Sens should go after Lightning's LW Ryan Malone

by HJJEON on Feb 3, 2012 8:35 PM EST

With trade deadline approaches, I looked at various players that might land in Ottawa. Among them, I personally see Ryan Malone of Tampa Bay Lightning as most attractive target for Sens. He is 6'4' 215 lb and typical powerforward that ottawa arguably never had. He is still 40-45pts guy and more importantly, playoff type player. He is 32 and has 3 yr remaing on his contract with cap hit of 4.5M. Now that sounds little scary. However, after this year, his actual remaing salary will be 8M over 3yrs which is about 2.7M per year. Also, with Alfredsson nears twilight of his career, Malone can be valuable veteran presence for young senators team. He can be a mentor for young Sens prospects such as Zibanejad, Noesen, or Stone to evolve as legit power forwards like himself. All the Cup teams had one or two power forwards in their top 6 forwards and Senators should definitely follw that trend. However, trade cost and whether lightning trade him would be a concern. Also, Malone has to waive no-trade clause and I am not sure if he wants to join the young team at this point of his career. If the deal is available for Sens though, Murray should push hard in my opinion. I was thinking package such as Puempel, Lee(or Butler), and 2012 3rd rd pick. Thanks for reading my post and will welcome all the response i am hoping to get :)

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wow

are you serious?

by SBS138 on Feb 3, 2012 11:23 PM EST reply actions

Why wouldn't he be?

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by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 3, 2012 11:55 PM EST up reply actions

I'd be open to picking him up

He’d fit in well, I think. The team has room for him, and who knows… If the Lightning are desperate, the price might be right.

My only complaint about your post is that I was working on a similar one of my own!

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by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 3, 2012 11:55 PM EST reply actions

I think he would fit in well

I just don’t know if I’d want to give a roster player, a prospect and a pick for him. Sounds like a lot! But I think he would fit with Spezza and Michalek, or Turris and Alfredsson

by I Still Miss Hossa!!! on Feb 4, 2012 8:56 AM EST reply actions

I agree..

price does seem steep for 32yr old player. however, demand in power forward is high nowdays. just look at what Penner netted for Oilers last year.. maybe we can take roster player out but maybe we have to include one. But first of all, this guy has to be available.. hope for the best..:)

by HJJEON on Feb 4, 2012 4:04 PM EST up reply actions

Nice thought

Malone is a nice thought, but from their point of view if they want to blow it up, I’d think that they’d probably want a bit more than long shot prospects to replace Malone.

I do like the thinking that we should get or develop power forwards for the top 6 wingers.

I’m surprised that when we voted about what the Sens really need, defence got most of the votes… but the conversations that we have are generally about acquiring forwards.

by Marvellous on Feb 5, 2012 12:08 PM EST reply actions

They'd like that, sure

But really, if the Lightning were moving Malone, it would be to create a bit more flexibility under the salary cap. They owe a lot of money to Lecavalier, Stamkos, St. Louis, Brewer, Ohlund, and Hedman over the next four seasons (and more), and if you include Malone in that mix they don’t have much room to improve their goaltending—which is obviously their first and foremost need.

Ideally, the Lightning would like to trade Malone for a good goaltender. But since few teams have the cap space, ownership willingness, or desire to pick up a player like Malone, the Lightning might have to settle for moving him in exchange for assets that don’t carry much of a cap hit in order to target a goaltender in trade some other way, or in free agency.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 5, 2012 1:43 PM EST up reply actions

If I'm Yzerman, I'm calling up Buffalo and trying to make a play for Miller.

Give up whatever I need. The team is good, they just need a good goalie and they could win another cup. And they’ve got the cap space.

by The Tif on Feb 5, 2012 4:10 PM EST up reply actions

Buffalo might trade Miller...

Depends how much faith they have in Enroth. Miller’s still just 31 years old, though, and goalies can often play well into their late 30s. I’m not sure the Sabres want to give that away.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 5, 2012 9:16 PM EST up reply actions

I'm thinking more to shake up the locker room.

They’re 13th in the East and spending pretty highly. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were thinking about some serious moves, and trading Miller is the most serioustest.

by The Tif on Feb 6, 2012 9:48 AM EST up reply actions

I think Malone would fit in nicely and work on either line

I also think he would help balance the top lines out and MacLean wouldn’t have to keep moving Michalek back and forth. That said I really feel this is a price is right move. I don’t feel this is the type of move where the team can pay a steep price (like the Rundblad + pick).

by Amelia L on Feb 5, 2012 5:52 PM EST up reply actions

I'd have to agree

The reason we were willing to pay that for Turris was probably that Murray saw him as at least a second-line centre, and maybe even a future top-liner. The same can’t be said of Malone, especially since he’s already well into his career.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 5, 2012 9:18 PM EST up reply actions

Steep price it is..but price always driven by precdent and demands..:(

Like I mentioned above, it is a steep price. However, Lee and Butler or Puempel is not even at the potential of Rundblad (at least for now) and with greening and Foligno still being a young guy, I felt that Puempel can be movable asset we can use. I would personally love to send Filatov instead of Puempel but Yzerman must be smart enough to be a gm of NHL and not including him in a deal for character guy such as Malone. Another reason why I see price would be steep is because powerforward is not available very often and guy like Bobby Ryan who is more talented and younger than Malone would cost just way too much. Remeber what Bruins had to pay for Horton(with Campbell). Wideman (Bruins’s No.2 defenseman at the time), mid 1st rd and 3rd rd pick. Penner deal to LA cost them Teubert (13th overall in 08’draft), late 1st rd, and conditional 3rd rd pick that turn into 2nd. With those two deals above and consider Malone is older, giving up Butler(2nd or 3rd RW), Puempel(decent LW prospect with big upside),and 3rd rd doesn’t sound too bad.
If Murray can pull better deal though, obviously I will be happy to see that happen :)

by HJJEON on Feb 5, 2012 11:38 PM EST up reply actions