Leg wand. Tee hee hee

An interesting article, including comments from Stars GM Jim Nill about the Spezza trade. He thinks GMBM drove a hard bargain and knew which players to insist on getting: Nichols' Notes: Stars GM Jim Nill

Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill joined Sportsnet 590 Friday morning. He was naturally asked right off the bat about the deal to get Jason Spezza; including surrendering Alex Chiasson, the key part of the return going the other way.

"Well, he's a good young player. He's going to be a power forward. He's 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, he's got a real good touch around the net and, you know - I know Bryan's - everybody's down on Bryan, but Bryan did a good job. He got the right pieces. He went after the right guys.

"Much like the Tyler Seguin deal last year, nobody really knew who Reilly Smith was until this season and now they know who he is. So Ottawa got a good young player and then the young kids they got in the deal, the Guptill kid played at University of Michigan. I think the real sleeper, and the guy I didn't want to give up, but Bryan insisted and that's where his staff did a good job, was Nicholas Paul who's in North Bay. He's going to be a good player. He's been invited to Canada's World Junior team. He's a 6-foot-4 centerman. He's going to be a good solid player, so Bryan - they did a good job. They got the assets they needed to get. They're young players and it's going to help their team, so it was a good hockey trade that way.

He's going to *get* the 2C spot, not try and take it from Zbad. I can't see Murray or MacLean taking a veteran, proven NHL C and putting him on a shutdown or energy role behind a player who's yet to prove much other than he came to camp last year out of shape and full of himself.

I like it. He can step up to the 2nd line spot if Zibby struggles, and he gives the Sens the option to move Smith if they wan't to package him for an upgrade on D.

Sens sign Legwand. I'm underwhelmed but I guess they did what they could to plug a hole. Better than Vinnie for 4 yrs. just seems like one of those guys you'll forget was ever on the team 5 yrs from now, like lapointe.

Russell wrote:

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i think vinny might help for a year or two but wouldn't want him past that.

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 Exactly the point I was trying to make.  I don't see the point of taking him on either, unless it comes with something else *very* tempting like a couple of high draft picks.

I'd rather see Zibanejad or even Lazar given a chance than pick up Legwand, as that move just means there's no room for a young C to get a shot at top 6 minutes and if we are going to develop young talent they have to be given the proper chance to do it.   You don't develop at #1/#2 C by playing them on the 3rd/4th line....they'd do better playing on the top two lines in Bingo, but they don't earn an NHL salary doing that.

I've read somewhere that the Sens would want something more than just a discount on his salary.
Melnyk already prophesied that one day teams in cap trouble would beg 'sensible teams' to help them out by take some players off their hands.

Add these things together: how about one of our 2nd rounders next year (preferably the lesser one) for Lecavalier and Philly's first. And Philly takes on approx. half of Vinny's salary. I think I'd go for that.

Think about it: add a centre (albeit on the downside of his career) with experience, leadership and a cup-ring for 2M in the first year, 1,25M (if the signing bonus is picked up by the Flyers, otherwise 2,25M) for the second, 1,5M in the 3rd and 4th year. I'm not sure how all the cap stuff works and who retains what, but if we're willing to take these kinds of risks on an aging Philips, why not pay this price for an extra first rounder in a rich draft? IMO we could use some experience up front now Spezza's gone.

Philadelphia is going to have to eat a very large part of that salary if this is going to happen I would have to believe.

Spezza>Lecavalier