Here’s some thoughts that I had on the article and the comments thus far. Washington would have to eat $20 million on the contract, which is something they may have been willing to do in a Ranger trade, but not necessarily with Phoenix. Second, when you added up the salaries for Gratton, Savage and Boucher, how long are the lengths of those contracts? If they all expire at the end of this year or one or two run into next year, then you’re still assuming $25 over the next couple of years for Jagr when you could have paid a bit more for the above three, but only for one year.

Is Boucher that much better than whoever the backup is in Washington? Does it matter? For example, is the team going anywhere if they get rid of Jagr so much so that a better backup will help? Probably not.

In Phoenix, if you get rid of Gratton and Savage, who is gonna step up? Not being familiar with Phoenix, is Bierk ready to be a full time backup to Burke? What if Burke gets hurt/traded before the end of the season? Does Phoenix’ playoff aspirations go out the window?

Anyways, again, I like your creative thoughts. Maybe there are a couple of questions to be answered before you can say it would be a good trade or not, but ehh, that’s what the rest of my workday is for.

Peace!

Not an option

I realize that any team that is going to bite on a Jagr deal will be dumping some salary if they will take his on, but I don’t think the Caps will be looking to take on more salary. If the deal of Jagr is a salary dump (yes they will not be paying him full, but still $20 Million) and it is anything CLOSE to the Pens salary dumps, they will be looking to shed more salary than this. Also, I think in a seller’s market, you look for guys that you can see organizations have maybe given up on, or don’t have room for, but that still has potential….(ie Fata)…None of the mentioned players have any potential, save a little bit in Boucher…..

First of all, if this trade was to happen, it would be a case of addition by subtraction. When you’re dumping salary, and everyone knows that you’re dumping salary, then it’s a seller’s market. You aren’t really in a position to win on the deal. You only hope that you don’t lose too badly.

Having said that, the key to the deal you propose is probably Boucher. Right now, the Caps have Sebastien Charpentier and Rostislav Stana as back-ups. I think Boucher is an upgrade over each of those guys. Then throw in the possibilty of dealing Olaf Kolzig at the deadline. That would be a deal that you could probably get some younger prospects for your rebuilding phase. Boucher finishes out the season, then goes into camp to fight for the number one spot.

I have never liked Gratton. He’s supposed to be this great power forward, but he’s never really established himself with the rest of the bunch. If you ask anybody to name the top ten power forwards in the league right now, I don’t think very many would list him. Savage hasn’t been the type of player he was billed to be either. The best you can hope for in getting these guys is that they don’t get hurt, they play solidly, and they have career years.