular season. So at face value, DeAngelo could be a #4 defenseman who fills the need for offense/scoring. Something like $5 million would be a huge raise from his $1 million bargain salary in 2022-23 but not at all unreasonable by today’s NHL standards.
Against: But the burning question is whether he is truly a #4 on a good hockey team built to win the Stanley Cup. Per previous articles, I think DeAngelo is a great #5 defenseman but is overslotted defensively as a regular on the first or second pairing. That showed at times in the playoffs. As a #5 defenseman, I think he becomes a bit like Niederreiter as a player one would like to retain if salary cap was not an issue, but maybe not one the team can afford based on the slot and the need to upgrade the top half of the roster. Further, though he comes with significant risk, if the Canes do not buy out or give up picks to trade Jake Gardiner, he could similarly be a third pairing defenseman who fills a power play role. Seemingly with some margin for error to make the playoffs with just most of the current roster, I could see the Canes trying this and then possibly paying less to unload Gardiner’s salary at the midway point or trade deadline if it does not work out.
Where I land: I would pass on DeAngelo if he wants the $5 million-ish that his offensive production probably wins in arbitration. I just think the team is better built for playoff success with a steady even if unspectacular #4 next to Jaccob Slavin and trying to fill the power play and offensive need with a third pairing specialist type. Because of the arbitration situation, the Hurricanes may try to resolve this one sooner rather than later. At at discount closer to $3 million, I like DeAngelo as a premium #5.
Ian Cole
For: Cole generally came as advertised as a good locker room addition and veteran. In that regard, it makes sense for a team to pay a premium even though he is a third pairing defenseman at this stage of his career.
Against: But continuing with a repeated theme, with the Hurricanes pushing up against the salary cap and needing to improve the top half of the roster, it will be hard to justify a $2.8 million contract like Cole had for 2021-22. The salary cap math for the blue line becomes even trickier if the Canes do re-up with DeAngelo who will get a significant raise even if he takes a hometown discount or if the Canes either keep Gardiner or have to eat part of his contract. Long story short, Cole is another player whose salary will likely be needed elsewhere.
Where I land: I like the idea of a gritty veteran in the third pairing, but if the suddenly veteran group of the Hurricanes can not find enough leadership among the core players, they have problems. As such, I pass on re-signing Cole unless he is willing to take a significant pay cut to a $1 million-ish more appropriate for his slot.
Brendan Smith
For: Like Cole, Smith came as advertised. When in the lineup, he played with a physical edge and fit the bill salary-wise as a #7 defenseman. If DeAngelo and Cole both depth as I suggest, it could make sense to retain Brendan Smith for depth in the form of a known quantity if he is willing to a salary near the $800,000 he earned in 2021-22.
Against: But Smith struggled at times defensively. I would prefer to see the Canes go younger for depth or possibly look outside the organization for a modest upgrade. Especially if the Canes give it a try with Gardiner, the team will want steady help for the other half of the third pairing and #7 depth.
Where I land: At something near a league minimum salary again, I could see retaining Smith as #7 type veteran depth, but I would prefer to see the team go younger or look elsewhere.
Ethan Bear
For: Coming off a sub-par 2021-22 campaign that saw him fall from starting the season as a #4 defenseman to becoming a health scratch, Bear would definitely be a buy low option right now. He is coming off a $2 million salary and has arbitration rights that would probably yield a salary in the same range. As such, he will be priced as a higher-end third pairing defenseman. He is only 25 years old, so if he rebounds he would be priced fair or discounted for his role.
Against: But putting the above paragraph more simply, Ethan Bear just did not work out in 2021-22. As such, best might be to recover the salary budget and just move on.
Where I land: I am torn on Bear. I think ideal would be to find an even trade for a similar young-ish player with some upside but coming off a down year or possibly just collecting a mid/late-round draft pick and moving on. But the risk/reward trade-off could be worth considering given his modest salary.
What say you Canes fans?
1) Do you think I am discounting Tony DeAngelo too much but pegging him as a good #5 defenseman? How much would you pay to re-sign him?
2) Would you prioritize re-signing either of the veterans (Ian Cole and Brendan Smith)?
3) Based on how Ethan Bear’s season ended, do you think trading him is the only option for both parties?
Go Canes!
1. I’d try to sign TDA at up to 5 mill, 4 would be better. I just don’t see how the team will run a successful powerplay without him (or equivalent), and offensive defensemen don’t come cheap. It all comes down to how the team plans to handle Gardner’s contract.
2. I’d try to sign one of the two at a max of 1.5 mill but not both. My guess is that Smith is the more likely of the 2 to accept a deal in that range. I believe one or two of the Chicago Wolve’s d-men will be slotted in the third pairing.
3. Walk away from the Bear .. it just hasn’t worked out. Maybe Bear + Necas + a prospect can be packaged for some veteran help, especially a player with high-end skill and one year left on his contract (to go all in for the current roster).
Hopefully the Canes are able to sign someone like Josh Mansun or take more of a risky approach and trade with the LA Kings for a younger right-handed D (the Kings have 4 or 5 legit right-handed D-men, which is an over-abondance).
2. I’d retain Seither on a salary of 1 to 1.5 mill, but not both.
Agree that letting DeAngelo go leaves Canes maybe minus a first unit power play point man.
For whatever reason, teams are still hesitant to do it except in limited circumstances, but I think Canes could be a candidate for trying 5 forwards on the power play with Teravainen up top. Having never played in that role, he would need to adjust, but I actually think he has the basic tools. He has a decent slap shot (more commonly from the face-off circle) needed to be a trigger man, is good at distributing the puck and though not a defenseman has pretty good hockey sense/judgement defensively. More so than having a defenseman in that role, I think you just need a player who can read when they need to retreat in a hurry.
But I digress…Putting my ‘thinking out of the box’ plan to the side, I see a couple options. If the team does not unload Gardiner, he is capable in that role. If not Gardiner, it can be possible to add a bit of a power play specialist who is light defensively as long as you can hide him in the 3rd pairing. Finally, I think the Hurricanes have enough gap above the playoff cut line that they could leave some salary cap dry powder to start the season, try Gardiner (and also ?s at forward) and be ready to upgrade during the season or at the trade deadline.
1) I would sign TDA. He is not terrible defensively and is important on the PP. I would also say up to 5M. Hopefully we get a discount as he said he is loyal. Home town discounts do not happen that often. Since he does have arbitration rights, it has been clear the canes do not allow it to get to that point. If they do not agree on something he will be let go as they will not allow uncontrolled salary when putting the team together.
2) No to prioritize. I was not a big fan of cole. I saw too many mess-ups at the wrong time. I liked Smith for physical. If either goes for 1M, okay. We do have young blood available.
3) Gardner is such an unknown for me. If he is healthy he can be pretty good. Bear, similar in that he had a foot issue. He could be much better if healed. I know they swept it under the rug but Covid and the injury’s could have been the problem. Not enough info. Both could be good, or bad. The team probably knows how both are doing. I can’t make a call on this. I do not think we saw the real bear at the last half of the season. You don’t throw something away if it has the potential to be good. Gardner could be great, but after being off a year, could be not so good also. If we trade either do we end up giving more away just to get rid of the contracts. Tough call. I do not have enough info to have an opinion.
I do think you are seriously undervaluing DeAngelo. An effective offensive defenseman is a valuable commodity. If not for DeAngelo’s past he would be looked at as $7M+ player. He may still get close to that in arbitration. $5M would be a good deal for DeAngelo. What DeAngelo is asking is the big question. How much and how long? If he wants to play hardball arbitration will probably be kind to him. We’ll see.
After DeAngelo everything is sort of dependent on what the Canes can do with Gardiner and Bear. Gardiner may have been cleared medically, but can he skate? He couldn’t when he played last. He would often jump instead of pivot. If that hasn’t changed no chance he plays for the Canes. Buy out most likely. I also agree that Bear just isn’t good enough. Teams don’t often trade 23 year old defensemen they like for a bottom 6 forward. Edmonton didn’t think much of him, and I don’t either. I suppose his agent is shopping now. Hope he finds a team that wants him.
I like Ian Cole. Solid third pairing guy. What do you expect for $2.8M? You see what $2M gets you. (Bear) I think the Canes would like to resign him, but it depends upon what they can do with Bear and Gardiner.
Smith is cheap, but I don’t see him as a priority. Maybe he’ll get signed late if they need a defenseman.