Howson and the final 16 days...what would you do?

[dasnut]

Time to play and have some fun!  We all know what this team is severly lacking, a #1 center & a puck moving dman.  I believe even without a true #1 center (aka Brassard), we can still make the playoffs and yet at the same time we can still miss the playoffs.  If you could be Scott Howson for the next 16 days, whom would you try and pick up?  And whom/what will you be willing to trade?  (I want to hear realistic opinions, not interested in hearing "dream" pick ups like Spezza, Lecavalier, etc. I don't think we can afford those guys and don't think Howson plans on making those kind of moves.  My guess is he is probably looking for a nice compliment to Brassard, for the future 1-2 center punch, someone whom can help Nash/Huselius line improve this year and someone whom will have a contract for at least another year.)

I'm a little too inexperienced to realize trade values, but the two players I'd like to see brought in would be Matthew Lombardi & Tomas Kaberle.  Kaberle would obviously be the more costly trade as we would lose draft picks & a top prospect.  Lombardi (or someone young like him...not sure we would trade with Calgary) would be more cost effective and is better than any current active centers we have.

[puckhogg]

the problem is..who will be looking to make moves?...i don't see us having anything that calgary wants in exchange for lombardi. and is he on the block ? but he is a center that should be looked at..young and offensive...

others that peak my interest are dubinsky of the rangers. ( they are up against the cap and won't be able to keep him next year )

horton of florida name keeps popping up (if the panthers fall from contention)

vermette from ottawa

ollie from phoneix ( cash problems in the desert ) but is he a fit ?

i'm not sure scotty can pull off both a center and a puckmover on the blue line with out klesla ,modin and pazzy on the shelf...the three chips i think we have ...

[CBJfan14]

thats the biggest problem right now... a player has to have trade value and they have to be someone we are willing to lose. Those guys are Klesla, LeClaire, Modin (although he is questionable on the "value" scale). They are all sidelined right now.

Hopefully Howson can pull something off to get us another Forward to contribute, but i see us being rather queit at the deadline just because thats the way things are falling right now. Maybe Howson can pull something off that none of us would dream of... but we'll see.

[dasnut]

the problem is..who will be looking to make moves?...i don't see us having anything that calgary wants in exchange for lombardi. and is he on the block ? but he is a center that should be looked at..young and offensive...

others that peak my interest are dubinsky of the rangers. ( they are up against the cap and won't be able to keep him next year )

horton of florida name keeps popping up (if the panthers fall from contention)

vermette from ottawa

ollie from phoneix ( cask problems in the desert ) but is he a fit ?

i'm not sure scotty can pull off both a center and a puckmover on the blue line with out klesla ,modin and pazzy on the shelf...the three chips i think we have ...

I agree with you about Lombardi & the Flames about not being a good fit.  Just had heard his name about a month or so ago and thought he (or someone of his caliber) would be a nice addition.  Mostly was trying to use him as an example as what I feel they are looking for.  Never thought about Horton, would like to see that come through.  I think Nash really needs a big center on his line to help get some attention off of him.  Toronto might be asking way too much for Kaberle, but would love to think we could work something out with them.  I don't think we need the puckmover as much as we need a center. 

I agree Ollie might not be a good fit. Vermette is always a possibility.  I think Howson will sit and wait and hope a deal will fall into their lap.  Patience is a virtue in this situation. 

And as far as Modin, Pazzy & Klesla...why not try and trade Klesla &/or Pazzy to a team out of the playoffs?  These are two young players whom will have solid careers and even though they are injured, should still have some trade value.  If they do not trade them now, when would they trade them?  At least try it and find out what their trade value is worth.  I don't see Modin having as much value as those two...due to age & health concerns.

[dasnut]

thats the biggest problem right now... a player has to have trade value and they have to be someone we are willing to lose. Those guys are Klesla, LeClaire, Modin (although he is questionable on the "value" scale). They are all sidelined right now.

Hopefully Howson can pull something off to get us another Forward to contribute, but i see us being rather queit at the deadline just because thats the way things are falling right now. Maybe Howson can pull something off that none of us would dream of... but we'll see.

What about draft picks, prospects like Mayorov & Ruth and then the proven talents of Klesla & LeClaire?  A combination of any of these isn't worth anything?  I just have to believe there's someone out there we can obtain to help us out.

[puckhogg]

ok just food for thought.......let me start by saying that i beleive mason is the real deal........

were we not saying the same thing about pazzy last year ? i just don't think you can just trade pazzy for the sake of trading him...if his ankle is healed then he comes back to last years form and mason is still the man,  THEN you trade him because lots of teams will be looking for a young number 1 goalie and then you capitilize on his trade worth..not now why he is lying around eating twinkies.

[dasnut]

ok just food for thought.......let me start by saying that i beleive mason is the real deal........

were we not saying the same thing about pazzy last year ? i just don't think you can just trade pazzy for the sake of trading him...if his ankle is healed then he comes back to last years form and mason is still the man,  THEN you trade him because lots of teams will be looking for a young number 1 goalie and then you capitilize on his trade worth..not now why he is lying around eating twinkies.

MMMMMMM, twinkies! 

I hear exactly what your saying and completely agree.  Just was wondering what their value would be right now as is for a team like the Islanders, Lightning, etc. 

For everyone else:

Besides those issues (which I know are a big part of this discussion).....humor me....if you knew there were a center we could obtain within reason, whom do you think it would be?

[CBJfan14]

there is definitely value in the young guys, but i dont think we want to lose them. I know never to trust a GM as far as what comes out that he's said through the media, but he has said he's not willing to part with rooking and draft picks to make a playoff run this year.

as far as pazzy goes... i think trading him now would be a huge mistake. Mason is the #1 now even when LeClaire is healthy, but LeClaire's trade value right now is not at what it should be/hopefully will be next season. A goalie who has played terrible this season, and had a season ending surgery does not have a real high trade value, regardless of what he did last year.

[puckhogg]

MMMMMMM, twinkies! 

I hear exactly what your saying and completely agree.  Just was wondering what their value would be right now as is for a team like the Islanders, Lightning, etc. 

For everyone else:

Besides those issues (which I know are a big part of this discussion).....humor me....if you knew there were a center we could obtain within reason, whom do you think it would be?

Is there anyone on the islanders you would want in a cbj sweater ? as for the lightning,lecavalier is too expensive, stamkos will not be parted with and unless you hire malone's daddy he ain't a coming either....there is a reason those teams are where they are in the standings.sorry but neither of these teams have anything on the ice at the nhl level that we need...imo

[dasnut]

Is there anyone on the islanders you would want in a cbj sweater ? as for the lightning,lecavalier is too expensive, stamkos will not be parted with and unless you hire malone's daddy he ain't a coming either....there is a reason those teams are where they are in the standings.sorry but neither of these teams have anything on the ice at the nhl level that we need...imo

Was just using them as an example as a team that is out of the playoffs, that's all.  If we trade with anyone, my guess would be a team from the Eastern Conference or a team out of the running in the West.  And the majority would be sellers either A) they're out of playoff contention or B) possible cap issues.  Either way, the longer Howson sit and waits, I think the longer something better might come his way.  If not, then so be it.  It would be nice to add another center, but as you have pointed out, we have no real options other than draft picks and/or prospects.

I still believe Howson has at least one more trade in him before the deadline.

[puckhogg]

schneider goes from atlanta to montreal......there goes one puck moving defensmen......2nd in 2009 & 3rd in 2010 for schneider and a conditional pick in 2009......

[dan33birdman]

Stay the course and keep your draft picks cbj. The Jackets aren't in a position to win a playoff round when you'd be facing the wings, sharks, or flames in the first round imo. That 2nd or 3rd rounder could turn into a real good to average player 2 years from now when the Jackets will most likely be very good.

[firefly118]

 

I just thought it was funny that you said no dream trades, and then you guys throw out names that we have less of a chance to get than Spezza!

Anyway      does hogg have a "man crush" on Vermette?  He has made mention of him several times....hmmm....I wonder.

[CBJfan14]

wings and sharks....  we won the last 4 against Sharks and Wings. Anything can happen if we make the playoffs!

[CanadianJacketsFan]

Here's a list of centers I can think that might be on the market..

The Impossibles

- Vincent
- Jason Spezza

The Possibles

- Vaclav Prospal
- Nik Antropov
- Ollie Jokinen
- Derek Armstrong
- Mike Cammalleri
- Tim Connolly
- Chris Higgins
- Brandon Dubinski

those are some of the names that I've seen or heard are in the trade pool

what do you think? and feel free to add names into the pool, just don't start a rumor mill