Zegras vs Perfetti + Mercer

[Darkwing Puck]

Keeper deadline is today and I'm having some misgivings about keeping an unsigned Zegras. I have about $5.75 million free to allocate to Zegras, but for every $100,000 we go over the $59 million cap (which is just used for keepers), we pay a $1 penalty. With word that the Zegras and the Ducks are in agreement on a three-year term, I don't think his AAV is likely to come in above that $5.75 million, but I'm also worried about the impact of him missing training camp or part of the season. I also had to leave Mercer and Perfetti out of my keepers which I really don't feel great about, especially as Mercer projects to be pretty close to Zegras in all cats except PIMs. The strongest argument I can make in favour of keeping Zegras is that I have a lot of guys who will be free agents next season (including Mercer and Perfetti), so having him locked in even for 2-3 years would be a big help.

I'm looking into trading Zegras, but with only a few hours until the keeper deadline, I'm not sure I'll be able to find a taker. I'm currently starting to lean towards not keeping him but any advice would be appreciated.

[Axeman33]

I'll be shocked if his AAV comes in below $5.75M like you are projecting, no matter on the term he gets.

Where did you hear/read something about Zegras and the Ducks are in agreement on a new deal? Everything I am reading online says they are still not close.

[Darkwing Puck]

Not a new deal, just that both sides are good with a three year contract. They're still far apart on the money.

[Axeman33]

Not a new deal, just that both sides are good with a three year contract. They're still far apart on the money.

Ahh, gotcha. I havent seen that either, but who knows. Usually, term is tied to dollars so if they cant figure out the money side, I dont think the term side is locked down either, but as I say, who knows. None of us are in the negotiations.

So I am curious why you are keeping Xhakaj? Sure, he hits a lot but he should be someone you could easily re-draft in the mid to later rounds. Why not throw him back, along with Zegras (for the contract situation) and just keep Mercer and someone else, be it Perfetti or Jack Quinn, or even Buchnevich? I'd almost say the same thing about Dustin Wolf. You're already keeping 3Gs in a league that only starts 2.

[metaldude26]

I'd expect a bridge deal like that would come in around Jason Robertson's $7M so he's almost certainly going over.

I'd want to try and find the cap to keep him at that number. I imagine you'll be running into a similar overpricing issue with Perfetti and Mercer in a year.

I'd rather dump Caufield at his new number since he doesn't do as much in the banger categories for his cap hit.

[Darkwing Puck]

Ahh, gotcha. I havent seen that either, but who knows. Usually, term is tied to dollars so if they cant figure out the money side, I dont think the term side is locked down either, but as I say, who knows. None of us are in the negotiations.

So I am curious why you are keeping Xhakaj? Sure, he hits a lot but he should be someone you could easily re-draft in the mid to later rounds. Why not throw him back, along with Zegras (for the contract situation) and just keep Mercer and someone else, be it Perfetti or Jack Quinn, or even Buchnevich? I'd almost say the same thing about Dustin Wolf. You're already keeping 3Gs in a league that only starts 2.

Yeah, who knows what's going on with the Ducks. They've got tons of cap space but seem to be playing hardball with both Zegras and Drysdale. Trying to save money for a run at a big-name free agent next season?

As you say, I'm keeping Xhekaj for the hits, which is a category I'm weak in among my keepers (same with PIMs). We only start two goalies, but we do have a minimum start requirement (three starts). Between Saros and Demko (assuming the latter bounces back from last season), I should be good on that front, but most teams in the league still roster 4-5 goalies. I'm also not really counting Wolf as one of my goalies as my expectation is that he'll spend most of the season in my NA slot. Keeping Buchnevich is an idea I hadn't considered.

I'd rather dump Caufield at his new number since he doesn't do as much in the banger categories for his cap hit.

I thought about that, but Caufield shoots a lot more and is also locked in long-term. I don't like his cap hit now, but in the future it could be really good, especially if he can develop into a perennial 40+ goal scorer.

[Axeman33]

Are you a Habs fan by chance?

You seem to be keeping a lot of guys who fill maybe one or two categories that are probably re-draftable. I still dont see a reason to keep Wolf but if you think it's important to keep a goalie who's currently #3 on the depth chart, have at it.

[Darkwing Puck]

Nope. I'm actually the rarest of the rare among Canadian hockey fans - a Coyotes fan (I started out as a fan of the OG Jets).

[Axeman33]

Either way, with your limited cap space, I would not be keeping Zegras.

[stevegamer]

I'd probably keep Perfetti & Mercer at this point.

[Darkwing Puck]

I ended up trading Zegras (and Jacob Markstrom, who I wasn't planning to keep) for a pick early in the 2nd round, so I'm feeling like things worked out.

[Axeman33]

I ended up trading Zegras (and Jacob Markstrom, who I wasn't planning to keep) for a pick early in the 2nd round, so I'm feeling like things worked out.

And you still plan on keeping Mercer and Perfetti?

[Darkwing Puck]

And you still plan on keeping Mercer and Perfetti?

Yeah. I made a two other trades yesterday. So along with replacing Zegras with Mercer and Perfetti, I dropped Xhekaj and Wolf and replaced them with McBain and Fehervary.

[Darkwing Puck]

Oof. If Zegras gives in and signs for the $3-4 million AAV that the Ducks are reportedly offering, I may regret not keeping him.

[Axeman33]

I doubt it. It's not like you're giving up more than you're keeping. Zegras is more name than anything at this point..

And I'll be surprised if that is the type of money he's holding out for. He's holding out because he's looking for big money.