As we consider potential trade targets for the Nashville Predators, one aspect of the team that could use a boost would be on defense, where on some nights, half the group is 5'10" tall or less. This is the kind of vulnerability that can be focused on and exploited over the course of a seven-game playoff series, and the addition of a veteran, physically rugged blueliner could not only relieve a bit of the burden carried by Shea Weber & Ryan Suter, but also provide a bit of a safety net for rookies like Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis to do their thing.
One such guy to fit that bill is Montreal's Hal Gill...
For one thing, there would finally be someone in the locker room who could look down at the goalies.
Mostly, however, Gill brings a massive physical presence, which would be well suited to playing stay-at-home hockey supporting one of the young guns like Josi or Ellis, while taking some of the penalty killing burden off of Weber & Suter. Gill currently leads Montreal in shorthanded ice time per game, and they've got one of the better units in the league, so he can be relied upon in that sort of specialist role.
He's not an offensive force, but that's something the young guys are doing rather well already (especially Josi on the power play).
Gill makes a very affordable $2.25 million this season, and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
In recent seasons, a mid-range player like Gill (as opposed to a top-pair defenseman or 1st-line forward) who is a pending UFA has typically cost something like a 2nd- to 4th-round draft pick (think of examples like Denis Grebeshkov, Derek Morris, Andrew Alberts, and Martin Skoula in recent years). Alternatively, a mid-range prospect could be in the mix, too.
Given all the uncertainty around the whole situation in Montreal, I wouldn't be surprised to see them look for draft picks primarily, so that if a new GM does take over, he has maximum flexibility over the summer.
With Gill's experience (including a Stanley Cup in 2009 with Pittsburgh), I'd go with a 2nd-round pick. If a bidding war gets going, it may be worth throwing in a minor prospect as well.
0 recs | 52 comments
This would be a great pickup, for sure...
It would add the physicality the D corps has needed, and the versatility you want when sizing up whether you want a tough D, or a puck-moving D.
Still, it’s no blockbuster move that would wow Suter and Weber into staying. Keep looking for a scorer.
Smashville HockeyCat - February 4, 2012
Agreed.
AFTER we’ve made a move for the forward that we need, then fine, pick up a Gill if you can (especially after we’ve sent Ellis to the Ducks for Ryan!), but a Dman shouldn’t be the priority for Poile, especially with the Suter situation looming in the background.
Grizzledbear - February 4, 2012 via mobile
disagree
gill is the kind of pick that wins stanley……he wears on opponents like a blanket.
we do need someone BRs ilk but Gill would be just as important
jeffery101y - February 4, 2012
Gill would be as important an acquisition as Ryan? That’s overstating it just a wee bit, IMHO.
Grizzledbear - February 5, 2012 via mobile
Gill would also be an excellent locker room presence. he’s definitely been around the block and back.
Shawn Kehoe - February 4, 2012
WOULD BE A GREAT GET
predswilrule - February 4, 2012
Have to say that with the endless amount of draft picks we’ve used on Dmen over the years, that even having to talk about possibly needing add a Dman at the trade deadline is mindboggling. And it’s not like we’ve traded any of these Dmen picks, save Parent, for other needs over the years. Sigh.
Grizzledbear - February 4, 2012 via mobile
Regardless of the need at forward or the amount of draft picks we’ve used on defense, a Hal gill type player would fit in well and fill one of our two needs… A physical presence on d besides weber.
Whether the chicken or egg comes first, it is a need we should address.
Predator Don - February 4, 2012
YES YES YES
Go get this guy. He is the dman that I want.
Even if we only add a Whitney or Ruuto (still would love to sweep in and get Smyth or Selanne closer to Feb. 27), our d pairings would be in great shape with
6/20
8/59
51/74
Then we also don’t have to rely on Josi to kill penalties in the playoffs where weaknesses are exploited by game 3.
You also never know he may love Nashville and sign another one year deal in July to stay here and take Cube’s spot in 12-13.
wrandsw - February 4, 2012
need an edit button
I meant 75 instead of 74. I don’t think I could handle SK74 playing defense.
wrandsw - February 4, 2012
No Ellis?
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - February 4, 2012
No Ellis
Here is why: For discussion sake let’s say that final standing are like this – 1. Det 2. Van 3. SJ 4. Chi 5. LA 6. NSH 7. StL 8. ANA/DAL
What line can you comfortably put him out there for against the Sharks? If we end up in the 4/5 matchup w/ LA, same thing. Chicago same thing. Maybe and I mean maybe VAN because of what their bottom 2 lines look like now. Last year no chance.
Plain and simple he lacks the physical strength to play defense in a 7 game playoff series. Hillen does to. But just on Ellis, so you get maybe 6 minutes of PP time in a given game and you better believe that I want 6/ 20 on the ice for 4+ of that 6 minutes of PP. The goals for compared to the goals against won’t even out with Ellis get 1:30 of PP time and 7:30 of EV toi.
You can get just as much out of 51/59 on the points of unit 2 in that little time. Or put SK74 or Legs back there.
wrandsw - February 4, 2012
Won’t that continue to be the case with Ellis (he’s not gonna grow any taller) in the future as well? If he can’t handle top forwards as you say due to his size, then when can we use him as a top 4 defender in the future? May as well trade him for Ryan. ;)
Grizzledbear - February 4, 2012 via mobile
I'm with you
He should be the key piece going back to anaheim in the Ryan deal.
wrandsw - February 4, 2012 via mobile
I haven't noticed him playing small since he's been here.
He plays with his head more than most, which compensates for his size.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - February 4, 2012
My personal opinion is that in the two games against philly he got man handled against their bigger forwards. He is ok in the middle of the ice, but along the wall he gets pushed off the puck.
wrandsw - February 4, 2012 via mobile
Sure, maybe some of that.
But if he flourishes offensively, then the risk / reward could be worth it in the long run……..
I hear what you’re sayin’ though.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - February 5, 2012
2 or 3 shots on goal/game are about right for a D-man...
Just sayin’
Smashville HockeyCat - February 4, 2012
Hmm... I see where you're going with this!
davisca - February 4, 2012
This is exactly why we shoulda resigned SOB for half the price.
But that’s neither here nor there.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - February 4, 2012
I miss SOB but...
He has 77 PIM in 48 games Vs. Gill who has 27 PIM in 46 games. Plus Gill has a size advantage.
Predadave - February 4, 2012
How many of those minutes are the result of fight majors or 10min. miscounducts though?
Grizzledbear - February 4, 2012 via mobile
Even adjusting for 5’s and 10’s, SOB has taken twice as many penalties (Gill 22 min, SOB 42 min).
Predadave - February 4, 2012
Quite a difference though when you take out the 5’s and 10’s.
Grizzledbear - February 4, 2012 via mobile
A truly headscratching move by GMDP.
Grizzledbear - February 4, 2012 via mobile
+1
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - February 4, 2012
SOB ……is not gill. Gill would be a much better fit.
Predator Don - February 4, 2012
There are many who think Gill is an oversized pylon. IMO, he’s okay, but not better than Obie.
Grizzledbear - February 4, 2012 via mobile
Yeah, I’m not really for this trade. We have Tyler Sloan in Milwaukee with a +12, and he’s free.
DonBorvio - February 4, 2012
This is the big argument I’ve heard against him, yep. “He’s too big and slow.”
davisca - February 4, 2012
Good point....
….why not go for SOB from Colorado? I know they’re in the playoff picture, but just sayin’.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - February 4, 2012
Gill would be nice, but he’s also attracting alot of attention. If his price goes up, theres other options too. A guy like Mark Eaton or Scott Hannan would be an option as well. I wouldn’t be comfortable adding a guy like Gill unless we added offense with him, though. He fills a need but we have more than one need that needs addressing before we can get serious about a cup run. That being said, it’d be great to have his playoff experience, even if just for a single season’s playoffs. Thats the kind of extra salt we can really benefit from. On the O-side, Paajarvi is a solid young player in Edmonton, and, like Blum, could use a change of scenery it seems. He’s a year or two from being a real impact player, but so is our team. I think our true window of opportunity is in a couple years when Josi, Smith, Ellis, Latta, Geoffrion, etc all have a concurrent peaking of development. Paajarvi would fit right into that development curve and plays a two way game like Erat but with a little more possible offensive upside
Predfan19 - February 4, 2012
Mark Eaton!
What goes around comes around, doesn’t it?
Hockey Hillbilly - February 4, 2012
With Eaton all you would have is a slow, old pylon...
All they do is bitch about him on Long Island. Not worth a pale of pucks.
GoPreds00 - February 4, 2012 via mobile
Absolutely
But the give the guy his props. He holds the Predators’ plus/minus record at +16 (2003-4).
Hockey Hillbilly - February 4, 2012
I liked Eaton while he was here. He played well positionally, and one of my favorite moments is him standing up Forsberg at the blueline, just blowing him up while he was coming in on the rush. I’m not sure I’m keen on Gill exactly, but I don’t think that reacquiring #4 is the solution.
OddManRush - February 4, 2012
If Suter, and then Weber, walk because all we did was get a prospect from the Oilers at the deadline, your window of opportunity will have slammed shut. This isn’t the time to think small. Add a legit forward to the roster (and a vet D if you want) and the window of opportunity will be now!
Grizzledbear - February 4, 2012 via mobile
Aye.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - February 4, 2012
Weber and Suter want help, but they’re not getting old next year. If we were to acquire a really good offensive prospect with the intention of continuing to look for a prime aged player I don’t think they’d panic and jump ship. Getting those types of players is hard though. Anaheim’s GM already said he wants an already established cornerstone player in return for Bobby Ryan, and that will be a similar sentiment held by other teams for their top players.
And as for Eaton, he is a significant downgrade from Gill, I was just saying his type of player is a backup option. Gill isn’t Chris Pronger- hes going to help but don’t expect him to be an elite shutdown defenseman
Predfan19 - February 4, 2012
"With the intention of continuing to look for a prime aged player"......
You can’t negotiate with potential UFA’s until July 1st, which is the precise date Suter becomes a UFA. In other words, he’s as good as gone if we still haven’t done anything of significance by then. If we pass up the chance to add a key piece to this team when they’re are so close to being a Cup contender, I think trying to get Suter to stay here is a lost cause.
Grizzledbear - February 4, 2012 via mobile
From a Habs fan, Gill’s ES play has gone off a cliff this year, considering he was matched against top units last year and more often than not did well. How much this dropoff is due to not being paired with Subban anymore I’m not sure, but he can still be counted on to lead a third pairing and can handle being on a second pairing with a solid partner. On the PK, the guy is excellent. I don’t think I can come up with many defensemen I’d rather have out on a 5-on-3 than Gill, he is a sight to behold in those situations and his positioning and stickwork is perfect.
Also to consider is that Gill usually comes up big come playoff time; he was great for the Pens in ‘09 and for the Habs the past two playoffs. Furthermore, he’s a seasoned veteran and a great locker room presence.
Alexandre S - February 4, 2012
Throw in Plekanic and we might have something here! ;)
Any word on when and if Gionta will come back this season? That’s a guy (with an intact bicep muscule) that I would like to get if available.
Grizzledbear - February 4, 2012 via mobile
That’s bicep muscle………typing while riding the stationary bike a dangerous practice. :D
Grizzledbear - February 4, 2012 via mobile
Gionta’s pretty much out for the year if I recall correctly. Our injuries have been ridiculous this year. As for Pleks, we’re keeping him (at least I hope, and considering what our management has been like recently, I don’t know if that hope is well founded). Pleks is in my opinion one of our untouchables along with our youngsters, Gorges and maybe Cole, given how much of a beast he has been so far. I wouldn’t be surprised to see our Kostitsyn shopped around however.
Alexandre S - February 4, 2012
Also I doubt Gionta would get traded, I mean he is our captain, and captains don’t get traded often, unless you’re an asshole of the proportion of Mike Richards.
Alexandre S - February 4, 2012
I have an idea for the polls at the end of these "trade target" posts.
As I was thinking about these polls earlier today, I wondered if it would interesting to have options for comparison voting. By that, I mean yes or no I would pursue this trade, OR I would or would not pursue this trade over player X (the other trade-target guys).
So, for instance, this week’s poll could look something like…
Yes, Hal Gill would be perfect!
Yes, but [insert trade target name here; Bobby Ryan] would be better.
No, Hal Gill would be bad.
No, but Hal Gill would be better than [insert trade target name here; Bobby Ryan].
I started thinking comparatively because while I think Gill could be a nice addition for the Preds, I wouldn’t take him over Bobby Ryan. This was a quickly thought out idea, so it’s still rough around the edges, but I was curious if anyone else thinks this is a neat idea (or not!), or has any suggestions to present this idea more clearly in a poll. If it’s possible, I think it’d be nice to have a way to compare the current option to past previewed-options, but I can obviously live without it. (Maybe there could also just be a “conclusive” post after we preview all the targets, and everyone could just vote there… that might be easier for Dirk, haha.) Any thoughts?
davisca - February 4, 2012
Just get Ryan and we won’t need anymore polls. ;)
Grizzledbear - February 4, 2012 via mobile
Hey, you solved the problem!!!! I request the highest of fives.
davisca - February 4, 2012
Hi Davisca
hung out with Copper and Blue folks last night. likely to have some EDM fans in here cheering on the Preds tonight. Folks, make em welcome for keeping Detroit to one point Sunday! Very nice group of people. :-)
Whamba - February 7, 2012 via Android app
heading in to the arena now… ENJOY!!!
Whamba - February 7, 2012 via Android app
If we're talking rental D-men
why are we not talking Bryan Allen from the Canes?
Only Fan In J.C. ? - February 5, 2012
Finally one for Hal.
I tried real hard to shy away from the HAL 9000 route…
(larger version)
OddManRush - February 9, 2012
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