Bieksa is a MUCH better option than Skoula and i agree that Bieksa/Gonchar are a better tandem than Boyle/Zhitnik.  i didn't realize that a D of Bieksa's quality was still a FA in your league.  if you can work it out then i'd make a deal to get a sign and trade for Bieksa.

Steve's doing such a good job helping you here that i'm hesitant to throw in my own .02 beyond those thoughts.  good job Steve.

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Thanks to both of you for the comments and advice, I had forgotten about the sign 'n trade option.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Our trade deadline is sunday 11:59pm not today since we're running it weekly.

I couldn't get Boyle, but I shipped out Skoula and a 7th round pick for Zhitnik and a 9th round pick.

So my roster is now:

C - Datsyuk, B. Richards, Zubrus, Fisher, Cajanek

LW - Ovechkin, Elias, Ponikarovsky, Roberts, Neil

RW - Guerin, Langenbrunner, Horton, Ouellet, Dvorak, Radulov

D - Gonchar, Rafalski, Redden, Ohlund, Phillips, Zhitnik, Sutton

G - Kipprusoff, Holmqvist, Fernandez

I'm thinking that my RW needs the most help right now, but as both of you mention, Bieksa is someone who'd be a keeper. 

Should I try to do a sign 'n trade for Bieksa (dropping Sutton) or one of the following RW - Backes, Kozlov, Sillinger, Stafford, Kolnik (drop Dvorak)?

A blockbuster trade has been brought to the table, that seems pretty good to me but has me a little apprehensive.  A guy has been spitballing and came up with this: 

My Elias (under contract for next year at $24), Fernandez (under contract for $10) and cajanek for his Hasek ($15 now, $18 next yr if I keep), Lecavalier ($25 now, $30 if I keep) and Stajan (LW $1 now, $8 next yr). 

This trade seems like it would give me some big guns for the championship run:  world level goalie tandem of Kipper/Hasek with Holmqvist in reserve, All-star C presence: Lecavalier, Datsyuk, B. Richards, Zubrus with Fisher in reserve.  Weakens my LW - Ovechkin, Ponikarovsky, Roberts, Neil/Stajan and leaves my RW and D the same.  With Fernandez a week away (which brings him back in time for the top5 shootout for the title), is Hasek/Lecavalier that much of an upgrade over Fernandez/Elias? I seem to think yes..

However, I lose a goalie and LW next year and I will be $14 over cap which reduces my auction budget down to $176 ($200-$10 for ten $1 draft picks - $14) and I would probably keep: Ovechkin $13, Horton $10, probably Gonchar $24, Lecavalier $25 (freeze but only keep for 1 yr?), Radulov $8 which would be: $80...I would have $96 to spend on my remaining 11 auction players which kind of hamstrings me a bit...especially concerned that there will be some heavy bidding action on goalies since we have 16 teams with requirements for 2 goalies to play each week (but I could retain Hasek for $18 or Holmqvist for $8 if either has a starting job next year). 

One team has Giguere/Huet locked up next yr, another has miller/lehtonen, another lundqvist/vokoun, and one guy is keeping fleury and considering keeping Khabibulin.  My feeling is that teams with 2 starters will dominate the league next year since they'll take the saves and have a better shot at wins every single week.  

Am I over-analyzing based on next year?  Or should I just say "damn the torpedoes" and accept this offer and hope Lecavalier and Hasek stay healthy, try to rush my way to the championship and worry about next year when next year comes?  I finished 10th of 11 last year...and I've rebuilt my team into a strong contender so far.

In anycase, he was throwing things out and hasn't 'officially' offered it yet.  But our trade deadline is sunday 11:59PM so I'll have to turn this around quickly if it comes.