The Sharks are circling on Defense

by jbwhite99 on Jan 2, 2012 8:50 AM EST

and I don't mean San Jose.

The Philadelphia Daily News reports that Peter Laviolette is looking for a defenseman to replace Pronger, and Tim Gleason is high on their list. http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/frequentflyers/Should-Flyers-trade-for-depth.html

Edmonton says the Flyers may take a leap at either Allen or Gleason: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/Habscheid/5878920/story.html

Furthermore, the Bruins are looking for a defenseman, and the rumor mill has them looking at us as well.

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Feb. 27, 2012 @ 3:00pm

Time to start the next countdown, the days until the trade deadline. Certain to be a seller, expect the Hurricanes to be involved in every trade rumor. Philadelphia and Canes/Whalers have been dancing partners in the past, but a trade this season with the Flyers will be with a intra-conference foe next season. Trades against teams you see 6 times a year get much harder to pull off.

by surgalt on Jan 2, 2012 10:56 AM EST reply actions

trading Gleason in his UFA year to Philly does not guarantee he’d be there next season, just as keeping him on the ’Canes this year would not guarantee him not signing with a division foe in 2012-2013. I say let him go; out of all our guys who deserve their name on the Cup, Timmay does, and Philly has a legitimate shot this year.

I CAN'T BELIEVE STAAL FINALLY SCORED!!!

by Capt. Stinky on Jan 2, 2012 11:11 AM EST up reply actions

I doubt he will be there next season. They have too many cap problems.

by hurricane9 on Jan 2, 2012 1:17 PM EST up reply actions

Trades are 2 way streets. We get someone back and Philly would be less than enthusiastic about seeing whomever they send here 6 times next year. You gotta believe JR will do the best for Gleason he can given the warrior he has been here. Whoever gets Gleason is gonna love having him and will try to keep him around. One of JRs weapons in any trade deadline deal is that he can help any trading partner make cap space. Given our need to keep spending over the floor be prepared to see some interesting names thrown in to sweeten any deal.

by surgalt on Jan 2, 2012 2:25 PM EST up reply actions

Philly i’m doubting ,because of the cap ,and adding TG to there team now would mean another $2.75m which would put them at about $9.2m over ,and there a division foe next year + Imo JR would like to send any players west “if” possible ,and imo it will be before the deadline as there are alot of teams that want Dmen ,and will be desperate to get a jump on the competition ,especially if it’s a team needing to shed payroll ,and right now there’s 7 + 3 more that’s close.

by hellfish on Jan 2, 2012 5:11 PM EST up reply actions

I’d give them Gleason and Jussi for Simmonds and a second round pick…..

by Squeaky83 on Jan 2, 2012 9:04 PM EST reply actions

In the "No Love for Jussi" zone.

Simmonds age 23 10 goals 7 assists 17 points -2 on a team that is +16. $1.75mil cap hit. 1 full year contract left.
Jokinen age 28 2 goals 18 assists 20 points -2 on a team that is -22. $3.0mil cap hit. 3 full years contract left

Simmonds was impressive today in the Winter Classic with over 18min TOI. He could possibly replace Ruutu if he does not return. Their 2nd pick will be a very late 2nd rounder. Jussi as a sweetener though on this deal is too much. . Gleason or Allen or Spacek and our 2nd (early 2nd rounder) for Simmons might make more sense. There is a bit of desperation in Philly over the Pronger problem, short and long term. Their cap issues, even with Pronger on IR, likely wouldn’t allow both a dman and Jussi anyway. They need the deal, not us. Hold ’em hostage.

by surgalt on Jan 2, 2012 10:25 PM EST up reply actions

Good point. I was just thinking they’d want a suitable replacement for Simmonds. He looks like a power forward on the standard development curve—like Ladd. He’s still young and will get bigger/stronger…. I just like his potential, and he’s already pretty good in the corners.

by Squeaky83 on Jan 3, 2012 8:53 AM EST up reply actions

This is an extreme idea but trading Ruutu and Gleason to the Flyers for Simmonds and a 1st or 2nd would be golden.

I know, I know salary cap this and salary cap that but if this could be managed just for the playoff push it would put us in excellent position.

While Philly would get playoff competitive players, it’s unlikely they would or could sign either this allowing us to do so. Therefore I think any trade that would be to an already salary strapped team would be beneficial to us. However I strongly disagree with trading Ruutu. His type of player, in my honest opinion, is irreplaceable.

by Caniac Kid on Jan 3, 2012 1:25 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions

As much as I would like to see Simmonds on a line with Skinner next season, this trade idea does not address the “Staal needs a winger” problem that has been partially solved by Dalpe.

I CAN'T BELIEVE STAAL FINALLY SCORED!!!

by Capt. Stinky on Jan 3, 2012 6:44 AM EST up reply actions

I have to agree……first place JR needs to use his assets between now and deadline is for that proven 1st line winger for Staal. After he gets that done he can then see what assets he has left and conduct his “fire sale” as folks outside the state are calling it.

So it is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss.
If you only know yourself, but not your opponent, you may win or may lose.
If you know neither yourself nor your enemy, you will always endanger yourself.
Sun Tzu circa 4th Century BC

by hurricanefever on Jan 3, 2012 9:04 AM EST up reply actions

Agree with the need but not the timing.

Improving Staal’s line need not be accomplished first. We are a seller until the deadline. The available first liners will be on sellers also. Sellers don’t trade with sellers until after the deadline. Buyers don’t dump first liners to get better for the race to the playoffs.

by surgalt on Jan 3, 2012 9:16 AM EST up reply actions

We will see……….as a general thought, it would seem that a label of seller or buyer makes no difference if we have something they want and they have something we want. If that is true, it then just becomes a matter of deciding on the price and determining your willingness to pull the trigger in order to get the deal done.

I have to say again that the smartest move for JR is to identify and aggressively solve his #1 need first before anything else. I have heard little argument from folks that this #1 need should be anything else. He may not be able to or want to pay the price but he has to do it now……..simple because until he knows the price he has to pay for who he wants why give up a part of that package the other team might want prematurely.

by hurricanefever on Jan 3, 2012 9:28 AM EST up reply actions

In the prelude to the trade deadline the buyer or seller label distorts the trade process. Buyers want a player that fills an immediate short term need. Buyers are willing to pay a premium for a rental player. Sellers look to give up UFAs that might be lost for nothing after the season is over. There is just a premium paid during the next 55 days that retards the usual trade process. On Feb 28th the trading deadline frenzy ends. We want the top 3 player and a top 3 draft pick by next October. That goal is likely best served after the trade deadline.

by surgalt on Jan 3, 2012 10:58 AM EST up reply actions

JR cannot dump very much salary right now…..he is too close to the floor. He not only has to take back dollars with the first trade or two but he is also in a prefect position to take back a lot of salary in those trades. Read top line winger here. He can then be far enough above the floor he can dump all the salary he wants before the deadline for his picks and prospects.

by hurricanefever on Jan 3, 2012 11:14 AM EST up reply actions

You are so right on the salary cap issue. Looking at capgeek. com the issue is very clouded due to the Long Term Injured Reserve credits they are getting. Their current total contracts have them over the cap but the LTIR credits more than make up for it. Maybe a good add in on the deal would be Nodl. He was waived due to the Flyers cap problems when they needed to make call ups to deal with players returning from IR. They were not down on him, but he was the rawest of the players remaining on their squad with 2 way contracts. A cap world fatality. Save Ruutu for another deal or a resigning. Simmonds here could

by surgalt on Jan 3, 2012 9:00 AM EST up reply actions

Continued...

Simmons here could absorb the the blow of losing Ruutu a bit should that become reality. Their draft choices won’t be a plum. Their 1st will like an early 2nd. Their 2nd an early third, etc.

by surgalt on Jan 3, 2012 9:06 AM EST up reply actions

I agree that there is a strong need for a 1st line winger, but realistically the assets we are willing to trade at the deadline won’t get us that. That is why I argue for the above desribed trade. You’re right, Simmonds isn’t the solution to that 1st line wing need, but realistically what team driving for the playoffs is going to give up a scoring 1st line winger for any player we have?

I understand there is a need to have those 2nd or 3rd line character players, but character doesn’t get you a 1st line winger in return; thus trading Ruutu, with as much spirit and fire as he has, along with any supplemental piece is unlikely to get us a proven 1st line winger. Just IMO.

by Caniac Kid on Jan 3, 2012 9:48 AM EST reply actions

I also wouldn’t count the Ducks out as a partner. They haven’t improved despite a new coach and a better roster of top six forwards. They need bottom six guys, and defense.

I’d still dangle Gleason, (McBain or Joslin) and (Stewart or Nodl) and (Larose or Dwyer) for Ryan…. We’ve got forward depth and defensive prospect depth to cover that trade.

We’d get our top six winger. They get a defensive defensman and an offensive (or two way) defensman, and two bottom six forward—good PK guys, and with Stewart or Nodl, good scoring potential… Things they need.

by Squeaky83 on Jan 3, 2012 10:20 AM EST reply actions

This is exactly the high level of deal I am hoping would happen for our assets. I am not sure if JR can pull it off but if he does he has my vote as GM of the year!

Yea I know, he got us into this spot……..but if gets a Ryan type player or better now plus looking at his Kaberle trade it would be a great recovery.

by hurricanefever on Jan 3, 2012 10:35 AM EST up reply actions

Ducks are a lock for the first or second pick in 2012. Definitely sellers. Ryan is signed for 4 more years at a reasonable $5.1mil certainly not a rental. He is having a Stall like year this year with exactly the same point production as Simmonds. (71 points last year) Gleason would be available for free in the summer if he is the dman they want. Players of McBain or Joslin calibre are not rare finds. Stewart can’t find ice time on the lowly Canes. Nodl, Larose, and Dwyer-like players are available in many places and on 2 way contracts. I would love the suggested trade but can’t imagine the Ducks would. With Staal and Ryan on the same line who would get the blame for not helping the others point production?

by surgalt on Jan 3, 2012 11:19 AM EST up reply actions

Ryan is an exceptional player having a tough year. I wouldn’t be surprised if Anaheim kept him, but they do have a huge issue coming up at the end of next season. Both Getzlaf & Perry become UFAs and Fowler becomes a RFA. The Ducks are basically a one line team + Selanne right now. They have about 3 or 4 good to really good young wingers in their system, but they don’t have a lot of depth and need a veteran 2nd line center to help bring their winger prospects along. I think a trade between Carolina & Anaheim could occur, but it would be different than the one above. I think Jussi, McBain, Nodl, and our 2012 2nd or 2013 1st (maybe even Sanguinetti) would work. Jussi could play their 2nd line center or other positions, he could play on their 2nd PP unit, and is very affordable at $3 million per season. His passing ability might work well in the near future with young players like Smith-Pelly and Etem on his wings. McBain (while I don’t necessarily agree) is viewed pretty well around the league. He could be another offensive defenseman for the Ducks and allow them to trade Visnovsky for other pieces. McBain would be an always valuable right-shot to add to the PP with Fowler. Nodl would be a 3rd/4th liner with speed and might work well with the also speed Cogliano. And the draft pick would be sweetner. The 2012 2nd would be a high 2nd round pick in a deep draft that could be combined with Anaheim’s 2nd to move back into the 1st. Or the 2013 1st would be a gamble; Anaheim would hope our new Conference is too much for us, while we would hope our new top level player would help bring us back to the playoffs.

I also believe that while Staal & Ryan are both considered shoot-first guys, I think they would work well together. I think Staal is a better passer than given credit for and Ryan is enough of a force to take some attention away from Staal, thus opening him up for better scoring opportunities.

Staal & Dalpe; The New Dynamic Duo or The Canes Crusaders!

by PackPride17 on Jan 3, 2012 12:22 PM EST up reply actions