WWYDW: Final Cuts

The pre-season is coming to an end this weekend, and the real season will be here in short order.

At this moment, things are a little messy. Players like Troy Stecher, Jack Skille, Tuomo Ruutu,Brendan Gaunce, and Joe Labate have had very good showings, obviously to varying degrees, and are pushing themselves into the conversation for the opening night rosters. On the flip side, there are a few players that were expected to occupy a roster spot that just haven’t live up to expectations.

So this weeks question is –  who makes the opening night roster if you had the choice? Who doesn’t make the cut?

Last week we asked: Knowing what it will cost to sign Trouba, what would you package to acquire him from the Jets? Conversely, why wouldn’t you trade for Trouba? Try to be realistic. Luca Sbisa and Jannik Hansen isn’t making it happen.

Nope.

The Jets’ asking price is a left-hander of similar age and ability. 

That means giving up either Hutton or Juolevi plus a bunch of other assets. 

Then what do we do with Gudbranson? Play him on the third pair? Trade him again for a lefty to replace Hutton/Juolevi?

The guy clearly has attitude problems, he gets plenty of ice time and Byfuglien is 31 and isn’t going to be a top-4 guy forever. 

We just don’t have any need for a top 4 righty. If the Jets would take Hutton or Juolevi with minimal add-ons, then it would be worth it. But I’m sure there’s a team out there with a hole on the right side and an extra guy on the left, and that team would be in a position to pay a fair price. 

It’s been mentioned before, but if JB wanted Trouba then he would have gotten him instead of Gudbranson. The Canucks are well-balanced left and right (bearing in mind that Tryamkin plays the right side) in the top 8. 

No chance he comes to Vancouver.

I would deal for Trouba only if Canucks are also moving out Tanev or Gudbranson. Maybe the Canucks deal Tanev for Trouba? Trouba has a high ceiling but Tanev is probably more solid on D right now.

I’d focus on forwards. I think you can gamble and try and get guys who have hurt their market value: E. Kane, Yakupov and Nichushkin. Only Nichushkin would cost a lot but the other two aren’t going to require a lot – if they are then forget about them.

We don’t have the 1 for 1 asset they are apparently looking for, unless its Juolevi and that wouldn’t be an upgrade. Juolevi projects to be better. 

All we have to offer is picks, plus a 5/6 pairing guy like Pedan. 

So Pedan + our 2017 1st + a roster player like Sbisa or Hansen because we would need to clear the salary to make it happen. Probably not sexy enough but given that the 1st might be a lottery chance its good value.

I like Trouba but is he honestly worth that price? Comparable contracts at that age seem like elite forwards (MacKinnon, RNH, Hall, Barkov, Seguin, Tavares). I’m trying to think what other young D have commanded that kind of a deal. And that’s just on the money. If you are having to give up a blue chip prospect like Virtanen or Juolevi I don’t see the point as it would be a lateral move at best. Yes you could argue that Trouba is an established NHLer but does he project at a higher level than Juolevi? Most of the “shortcuts” we’ve taken with development haven’t been with our truly high end prospects (McCann and Shinkaruk have many more flaws than Juolevi, Horvat or Virtanen) so I don’t see how this moves us forward. This especially makes little sense to me because the real need for us is in F not D which I feel we’ve finally solidified

Given the Jets’ probably challenges with the expansion draft and Trouba’s age, I think the only assets they will accept are high end players still on their ELC.

So prices start at one of Virtanen or Juolevi + throw ins. If the Canucks are serious about maximizing playoff chances, Juolevi is the one to go.

I wouldn’t do it.