Did you know that Duvie Westcott is still on the books for $616,666 for this season and next?
According to Cap-Geek.com the Jackets have 18 players signed for a total of $47,594,582. That is either at or very close to their internal budget.
The salary cap upper-limit is currently set at $56,000,000. That will change based on the revenue numbers calculated after this season concludes. I would expect that number to climb but not by much.
Like any fan I'd like to see the Jackets spend more but don't expect that to happen unless 1. ownerhip changes (unlikely) or 2. the arena lease issue get's resolved (also unlikely). Keep in mind the Jackets also get a bigger revenue sharing check if they stay under the mid-point of the cap (which is right around 50 mil) so you know the bean counters won't spend over that.
Instead expect trades to shake things up and of course the typical bargain bin shopping for a 3rd or 4th liner.
Ahhh.. the realities of a small market team.
The Jackets will have four players who will be unrestricted after next season. Chris Clark (2.5 mil), Andrew Murray (650k), Jan Hejda (2 mil) and Mahtiue Garon (1.2 mil).
Don't get your hopes up that the Jackets will go on a spending spree with that freed up 6.35 mil. Most of that will be ear marked for raises to players like Jakub Voracek and Steve Mason and perhaps Marc Methot.
The Jackets need to make a decision on Jan Hejda this offseason. If they aren't going to re-sign him then I think they have to consider dealing him this summer as part of a package to bring in a legit top 2 dman or center. Quite frankly Hejda is part of a group of very similar defensemen in guys like Klesla, Methot and Commodore. This team has too many stay at home types and something will have to give - Hejda would be attractive to a lot of teams.
The Jackets have quite a few "restricted free agents" to make a decision on this summer with the biggest being Anton Stralman.
Stralman is an interesting case. He played in 73 games last season and notched 6g 28a for 34p but finished tied for a team worst -17. His previous high was 50 games for Toronto in 07-08. Stralman started off strong but certainly faded down the stretch.
The question becomes what is a guy like this worth?
His 34 points was the best on the team (2 more htan Tyutin) and tied for 39th best in the NHL. He is a right handed shot the Jackets desperately need and he did help improve what was the previously the worst ranked PP in the league. The problem of course is his defensive side of the game which could certainly use some improvement and should improve with more experience.
It will be interesting to see where his negotiations go. I could see him signed short term or traded.
Short term because I think Howson will want to see more before committing long term and I think Stralman's camp will want to show more to increase their chances at bigger $$ a year from now.
I could also see a trade if the two sides are far apart on numbers. Stralman is another guy who could be an attractive piece in return for a proven, albeit higher priced, blueliner.
Not sure if Stralman is arbitration eligble.
Jared Boll is the other key RFA. His contributions of course are measured more by his fists and energy than by the stat sheet. Personally I want to see Boll back in a CBJ uni however if the org makes a play for a guy like Shelley then Boll will become expendable. A lot of this will depend on what the new coach would like - a true enforcer who can't really play or a middle-weight who isn't as much of a liability on the ice but will still step up to take care of the dirty business when needed?
Mike Blunded should get qualified but I don't see the org giving him a 1-way contract. He'll eventualy settle for a 2-way and should see plenty of NHL time.
The rest of the RFAs are more or less or prospects/depth guys.
Clitsome and Sestito are guy who will certainly get qualified and signed.
The org will let one of the goalies in LaLande or LaCosta walk (or trade) to make room for the new guy Wesslau. That is unless one is willing to play in the ECHL which could certainly be the case.
RFA Forward Chad Kolarik should also be resigned.
There are 6 unrestricted free agents to also deal with this offseason - all depth and minor league guys. F - Derek MacKenzie, D - Nathan Paetsch, D -Brendan Bell, F - Greg Moore, D - David Liffiton and F- Trevor Frischmon.
The only guys I could see remaining would be Derek MacKenzie and Trevor Frischmon. Certainly the d-men in Bell, Paetsch and Liffiton will all walk to make room for recently signed guys like Cody Golobeuf, Steven Delisle, and Ted Ruth.
So it's Dineen and Arneil back for 2nd interviews as they wait to interview Boucher from Montreal's system. Honsestly at this point does anyone really think it won't be Dineen?
I can appreciate Howson's due dillgence on this as it will probably be his biggest decision this summer but I think everyone knows where this is gonna end up.
Hey if anything, the search is keeping the interest up and the Jackets in the sports pages. I'm down with that.
Just when I think I have a good read on this draft it seems to have all jumbled again. Look at who the Red Line Report now has as their clear cut #3 after the two studs in Hall and Seguin:
Finally, we wait no more.
Mikael Granlund produced a virtuoso performance last month in Minsk at the World Under-18 Championships, impacting games on so many different levels and showing such a multi-faceted game that he has clearly separated himself out from the pack in our view.
Granlund was dominant internationally last season as an underager, and was terrific all year playing against men in the tough SM-Liiga back home in Finland. But an underwhelming performance at the world juniors coming off an injury had artificially depressed his stock for a while in midseason.
In Minsk, we saw the same hockey savant we had grown accustomed to over the last two years. A few scouts might be put off by the lack of an explosive skating burst from someone of rather smallish size (5-10, 178). But if history has taught us anything, it's that you should never overlook the value of pure hockey sense — and make no mistake, Granlund is the smartest hockey player in this draft class.
At this point I'm loving the idea of trading down in the first round of the draft. Of course it all depends on what teams are offering but if they can move down while still staying in the 1st round and pick up some "now" help in the process I'm really leaning in that direction.
I'm just am not seeing this solid set of second tier "can't miss" talent that seemed to be there less than a month ago. It seems to be all over the map now. For instance Red Line doesn't even have Gudbranson in their top 10.
I know Fowler's stock has dropped recently but I still like him at #4 if Howson stays. I think he's a classic case of being over-analyzed. To me he's the Cam Barker of this draft. If you recall Barker was #3 after both Ovechkin and Malkin were drafted.
Gudbranson size and mean streak intrigues me but not sold on his offensive game. In my limited viewings Gormley reminds me of Klesla.
Gosh - so much for my prediction on the Sharks. To lose both games at the Shark Tank? Ugh. Don't think they'll receover from that.
Blackhawks-Flyers final should be interseting although let's see how Montreal responds once they get back home.
Speaking of - I'll be enjoying some playoff hockey and partaking in some adult berverages at my favorite home away from home tonight - the R Bar. Hope to see some of you there!
-LTL
