It’s Not Time To Panic

What it’s time for is an intelligent, measured response that has a better chance of effecting positive results. Stan Bowman, I’m talking to you.

We need a trade before the Circus Trip begins. Plain and simple.

We’ve shuffled this deck as many times as possible, and let’s face it, nothing’s working. We need some fresh, experienced blood. We also need to send a message to the team that nobody’s job is safe as long as this lackadaisical attitude continues.

What do we need? A 20-goal-per-season forward, preferably a center, and preferably from an Eastern Conference Team.

Who gets the boot? Any and/or ALL of the following:

Troy Brouwer: He’s a relatively inexpensive utility forward who could be a top-six guy on a lesser-talented team. Plus, for whatever reason, Coach Quenneville doesn’t like him and won’t play him to the extent of his capabilities. He’s a million dollars of cap space that could be used on somebody who puts goals in the net.

Bryan Bickell, Jack Skille, Jake Dowell: All three of these guys are also underachieving. Yes, they’re cheap. Yes, they’re serviceable. But they have more value to a team that sees their potential than they do here.

Brian Campbell: Yeah, we sucked while he was out of the lineup. But if we’re going to shake things up, we have to consider all options, and he is the biggest financial suck on this team. Trading him means our options for adjustments to the roster expand by an order of magnitude. Target a team with a mountain of cap space that is letting in a lot of goals, and try to work a deal.

Kyle Beach: I know everyone in the blogosphere thinks this guy is the second coming. But the reality is, he could just as easily be the biggest bust since Ty Jones. He’s got a reputation as a head-case, and that is *not* what we need right now. And currently his perceived value exceeds his actual value, which is the perfect time to put together a trade.

Corey Crawford: It pains me to say this, but the kid is good, and that’s why we could include him in a deal if it becomes necessary. He’s been solid in a backup role, and he has the potential to be a starter down the road. If teams express interest, we should jump on that. Backup goaltenders are cheap and plentiful.

So who to pursue? I’ll forward one name: Carolina center Brandon Sutter. 6′ 3″, right handed shot, 21 goals last year and on a similar pace this season. The Canes have +$10 million in cap space, they don’t have a “franchise” defenseman, and they’re going to be struggling to make the playoffs with the blueline corps they’re fielding today.

Ship Campbell and either Brouwer or Beach to the Hurricanes for Sutter. Despite sucking up $8 million in cap dollars, they get the better of that deal by a mile. But we get what we need: a change of blood for a big, young pivot with the potential to be part of the young core that solidifies our position as an offensive powerhouse.

That’s my Monday Morning Quarterback  idea. I’m sure there are many others. But it’s time. Enough screwing around, let’s get some offers on the table and move somebody quickly. Re-focusing the team’s attention and getting them out of their comfort zone before the Circus Trip might be just what the doctor ordered.

Umm, Stan? Stan? Talk to Daddy, there, Junior. And get your ass in gear. We’re bleeding here.

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