Free Agent Frenzy 2016

[Josh]

Unlike the last couple years, we've still got quite a few high-profile players hitting UFA.

[Josh]

Oilers get Lucic as expected. Hall for Larsson + Lucic looks a lot better now.

[Josh]

Man, John Chayka has really been proving his worth since being hired in Arizona..

Traded away:
Joe Vitale
Maxim Letunov
2016 1st round pick (#20 - Dennis Cholowski)
2016 2nd round pick (#37 - Libor Hajek)
2016 2nd round pick (#53 - Filip Hronek)
2016 5th round pick (#128 - Colton Point)
2017 6th round pick

Traded for:
Pavel Datsyuk's contract
Alex Goligoski
Anthony DeAngelo
2016 1st round pick (#16 - Jakob Chychrun)
2017 3rd round pick

Drafted with own 2016 1st round pick:
2016 1st round pick (#7 - Clayton Keller)

Signed high-profile:
Jamie McGinn

[matchesmalone]

Agreed on all counts. Chayka has made a very strong first impression. If he keeps this up, I would think Kyle Dubas will be in high consideration for the Vegas job.

As I half-joked to a friend today, with some of these ludicrous contracts handed out today, I think the big winner of the day was Ottawa, by not doing anything.

Seriously though, Minnesota really bolstered their already solid forward depth, adding Chris Stewart and Eric Staal. I loved what Detroit did: Frans Nielsen was the closest thing you can get to replacing Datsyuk, they got Vanek at a reasonable price and term, and Ott is still a decent bottom six forward; that should be enough to hold them over and keep the streak alive until their impressive group of prospects is ready. My favorite single signing of the day was Mikkel Boedker to San Jose: very reasonable money and term, and San Jose adds a bit more scoring forward depth and a lot more speed, both of which they needed.

[matchesmalone]

Also, after all the talk about how one-sided the Hall trade was, it was pointed out to me that Hall has never actually broken 30 goals, and despite the prevailing thought that he would be an elite player if not for the injuries, he has only twice in six season surpassed a point per game, one of those was the lockout season. His other four seasons, projected to 82 games, would have been, in chronological order 53, 71, 59 and 65 points... First of all then, is this really the first overall superstar that it was so imbecilic to trade for Adam Larsson? And second of all, please tell me somebody remembers me adamantly insisting at the 2010 draft that Seguin was going to be the better player?

[Josh]

There seem to be quite a few capable players left unsigned. Am I missing something, or are the following all still awaiting deals?

D:
Adam Pardy
Christian Ehrhoff
Dan Boyle
Dennis Seidenberg
Jason Demers
Justin Schultz
Kris Russell
Kyle Quincey
Luke Schenn
Marek Zidlicky
Matt Bartkowski
Yevgeny Medvedev

F:
Jiri Hudler
Shane Doan
Alex Tanguay
Brad Boyes
Brad Richards
Brandon Pirri
Corban Knight
Dale Weise
Kris Versteeg
Lauri Korpikoski
Linden Vey
Matt Cullen
Patrik Elias
Radim Vrbata
Sam Gagner
Tomas Fleischmann
Tyler Kennedy

Vegas could probably form a better team from those left unsigned than the team they'll come out of the expansion draft with..

[thedaigle1]

Demers got a deal with the Cats. I'd like to see Ottawa make a push for Schultz or Pirri.

Scrivens, Enroth, and Lindback will all find jobs.

There seem to be quite a few capable players left unsigned. Am I missing something, or are the following all still awaiting deals?

D:
Adam Pardy - When you're not good enough to play D in EDM
Christian Ehrhoff - Way past his prime if he ever really had one
Dan Boyle - Older than the old testament (could retire in hometown of Ottawa?) I could see him doing a minimum contract in SJ
Dennis Seidenberg - Way overrated
Jason Demers - See above
Justin Schultz - Come to Ottawa!
Kris Russell - Will sign death contract of doom. STAY OUT OF OTTAWA
Kyle Quincey - Will be surprised if DET doesn't re-sign at discount
Luke Schenn - the other jared cowen
Marek Zidlicky - Older than the old testament/injury-plagued
Matt Bartkowski - who?
Yevgeny Medvedev - what?

Where is James Fucking Wisniewski on this list? Probably the best remaining option

F:
Jiri Hudler - Intriguing
Shane Doan - Older than the old testament/would probably only re-sign in AZ
Alex Tanguay - Pretty old
Brad Boyes - When you're not good enough to play forward in TO
Brad Richards - Washed up hack
Brandon Pirri - Come to Ottawa!
Corban Knight - interesting UFA IV
Dale Weise - Signed in PHI
Kris Versteeg - Intriguing
Lauri Korpikoski - Bust
Linden Vey - EDIT: Signed by CAL
Matt Cullen - Older than the old testament and has his ring now anyways
Patrik Elias - Older than the old testament/would probably only re-sign in NJ
Radim Vrbata - Will have to settle big time after garbage year of garbage
Sam Gagner - Kind of a bust?
Tomas Fleischmann - Intriguing
Tyler Kennedy - Has failed to latch om with last three teams

I could see another team taking a flyer on Cody Hodgson

Vegas could probably form a better team from those left unsigned than the team they'll come out of the expansion draft with..

[thedaigle1]

Also, Josh, I know that in this thread and in the Sens lineup thread it probably sounds like I'm just shitting all over your ideas. On the contrary, I think you've got some great points, I'm just trying to be constructive and propose alternatives to promote conversation.

[Josh]

Also, Josh, I know that in this thread and in the Sens lineup thread it probably sounds like I'm just shitting all over your ideas. On the contrary, I think you've got some great points, I'm just trying to be constructive and propose alternatives to promote conversation.

No worries at all man, I didn't get that impression and I enjoy the conversation :)

[thedaigle1]

Claesson stayin' in Ottawa for the year (except only kinda cos it's a two-way contract).

[matchesmalone]

The only available free agents who even remotely interest me (outside of Vesey, of course), would be Pirri, Korpikoski, and Versteeg. Please no Fleischman!

[thedaigle1]

The only available free agents who even remotely interest me (outside of Vesey, of course), would be Pirri, Korpikoski, and Versteeg. Please no Fleischman!

Just curious cos I know you've got more of a scout's eye, what's the appeal of Korpikoski?

[matchesmalone]

Same reason we just signed Kelly. Our big need in the bottom six is a good penalty killer and checking forward. Korpikoski on the opposite side of Neil would have made a punishing, hard-hitting energy line, then imagine Zach Smith in between them.

[thedaigle1]

I can dig it. I think it would be best to have any combination of Lazar, Paul, Puempel, and Dzingel in Bingo until further notice. Especially Lazar.

[Matt the Aussie]

Same reason we just signed Kelly. Our big need in the bottom six is a good penalty killer and checking forward. Korpikoski on the opposite side of Neil would have made a punishing, hard-hitting energy line, then imagine Zach Smith in between them.

I like this idea, wish I'd come up with it myself.

BTW Owen, "Luke Schenn - The other Jared Cowen" made me laugh way more than it should have.

I was really disappointed when Ottawa missed out on Seidenberg the first time...but please not now. He's not the first physical, stay at home D that drops off a cliff after a certain point (see Volchenkov, A)