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9.30.2014

A look at older experienced scorers for the team

Everywhere you look, Seattle fans seem to think this team needs a proven top end scorer.  So I decided to take a look at the league, and what might be out there.

As you will see from the lists below, there are really only 11 players that I can see being realistic trade targets.

This is based on a few factors but for the sake of argument we're going to mostly exclude players in the same conference and players on teams we think probably won't be looking at trading skilled veterans.


Since everyone wants a real veteran, and most people I have talked to say he has to be a 19 year old, I started there.  Below is a list of every 19 year old forward in the league, sorted by points per game, since that would seem to be the best indicator of a "scorer".  Of course this is not he only indicator, since all three players that came from Lethbridge last season had good marks for scoring, but turned into shut down players for Seattle.

In the table, a player highlighted in yellow is someone that has played less then a season and a half of games (0-108), orange is someone that has played more then that, but less then two full seasons (109-144), and of the players that don't fit that criteria, red is someone currently in the western conference, making them not as likely to be a trade option.

If you make the cutoff at a half a point per game, that narrows it down to 7 players.  Of those, Curtis Lazar is still in Edmonton (Edit: Yes, sorry Ottawa. Edmonton is his junior team) with the Oilers Senators and Jay Merkley is leading the league in scoring.  Neither of those players seem likely to be available.  That leaves 5 players.



With so few available, I decided to look at 18 year old forwards.  Getting this type of player would probably give Seattle the player for two years, and possibly a 3rd (though that is probably unlikely depending on quality).

The legend is the same, but the number of games is a little different.  I put the yellow cutoff at 75 games, and the orange cutoff at 100 games.

Using the same logic as a half of point per game, you only get 6 players.


As you can see, the list of potential "veteran scorers" is a pretty small one. This list will most definitely change and will likely get bigger as teams play themselves out of contention and more teams look to sell before the deadline.

22 comments :

Anonymous said...

FYI...Lazar is with Ottawa, not the Edmonton Oilers.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

The other big question is... Give me a list of current players (or even worthy draft picks.. rounds 1 - 4) who you would be willing to part with to get these veteran scorers. Draft picks is easy, picking 2 - 3 players (who other teams would be willing to trade for to give up their veterans) is tough.

Anonymous said...

Other teams stick with the young players and build a good/great team every 3 years. The only other team that doesn't see to get it is Lethbridge.

Anonymous said...

If I'm sitting in the GM's chair, I'm not overlooking the opportunities that exist with choosing the Regina Pats as a dance partner. They only have six defensemen on their roster and they've given up 14 goals in 4 games, which puts them near the bottom of the conference in that category. Meanwhile, they have 3 strong 19 year old forwards in Morgan Klimchuk (LW), Dryden Hunt (C), and Connor Gay (RW).

To answer the question asked above, I would make the move in a heartbeat to trade 19 y.o. defense/goaltending for 19 y.o. Offense and boost our scoring chances for this season and next.. Toss in a draft pick if necessary. I wouldn't sacrifice the future, but this year's young T-Birds appear to be not ready for prime time and could use a boost.

Anonymous said...

hmmm maybe a Hauf/Flodell/pick for Klimchuk?.... With the decision to obviously keep Wardley, I can see Hauf being expendable

Anonymous said...

@7:14 I love that trade right there.

Anonymous said...

Chances are you get Klimchuck for one year not two. Also trading Hauf does not help you next year with experience and toughness

Anonymous said...

Well.. If not Klimchuk, what about the other two players listed above on that Pats roster? I think it's worth a phone call to the Pats GM at the least.

As far as next year goes, no way would I pass on trading defense now to in order secure next year's team. With Bear, Smith, Ottenbreit, Khaira, and potentially Fabbro on your D-line, it may not be chalk full of experience but it would be a good place to start. I don't think that Hauf's contributions to the 2016 team are worth more than his value on the market this year.

Anonymous said...

I think making a push for Brayden point out of Moose Jaw would be perfect... Get him for this year and next... Would have to give up a fair amount for a high scoring 2 year guy but it would be huge to have him for next season

Thunnex said...

Going after Brayden Point might be a fantastic idea... BUT...

Let me pose it to you this way.

If I'm Moose Jaw and I decide I need to trade Brayden Point in order to rebuild and I know I'm trading away almost 2 years worth of a very high level skilled player. This is probably what I"m asking for in return:

Kaden Elder
Sahvan Khaira
Future 1st
Future 2nd

Now you might be able to talk them out of Khaira or the 2nd or something but that's probably where they are starting.

So... you willing to give up that haul for him?

Anonymous said...

I think T-Birds could maybe offer up a Flodell/Tyska/1st/2nd for him... Tyska easily could be expendable... a lot of good young tbird dmen in the system

Anonymous said...

all depends what teams want. Some may be high on Flodell, some may want just picks, some may want a certain age group. Seattle has a ton of 97 born players on the team. I could see them trading a couple away

Anonymous said...

Who are the good young defensemen in the system? Fabbro isn't signed, Schuldhaus isn't signed, heck even Tyzska hasn't signed yet. Until they are signed, they are not in the system and I wouldn't count them as part of the future until they do. The only young d-man in the system I'm aware of are Khaira and 15 yr old Reece Harsch.

Anonymous said...

Well, yes, Seattle would get almost two years out of a guy like Point, since he is 18, but he was only a 5th rd NHL pick, right?. Everett got a high first round NHL talent for a 1st, a 2nd and a third string goalie. I know Sherbak is a year older and is a one year rental, but I'm not sure I'd pay more for Point then Evt paid for Sherbak. Now, Saskatoon was in a position where they essentially had to trade Sherbak. Moose Jaw doesn't have to deal Point.

Anonymous said...

What's the news with Wolf? Released? Quit? Traded?

Thunnex said...

I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

If you've heard something let us know.

Anonymous said...

Check out @DannyMumaugh's Tweet: https://twitter.com/DannyMumaugh/status/517869708536975361

Thunnex said...

Good find. Yeah, I hadn't heard anything about that. Not sure what the deal is.

Anonymous said...

What's the deal with Wolf.

Anonymous said...

my guess is released or quit.. cant imagine there would be much interest from other teams in a trade. Writing was kinda on the wall with the recent acquisition of Ottenbreit

Anonymous said...

about time Seattle got rid of him... played a combined 47 games in the previous 2 seasons(healthy scratched/never hurt) and you cant waste a roster spot on an 18 year old that the coaches obviously feel they cant use ever. Too bad to see him go because I hear him teammates loved him, but like I said, waste of a roster spot

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