I've been lurking around ACGM for a long time, mostly using it to fiddle around with things on my own. Figured for my first official post I'd try to do something realistic with the Panthers (my favorite team, if my username wasn't obvious enough lol).
So, here's what I figured:
1. I love Hornqvist, but I think dumping his contract is the most realistic way to get under the cap. We could gamble a lot on someone getting hurt and just use Duclair's LTIR money to keep him and ice a 20-man lineup, but that seems VERY unrealistic. I don't know what teams would be interested in him, but my guess is either Anaheim or Arizona. He might not waive for either of them, in which case I would posit that Seattle probably isn't on his no trade list and they were interested in him. What do y'all think?
2. I signed Rodriges to replace Hornqvist. The deal is a one-year "prove it" contract, with a considerable raise set for next season if he can earn it. I don't actually know if Florida has any interest in E-Rod, but I personally like him a lot. He'd do well with Lundell, IMO, or with Barkov on the top line while Duclair is injured. There are plenty of other options, though (such as Sprong: why tf hasn't anyone signed him?).
3. We really need a defenseman, but even without Hornqvist, we're pretty tight against the cap. My immediate thought, however, was to grab Justin Holl from whatever team Toronto trades him to for cap space. At 50% retention, he fits in perfectly (albeit, we'd be VERY snug against the cap). Again, we could do more using Duclair's LTIR money, but that's a very risky move. This seemed semi-realistic, and I honestly don't mind Holl as a defenseman. He's not ideal, but he's a solid replacement for the time being, and his underlying numbers aren't horrible. I kinda wonder if he could play LD with Ekblad?
4. A very minor note, but I could definitely see Lundell taking over the 2C role at some point this season (perhaps even to start the year). I'm not a huge fan of 3C Bennett, but it could work, and if it doesn't, that could make him expendable (4m off the books would help a TON this year). Just something to think about.
Lineup when Duclair is healthy:
Verhaeghe - Barkov - Tkachuk
Duclair - Bennett - Reinhart
Balcers - Lundell - Rodrigues
Cousins - Luostarinen - White
Forsling - Ekblad
Carlsson - Gudas
Montour - Holl
NOTE: I wonder if we wouldn't even need to sign a Hornqvist replacement if we just bring up someone like Levtchi. Might be easier, and it would save us some money. I also wonder what would happen if we paired Carlsson with Ekblad? Forsling - Gudas would become our second pairing, like in years past, and Montour - Holl would stay the same.
Edit - Second Note: Probably move the 2023 2nd and use that to dump Hornqvist. Seems to be the agreed-upon value. Holl apparently has no value so maybe just the 5th to get him?
Probably future considerations.
I thought about trying to get Lundestrom back as a serviceable replacement (and a good penalty killer to play with Luosty), but I don't know what value he carries.
What might it cost to move him, realistically? I've seen some ACGMs of other teams that get him for very little (such as a Coyotes trade that gave Florida 50% retained Gostisbehere for Hornqvist and a 2nd), so I honestly don't know.
Lundestrom has a good bit of value, 2018 first rounder developing as expected for a 3C spot, no real reason for ANA to trade him for less than a late first
Lundestrom has a good bit of value, 2018 first rounder developing as expected for a 3C spot, no real reason for ANA to trade him for less than a late first
That's kinda what I thought, and the main reason I didn't trade for him. I also thought a 2nd rounder would be what it takes to move Hornqvist.
McDavid, Connor
$250,000)
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