So, where are we at? Currently, $600K below cap but with only 21 of 23 roster spots filled, although the Hossa cap-relief story is still being plotted.
I was right on a couple of predictions in the past week or two and ridiculously wrong on some others (like Joe Thornton being had for $4 Mil or less...and he got $8 Mil today!) but that's not slowing me down!
Stan is done with the defense and will staff from within, beginning with Rutta and Forsling and a side of Ville Pokka.
I expect Rozsie to retire.
Stan will be looking for an affordable center, one that can win a damn faceoff now and again. The pickings are slim to say the least with a host of old and/or undesirable "options". Best bet, just spitballin' here, is perhaps Mikhail Grigorenko, who totaled 23 points for the dismal Avalanche and won 57% of his draws. Grigorenko earned $1.3 Mil last season, however, and was probably not tendered an offer by The Avs because he wants/needs a raise. His teammate, John Mitchell, wouldn't be an awful stop-gap checking center, but possesses virtually no offensive upside.
The list of available centers is dotted with names that make me nervous, though. What if Ryan White is the best The Hawks can attract and afford?
Somebody get Dennis Rasmussen on the line and tell him we made a mistake.
Postscript: Oh well, it was an idea.
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