Defensemen Solutions?

Sergei Gonchar- Not sure if he would really be available at this point, not very good in his own zone, would have to give up a ton if indeed he could be had, I would prefer to try and include Bryzgalov in a deal of this magnitude but with Oulette entrenched in DC that's not even a thought.

Roman Hamrlik- I still don't know why he's being mentioned everywhere and I still think Aucoin is light years better so it puzzles me when Isles fans call him their best D-man. However he would probably require less than Gonchar but would still require a package that is somewhat comparable to the Comrie proposal. I'm not a huge fan but he is certainly an upgrade to what we have left.

Sean Hill- This one intrigues me, I haven't heard his name mentioned in rumours but I think he could be a nice alternative to a marquee name coming to the Ducks blueline. I think he does a lot of things above average but not any one thing exceptionally and maybe would only require so much as a 3rd rounder type of pick and maybe a middle prospect, but I don't know enough about Carolina's situation to speculate. This one makes sense though and he had a good year during a $hitty Canes season last year as well as he is playing pretty well this year too and I think he is a good fit for the Ducks.

After some poking around, I found out that Hill is a UFA after this year, thus he could probably be had really cheap, the major gripe fans seem to have with him is that he takes bad penalties. Still if you can get him for a mid-level prospect or a mid pick it might be worth a shot.

Like I've said a couple other places now I think it's clear that without a commitment from our forwards to getting open we desperately need a defenseman who can control the play from the back end.

Sandis and Havelid are skilled, but really aren't capable of that. At least not with any intelligence. Since I think it's our biggest problem, and one that can't be solved with what we have on hand or in the system, I'd give up almost anything to get one.

We could use a nice defensive, or two-way for that matter, defenseman to go with Ozolinsh. If we had a nice two-way force, like Scott Niedermayer or maybe Roman Hamrlik, back with him, it'd be pretty awesome.

Would you guys have interest in Therien?
Not great O but big and reliable.
Would be cheap like the post for S. Hill - mid pick or prospect. Will be UFA next year and if you don't like him and he signs elsewhere, you will get a low pick back.

I'd rather have Hill than Therien personally. Larger skill set.

Hill only does good when he's in Carolina, I'll take Therien.

We've already taken a chance on an overpaid d-man who should've been reliable. A better option maybe is Hill, or some other d-man on a struggling team. Dick Tarnstrom might be a good option(cheap too).

We've already taken a chance on an overpaid d-man who should've been reliable. A better option maybe is Hill, or some other d-man on a struggling team. Dick Tarnstrom might be a good option(cheap too).

Funny, I was going to mention Tarnstrom, I think he would be a nice one, and probably easy to get too.

Funny, I was going to mention Tarnstrom, I think he would be a nice one, and probably easy to get too.
Tarnstrom will cost much more than Hill or Therien, but may be worth it if he is a long term addition, otherwise the aforementioned are better value.

Tarnstrom is another Havelid from what I have seen.

The answer will lie in the summer of 2004 when brother Rob convinces Scott Niedermayer to sign with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

The answer will lie in the summer of 2004 when brother Rob convinces Scott Niedermayer to sign with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Oh man that would the ultimate...the exact thing we need in the form of a guy in his prime with multiple cups and a relative on the team.

Roman Hamrlik- I still don't know why he's being mentioned everywhere and I still think Aucoin is light years better so it puzzles me when Isles fans call him their best D-man. However he would probably require less than Gonchar but would still require a package that is somewhat comparable to the Comrie proposal. I'm not a huge fan but he is certainly an upgrade to what we have left.

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Aucoin has badly outplayed Hamrlik this year. But, Hamrlik is far more complete - more creative offensively and much more physical. And, while Aucoin has been the better dman this year, Hamrlik was probably the best player on the Island last year.

As an Islander fan, I'd far rather loose Aucoin than Hamrlik. THat is not to take anything away from Aucoin, I just don't think he is at Hamrlik's level overall.

Tarnstrom is another Havelid from what I have seen.
worse on d

Tarnstrom will cost much more than Hill or Therien, but may be worth it if he is a long term addition, otherwise the aforementioned are better value.

Did you see what Straka went for? And Kovalev? Pittsburgh is not gonna demand big figures for Dicky Tarnstrom. He may be like Havelid, but Ozo's out long term(Havelid will be out shortly as well), and we can't get ourselves another good d-man, Tarnstrom's a better option than Therien or Hill.

As for Niedermayer, I wish he'd be able to sign with us, but he's RFA. His birthday's a while after the deadline. So either we hope the new CBA lowers UFA age, Lou forgets to qualify him, or he demands a trade to Anaheim. The last one's also unlikely unless Niedermayer hits him in a fender-bender or something.

Though he can't play defense and isn't exactly stellar offensiely, Andy Delmore might be a cheap option. He's on waivers, so it'd be a free pick up. He'd only be short-term replacement on the team, and then maybe some team will pick him up on waivers or he'll go to Cincy. Pair him with Carney, and he could actually do something useful. It's worth a shot, as he can't be too much worse than Simpson, can he?

Tarnstrom is another Havelid from what I have seen.

I don't know about that. look at these stats. Tarnstrom leads the team in ave. PP time with 7:11, (the 2nd most on there team is 4:21 and the most on our team is fedorov with 4:01) He leads the penguins in points with 7 goals and 13 assists. hes 6'2" 205 lbs so he has size over havelid. His weeknes is in his D that part is true he has a really bad +/- but so did ozolinsh before we got him too. Pitsburgh always seems to be salary dumping, I think this guy would be a nice pick up for our powerplay.

Though he can't play defense and isn't exactly stellar offensiely, Andy Delmore might be a cheap option. He's on waivers, so it'd be a free pick up. He'd only be short-term replacement on the team, and then maybe some team will pick him up on waivers or he'll go to Cincy. Pair him with Carney, and he could actually do something useful. It's worth a shot, as he can't be too much worse than Simpson, can he?

Yahoo says hes been on the injured reserved since dec. 10th. I guess it would depend on how he recovers from his injury.

The answer will lie in the summer of 2004 when brother Rob convinces Scott Niedermayer to sign with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
That depends on a few things.

A)Rob I believe is in the last year of his contract and probley due a raise.

B)the early rumors say Vancouver is where he will play if he leaves jersey.

C)We won't have the salary room to add him if theres a cap

I don't know about that. look at these stats. Tarnstrom leads the team in ave. PP time with 7:11, (the 2nd most on there team is 4:21 and the most on our team is fedorov with 4:01) He leads the penguins in points with 7 goals and 13 assists. hes 6'2" 205 lbs so he has size over havelid. His weeknes is in his D that part is true he has a really bad +/- but so did ozolinsh before we got him too. Pitsburgh always seems to be salary dumping, I think this guy would be a nice pick up for our powerplay.

If Havelid played for a weak Pittsburgh team he might have those kind of stats as well. He may be 3 inches taller than Havelid but I doubt he uses that size.

I wouldn't mind if we traded for Tarnstrom, I just don't think he's the big answer for our questions right now.

That depends on a few things.

A)Rob I believe is in the last year of his contract and probley due a raise.

B)the early rumors say Vancouver is where he will play if he leaves jersey.

C)We won't have the salary room to add him if theres a cap

Doesn't matter, as Scottie's RFA. But, if he was UFA, or the UFA age is lowered in the new CBA, Robbie could easily convince him to sign in Anaheim. He'll be getting a raise(not much, though probably), and the payroll will be lowered quite a bit as Fedorov and Prospal take pay cuts for next year which total $8 million.

Also, Vancouver, his hometown team, would intrigue him, but it's a whole different story when it's playing with your brother. Players rarely get a chance to do that, and usually want to take it(ask the Bure's). So should Scottie hit the open market, and Rob's still our property, Anaheim may be one of his first choices.

But, as that's around 6 months away, we need help now. Hamrlik and Gonchar are great options, but it'll be quite a price to get them. I'd like it if BM could swing Chistov+something for Hamrlik and Parrish. It'd be worth it. But otherwise, the greater options are d-men who are going cheap. Tarnstrom, Hill, Therien, are all the easiest options right now. And with Ozo out quite a while, it's getting pretty desperate.

If Havelid played for a weak Pittsburgh team he might have those kind of stats as well. He may be 3 inches taller than Havelid but I doubt he uses that size.

I wouldn't mind if we traded for Tarnstrom, I just don't think he's the big answer for our questions right now.

Yes, we would definatly need more than just him. Last year we made 3 key trades to make our playoff run. So I would assume we would need to make about 3 this year to do the same. I am sure there are a lot of players out there better than tarnstrom, I just think that we would have a chance at him given pitsburghs history of unloading all there best players. getting Leclerc back will almost be equal to makeing a trade just because he hasn't played yet this year, so maybe if we added 1 defenseman to make up for ozo, and one trade for a energy thomas type player, it just might be enough to make a big push for a shot at another run.

The Ducks need a vet to take the load off Carney. He's been carrying the defense ever since we got him but IMO, Carney is getting worn down. I like the fact that Salei has been carrying the minutes this season but still, he's at best a #4 Dman. Tarnstrom is a good offensive player like Aucoin and can fill in for Ozolinsh. But really, the Ducks need someone to stabilize the top 4 position. Our problems go far beyond finding someone to replace Ozolinsh. THe DUcks need a savy vet who plays with heart and grit like Carney. We got by last year with Havelid and Sauer overahieving and the Ducks need them to play better now. Vish has been playing with more confidence but he is still a few years away from being a top 4 (if he continues to develop of course). Ward and Simpson are at best #6 dman.

The Ducks defense needs more than a hole plug. We need a top 2 Dman like Carney who can log 20-25 mins a game. Even before Ozo was injured, I think Bryan Murray kinda realized this and mentioned the Ducks needing a top 4 Dman during the entire Comrie fiasco. With the amount of money we are spending on our forward position, the Defense is really getting the shaft with Carney(2.5 mil), Salei (1.5 mil), Havelid (1.5 mil), Sauer (1 mil), Vish (1 mil), Simpson (1.5 mil). Ozo of course makes 5 mil. My momma always say you get what you pay for. If this is the case, the Ducks have Carney, an injured Ozo and a bunch of #4-6 Dman.

Yeah, that's definately the case. I don't think anyone's brought this one up yet, but I think Alexei Zhitnik may be a good pick-up. He's a vet who can take the load off Carney, and he's good in both ends. He'd be a cheap option.

Or, if BM is willing to give up one of the better prospects/youngsters, Adrian Aucoin may be able to be had. He's been playing well so far, so he'd be hard to get from NYI. Hamrlik would be easier to get, and is also good in both ends. Sergei Gonchar shouldn't be considered an option now, as the Caps would want two d-men back to replace him, and that's just not happening now(unless one of them is Ward).

Delmore got put on waivers today.

Whatta figure :dunno:

[QUOTE=chris_dub]Delmore got put on waivers today.

QUOTE]

I don't think he is the answer.

Zhitnik might be the player were looking for.

since the team could use an offensive minded d-man with Ozo out...why not pick him (Delmore) up?

I know he is a liability on the blueline, but he could add some offense to this team.

Plus, he's only 27.

I think he's worth the risk. Especially since it won't cost anything. He'd probablly only see time on the powerplay and limited even strength time.

Any chance for Bill Houlder?

Yes, we would definatly need more than just him. Last year we made 3 key trades to make our playoff run. So I would assume we would need to make about 3 this year to do the same. I am sure there are a lot of players out there better than tarnstrom, I just think that we would have a chance at him given pitsburghs history of unloading all there best players. getting Leclerc back will almost be equal to makeing a trade just because he hasn't played yet this year, so maybe if we added 1 defenseman to make up for ozo, and one trade for a energy thomas type player, it just might be enough to make a big push for a shot at another run.

While Pittsburgh has not brought good return in some of their trades based on their budget, Tarnstrom will not be a salary dump. For that matter, Straka was not a salary dump seeing the pens are paying some of his contract but LA gave up Anshakov who is easily playing the best of any Russian at the WJ's. At 28 years-old, he is signed for two year just making barely over $1 million. Thats not to bad even from Pittsburgh's standpoint. A dman who can QB a powerplay and play somewhat responsibly in his own end will be in high demand. While the top dman w/ the pens, he is more likely a 3-4 on good defensive teams and can play on the pp unit.

Pittsburgh will probably trade Tarnstrom in the end toward the deadline, but it will be because of the return and not money.