With the recent focus on Marleau and Malone, one topic that hasn't been discussed as much is free agent defense.
CBJ management has made it clear they are very interested in acquired a puck-moving defenseman. Both Brian Campbell and Wade Redden would be options.
San Jose has been trying to sign Campbell, but it doesn't sound like it is a done deal with Campbell potentially wanting 6.5mill and San Jose management perhaps thinking he is worth more in the 5 - 5.5 million range. Would Campbell be someone the Blue Jackets would take a run at?
Ottawa is apparently not going to resign Redden. He is two years older than Campbell and his stats, while consistent, not as good as Campbell's. Yet I think he would still be a nice addition to the Columbus blueline. Not sure exactly how much he will command on the open market but likely it will be a fair bit.
Hainsey reportedly want 4 million+. I would much rather see the Jackets spend a little more and replace him with Campbell or Redden. In the meantime some of the younger defenseman like Russell can continue to develop.
I would expect Columbus to at least see if Campbell is willing to listen to us and make an offer, but I highly doubt he ends up here. My big gripe with Campbell is that he isn't very good in the defensive zone and his contract will be a lot to pay for a defenseman who isn't very good defensively. He does fill a huge need on this team though with his puck moving and offensive skills. I just don't think it is very wise to spend $7.5M or more for his services which is what it seems he can get.
Redden I think is a more complete defenseman. I'm sure Howson will at least try to make him an offer but he will have plenty of suitors and I'm sure were not at the top of his list. Doesn't mean we can't land him, but I'm not holding my breath. I think he will get around $5M-$6M per slightly more than that if he were to come here.
Hainsey I don't think will be back. And at $4M per he shouldn't be. He's not worth it. But that has been talked about over and over again here in a Hainsey thread.
Some might disagree with me, but out of Campbell and Redden I'd rather have Redden.
At the end of the day the guys that we are more likely to have a shot at are Liles, Rosival, Commodore, Stuart.... the second tier guys who are still solid players upgrades to our blueline.
Last edited by Brassard Calder: 06-19-2008 at 07:26 PM.
Toward the end of the season Redden had said he would take a paycut to stay in Ottawa. They then offered him 3 or 3.5 mil a year I forget which number it was to which he then said he won't return there and would sign elsewhere in July. So there's a chance he might be willing to go somewhere for 5 million or so which would be less than he made this year. I don't know if Columbus would be a team he'd be willing to take a paycut for though. Especially in this market when him and Campbell are the two prize puck movers available.
I think it's cute how everyone is so tight with this organizations money. Frankly, I'm more worried about us reaching the league spending floor than I am about any internal Jacket budget. This franchise has skimped along for years ... nickel and diming this team to DEATH. It has to stop, and if it doesn't - inertia and apathy shall reign, and the losing will continue.
I think it's cute how everyone is so tight with this organizations money. Frankly, I'm more worried about us reaching the league spending floor than I am about any internal Jacket budget. This franchise has skimped along for years ... nickel and diming this team to DEATH. It has to stop, and if it doesn't - inertia and apathy shall reign, and the losing will continue.
Agreed. I was only about 20% kidding with my earlier post.
Toward the end of the season Redden had said he would take a paycut to stay in Ottawa. They then offered him 3 or 3.5 mil a year I forget which number it was to which he then said he won't return there and would sign elsewhere in July. So there's a chance he might be willing to go somewhere for 5 million or so which would be less than he made this year. I don't know if Columbus would be a team he'd be willing to take a paycut for though. Especially in this market when him and Campbell are the two prize puck movers available.
I would offer $5 million for Liles or Roszival before Redden, and I don't know that either will command that much, though it's a sellers market. (In fact, I'd offer $5 to each, barring a trade for Kubina or his ilk.) Of course, as I implied earlier, if other options don't work out, and Redden will play with the Jackets for $5 mil, I'd do it.
I think it's cute how everyone is so tight with this organizations money. Frankly, I'm more worried about us reaching the league spending floor than I am about any internal Jacket budget. This franchise has skimped along for years ... nickel and diming this team to DEATH. It has to stop, and if it doesn't - inertia and apathy shall reign, and the losing will continue.
It's called indoctrination, sort of like Gitmo......we are broke, always have been broke and always will be broke. I'm a good soldier. lol
And it's not just players the managers are trying to trade. With unrestricted free agency beginning on July 1, players right's are being offered up to give teams exclusive negotiating privileges for more than a week.
Murray confirmed Thursday that he tried to do that with veteran defenceman Wade Redden, but had no takers.
You'd figure if Redden was highly sought after, someone would do a deal for his rights even if it was a low rounder. Maybe he could be had for cheapish?
You'd figure if Redden was highly sought after, someone would do a deal for his rights even if it was a low rounder. Maybe he could be had for cheapish?
My understanding is that the falling out between Sen mgt. and Redden occurred several weeks ago. Sens lowballed Redden and Redden publicly said he would test free agency. It was almost identical to the Malone situation this week.
All BS aside, Campbell/Hedja could be the best defensive pairing in the NHL.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawkeye19
I thought you said all BS aside.
Campbell is an abomination on defense. And I can name quite a few pairings that would still be better than that. get real...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert
That was a stretch...
I thought someone here made a good case that Hedja was a D-man who could cover for his partner's errors/shortcomings. Foote looked (reasonably) good with him, and Klesla's +/- improved drastically when he got on the same line with Hejda.
Maybe the point was that with Hejda staying at home, it would free up Campbell much more to do what he does better - move the puck. Thus it is the pairing that would be a good combo, not that the two are both shut-down D-men.
Anyway, I'd be willing to try it and see what we get.
