August 19, 2013
Free Agency wrap:
The Metropolitans front office has seemingly been busier in the last few weeks than it ever has. Here is a look at what has happened from the end of the season to now:
After exiting their first ever playoffs after the Jets handled Crosby and Kessel with ease, the Metro's brass saw a green light to step out of their rebuild and into a competitive phase. This means trades, large contracts, and hopefully winning.
Dispersal draft:
Ilya Kovalchuk
Eric Staal
-Fans were surely excited to see Kovalchuk picked up; Crosby flanked by Kovalchuk and Kessel. Oh my. Eric Staal being taken was the writing on the wall for Andy McDonald. Andy announced his plans to retire in three years, Eric seems to be the ideal replacement for the Metropolitan's franchise points and games leader.
Dougie Hamilton
Morgan Rielly
-Its not a Metropolitan draft until you land a stud defensive prospect, or two. Seattle continues to hoard young defenders.
Jannik Hansen
-The Metros have zero depth at wing. Jannik helps here.
Prior to the entry draft, we had the expansion draft,
but priot to that, the NLHS was rocked when Ilya Kovalchuk announced plans to return to Russia in 3 seasons. This didn't sit well with Seattle GM/Owner Matt Taylor, and avenues to move him were explored.
The expansion draft:
The Metros depth at center was exploited, and Metro's legend Andy McDonald went unprotected and first overall to the Misfits.
In round four, Manny Malhotra went to the Victoria Timbermen. Malhotra was crucial in Mats Zuccarello's amazing year in 11-12 capturing the Farm MVP.
Then went Mark Olver. He had a few great moments for the Metros. A rookie hat trick was his highlight during his tenure in Seattle.
You get the point, lots of centers lost, but the only key player was McDonald, and Seattle had prepared for his departure.
What the expansion draft did for Seattle was open up a slot for Kadri to make the big club.
The entry draft:
Seattle was slotted to draft 12th overall, but prior to the the Misfit's pick at 5th overall, Seattle sent a package including Ilya Kovalchuk to Ft. Myers for the 5th overall pick.
5th overall: Valeri Nichushkin- Move one Russian for another.
12th overall: Sean Monahan- Lots of potential and will replace Kadri on the farm.
Comp. Round:
Pick 5: Danny DeKeyser- Big time talent out of college, naturally Seattle had to grab a solid D prospect.
Pick 13: Sammi AttioKallio- AK has lightning quick reflexes. Lets hope he stays in the system for a while.
Then came the big news:
Cody Hodgson, a 1st round pick, Dougie Hamilton, and Phil Kessel for Steven Stamkos
-This brings an All Star pairing together and should be exciting to watch, but at a steep price. The silver lining is that now the pipelines at C and D are a little less clogged.
Free agency:
Milan Hejduk shrugged off a fair offer from Seattle, big whoop, he's old and not very good anymore. The reason he was second line center was the lack of depth, and his impressive stats were thanks to Andy McDonald. Not a big loss.
Willie Mitchell came back for less money and looks to stay here a few years.
Seattle missed out on the younger signings they had pinpointed, but this gave fans hope that perhaps Alexander Ovechkin would be targeted. He was, but decided not to take his talents to the Puget Sound, so Seattle 'settled' for Dan Girardi, who is a lot richer now, and Seattle's first bonafide #1 Dman in team history.
Departures:
Kovalchuk (does he even count?)
McDonald
Hejduk
Olver
Malhotra
A few other centers who I can't remember went by the wayside in expansion
Kessel
Hamilton (another dispersal draftee who never saw Seattle ice)
Hodgson
Additions:
Stamkos
Girardi
Staal
Reilly
Wilson
Hansen
Nichushkin
Monahan
DeKeyser
AttioKallio
Zolnierczyk
Dadonov
McLeod
Orr
Staubitz
Rosehill
Labrie
I have good word from a few sources that the Metropolitans have offers out on three players (bringing their total to the maximum of 50). This offers, if they get accepted would take Seattle nearly to the max. One source told me the third offer was almost laughable as their wasn't much $ left after the first two which may total 15 million of the available 16 million. Assuming the Metros sign no-one, they still need a top left wing, and I've heard there are talks going on regarding Kadri and Yakupov to address that, although I doubt it comes to fruition. The Metros would much prefer to move from their position of strength, Defense, to fill the wings.
The roster as I see it:
_______-Crosby-Stamkos
Morrow-Staal-Zuccarello
Mueller-Kadri?-Yakupov?
Zolnierczyk-Bailey-Dadonov
-Avery or McLeod gain the 4th line LW if no other winger is found.
Girardi-Clitsome
Mitchell-Volchenkov
Myers-Gardiner
Luongo
York
Its not the best roster in the league, but I see a second consecutive playoff birth given that the Smythe only has two teams that aren't expansion teams.
My offseason prediction for the Smythe:
Jets - Most balanced team in the division
Metros - Best offensive threat in the division
Mountain Men - Best new team in the division, with a solid top line and great potential, but I'm not sold on the D.
Timbermen - The D is formidable, but their is not much else.
Canucks - The Canucks are behind the 8 ball in net, on D and on the wings.
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I sucked hard for year before I got my feet under me. The Typhoons I inherited were junk, I think the
tree three exp. teams in the Smythe can be very competitive soon.