GDT: Free Agent Frenzy 2020 12PM EST

[Jean Luc Discard]

No, there's lots of necessary moves...2C, 2W for starters.

Yeah well, there's always necessary moves but not always enough cap space. When there's not enough cap space then you have to take some chances elsewhere in the lineup.

 

[Thomas Colavecchio]

I know hindsight is 20/20, but good night Dale overpaid for Stralman and especially Bobrovsky last offseason. Holy shit.

Of course a totally different environment this year than last with COVID and the flat CAP, but to be competitive it's nearly certain that any team / GM is almost always overpaying for FA's. For Fla, that's what you get when you draft poorly, and develop the talent that you do draft the way the Panther's have. Hopefully Mr. Z has a plan for that...

Last year, Dale was literally trying to save his arse, get to a new contract for himself, and freely spending Viola's $ to do so. Bad plan (hindsight is always 20/20) as the results speak for themselves.

Especially with Bob, as while he remains as one of the best goalies in the world, he could not overcome the quality and play D in front of him.

 

[BabyBennettov]

I wonder how long the unity will last, even with the team being a perennial contender for at least the next 3 seasons.

Fleury, face of the franchise the first couple years, one foot out the door already and they're forced to keep him because no one wants that contract without an incentive. Now Lehner is questionable for the beginning of the season, "nah we aren't trading Fleury (in other word, we don't want to pay the price to get rid of him)".

Schmidt, who was an important piece for them the past 3 years, out the door you go as we need to make room for a new guy (pretty good new guy, but still).

Marchessault was in trade rumours this past season. Pacioretty was almost dealt at the draft. Martinez IIRC was rumoured to be available a few weeks ago. Tatar was dealt 6 months after acquiring him. Stastny had better offers on the table when he signed there, traded away.

I would think eventually treating your players like cattle will catch up to you.

THIS !

Can’t stand Vegas...

Amen.

 

[I am not exposed]

I agree they’ll be more of a threat; no idea if they’ll be a contender: not much depth offense, So-so defending, mediocre goaltending

I mean, doesn't that describe our current roster? Apart from the mediocre goaltending. More like atrocious goaltending.

 

[violaswallet]

I mean, doesn't that describe our current roster? Apart from the mediocre goaltending. More like atrocious goaltending.

Eh I’m actually okay with our forward depth: we have six guys that would have scored 20 last year (Vat, Conn, Cookie, Huby, Horny, Barky) on our team and likely a 7th in Dady, Tippett has the potential to be the 8th. I expect Acciari to be more at 10, but we have some buy low guys who might add.

Everyone forgets that we didn’t have a legitimate second line last year after trading Troch and we might not ‘this year, but we essentially turned Hoffman and Haula into Wennberg, Hornqvist and Tippett

 

[I am not exposed]

Of course a totally different environment this year than last with COVID and the flat CAP, but to be competitive it's nearly certain that any team / GM is almost always overpaying for FA's. For Fla, that's what you get when you draft poorly, and develop the talent that you do draft the way the Panther's have. Hopefully Mr. Z has a plan for that...

Last year, Dale was literally trying to save his arse, get to a new contract for himself, and freely spending Viola's $ to do so. Bad plan (hindsight is always 20/20) as the results speak for themselves.

Especially with Bob, as while he remains as one of the best goalies in the world, he could not overcome the quality and play D in front of him.

When you're paying a goaltender $10 freakin million a season, he should be able to somewhat overcome the quality of D play in front of him (Like Markstrom did with Vancouver last year). He is after all being paid to be a difference maker. He was so bad that Driedger was better than him last season.

 

[violaswallet]

When you're paying a goaltender $10 freakin million a season, he should be able to somewhat overcome the quality of D play in front of him (Like Markstrom did with Vancouver last year). He is after all being paid to be a difference maker. He was so bad that Driedger was better than him last season.

I agree, but the only productive thing is to see what happens this year: maybe he is a total bust; maybe he will then it arojnd

 

[Dread Clawz]

Eh I’m actually okay with our forward depth: we have six guys that would have scored 20 last year (Vat, Conn, Cookie, Huby, Horny, Barky) on our team and likely a 7th in Dady, Tippett has the potential to be the 8th. I expect Acciari to be more at 10, but we have some buy low guys who might add.

Everyone forgets that we didn’t have a legitimate second line last year after trading Troch and we might not ‘this year, but we essentially turned Hoffman and Haula into Wennberg, Hornqvist and Tippett

Yeah our scoring is fine if we re-sign Dads or Hoff. We'd have a much more well balanced team than Toronto or Buffalo.

 

[Dread Clawz]

Eh I’m actually okay with our forward depth: we have six guys that would have scored 20 last year (Vat, Conn, Cookie, Huby, Horny, Barky) on our team and likely a 7th in Dady, Tippett has the potential to be the 8th. I expect Acciari to be more at 10, but we have some buy low guys who might add.

Everyone forgets that we didn’t have a legitimate second line last year after trading Troch and we might not ‘this year, but we essentially turned Hoffman and Haula into Wennberg, Hornqvist and Tippett

Yeah our scoring is fine if we re-sign Dads or Hoff. We'd have a much more well balanced team than Toronto or Buffalo.

 

[violaswallet]

Yeah our scoring is fine if we re-sign Dads or Hoff. We'd have a much more well balanced team than Toronto or Buffalo.

Yep: we won’t be as dominant but this committee could work better. Last year we were a 4 player team scoring but an elite 4 player team. This year I’m more optimistic that we will see Wennberg Tippett and Connolly have good games

 

[FinlandPanther]

I think our bottom 6 is a thousand times better than last season so we have that going for us.

 

[violaswallet]

I think our bottom 6 is a thousand times better than last season so we have that going for us.

Yep: what I’m not sure is what our PP will look like with Horny being an effective net presence

 

[FinlandPanther]

Yep: what I’m not sure is what our PP will look like with Horny being an effective net presence

Barkov and Huby are going to have to control the PP even more then since they don’t have Hoff to force it to.

 

[violaswallet]

Barkov and Huby are going to have to control the PP even more then since they don’t have Hoff to force it to.

Yep: we will see if Barkov can add more value when not forced to screen. I’m curious how Ekblad looks now or if Tippett steps up

 

[ProjectPanthers]

Yep: we will see if Barkov can add more value when not forced to screen. I’m curious how Ekblad looks now or if Tippett steps up

Barkov will only become more valuable on the PP if he decides to shoot more.

He has such an incredible shot, just wish he would utilize it more.

 

[Ghoste]

Barkov will only become more valuable on the PP if he decides to shoot more.

He has such an incredible shot, just wish he would utilize it more.

He’ll need to score like how he did in the Islanders qualifying game.

-ghoste

 

[GrumpyKelly]

I'm still trying to understand why Weegar is in the trade talks. It made some sense when they were trying to get AP/Schmidt but now? It can't be the hanging arb decision, it's not going to be that much.

We finally hit a home run on a 7th rounder and they can't wait to get rid of him, lol.

 

[ProjectPanthers]

I'm still trying to understand why Weegar is in the trade talks. It made some sense when they were trying to get AP/Schmidt but now? It can't be the hanging arb decision, it's not going to be that much.

We finally hit a home run on a 7th rounder and they can't wait to get rid of him, lol.

Your avatar makes me question why you're surprised lol.

Par for the course with this franchise.

 

[GrumpyKelly]

Your avatar makes me question why you're surprised lol.

Par for the course with this franchise.

I guess hope dies last...

 

[FinlandPanther]

Your avatar makes me question why you're surprised lol.

Par for the course with this franchise.

I mean if they can find an upgrade why not? Weegar a injuries have been concerning.

 

[floridada]

I'm still trying to understand why Weegar is in the trade talks. It made some sense when they were trying to get AP/Schmidt but now? It can't be the hanging arb decision, it's not going to be that much.

We finally hit a home run on a 7th rounder and they can't wait to get rid of him, lol.

What trade talks? Haven't seen any *legit* trade rumors on anyone today.

 

[Thomas Colavecchio]

When you're paying a goaltender $10 freakin million a season, he should be able to somewhat overcome the quality of D play in front of him (Like Markstrom did with Vancouver last year). He is after all being paid to be a difference maker. He was so bad that Driedger was better than him last season.

Absolutely no disagreement with you that Bob played poorly last year, and that much more should have been expected from him. But don't forget that he didn't decide that he was worth 10 M / 7 years, DT did.

Ya, I wouldn't say no either...

Hard to ice a competent D when you have both Math and Yandle, combined also making North of 10 M, each needing to play sheltered minutes. When in fact Brown turned out to be Q's best option for 3rd pairing D'man, something is seriously wrong.

Asset management, plain and simple, sucked under DT. Hopefully Mr. Z changes all of that...

 

[GrumpyKelly]

What trade talks? Haven't seen any *legit* trade rumors on anyone today.

Chris Johnston said yesterday that we're "definitely trying to trade Weegar" and that it should happen before the arbitration talks start. So within a week or so. Doesn't sound like they want to keep him.

 

[SoupyFIN]

Everyone forgets that we didn’t have a legitimate second line last year after trading Troch

Not that we had one before that either lol.

I'm still trying to understand why Weegar is in the trade talks. It made some sense when they were trying to get AP/Schmidt but now? It can't be the hanging arb decision, it's not going to be that much.

We finally hit a home run on a 7th rounder and they can't wait to get rid of him, lol.

I think there's way too much talk about this (especially by the media North of the border who traditionally aren't well connected to the Panthers), considering the only thing we know is that Weegar's agent filed for salary arbitration. Plenty of RFAs file for that every offseason and don't end up getting traded.

Weegar's agent could be trying to put pressure on Zito to get a longer contract done before the hearing, where he'll be awarded a 1 year contract and risk walking to UFA next year. Maybe for whatever reason, he doesn't want to sign longer than 1 year and intends to test the market next year.

Zito could be thinking between value now, value at the deadline, or Weegar as our own "rental" for the season. It's a tough call, but if you have an idea that Weegar isn't planning to stick around, this is a good time to find a replacement, especially at these prices for guys with term and money. Also how does Zito see Weegar? Is he a legit top pairing/top4 complementary guy to Ekblad, or someone who's just playing there because we didn't have a better fit available? Are his injury issues a concern, or something worth taking the risk?

Whatever it is, if Zito is truly shopping Weegar, he surely has his reasons and a plan in place to replace Weegar.

 

[violaswallet]

Not that we had one before that either lol.

I think there's way too much talk about this (especially by the media North of the border who traditionally aren't well connected to the Panthers), considering the only thing we know is that Weegar's agent filed for salary arbitration. Plenty of RFAs file for that every offseason and don't end up getting traded.

Weegar's agent could be trying to put pressure on Zito to get a longer contract done before the hearing, where he'll be awarded a 1 year contract and risk walking to UFA next year. Maybe for whatever reason, he doesn't want to sign longer than 1 year and intends to test the market next year.

Zito could be thinking between value now, value at the deadline, or Weegar as our own "rental" for the season. It's a tough call, but if you have an idea that Weegar isn't planning to stick around, this is a good time to find a replacement, especially at these prices for guys with term and money. Also how does Zito see Weegar? Is he a legit top pairing/top4 complementary guy to Ekblad, or someone who's just playing there because we didn't have a better fit available? Are his injury issues a concern, or something worth taking the risk?

Whatever it is, if Zito is truly shopping Weegar, he surely has his reasons and a plan in place to replace Weegar.

Yep: what is missing is a well specified explanation of why Florida wants and that leans me to think that the leaks are from the other teams.

As an economist, Zito is my hero: he thinks through contingency and maximizing value. Trading Weegar could increase but value it depends how. The three cases could be

(1) Upgrading D Ie Schmidt
(2) Weegar is forcing a high one year contract for free agency which impedes this year
(3) Hoffman and Dady both want team friendly contracts and he thinks bringing both back makes our team better