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Tampa Bay Lightning Blogger •
Since I was rather critical earlier today of the Lightning’s decision not to hold any sort of draft party, it’s only fair that I share a bit of the thought process that went into forgoing such an event, as it was relayed to me by a team spokesman just a few hours ago.
Instead of a draft party, at which very few key members of the Tampa Bay organization would be present, the Bolts will host their annual prospects camp at The St. Pete Times Forum this year from July 8-15. Rather than simply watch the Lightning selectVictor Hedman their top choice at #2 on Friday night with most of the club’s shot-callers in Montreal, fans will have the opportunity to interact with the player and team execs in person during the camp, where selected practices and a Saturday evening scrimmage will be free and open to the public.
This year’s draft choices will be invited to the camp, of course, as will prospects from past drafts and, as I was told, even a player or two who may have already seen a little game time with the Lightning.
I’m a draft party fan, clearly, and I still think it’s the perfect opportunity to spin things in a positive direction after such a disappointing season gone by but the call to host the prospects camp locally, rather than in Victoria, B.C. as they did last year, is a good one that buffers the bummer of no local draft gathering at least somewhat.
From earlier, As the Draft Approaches, Fans Have Vinny on the Brain:
Unless something more pressing pops up between now and Friday, I’ve decided to push back anything non-draft related until after the draft. In the week between the draft and the start of free agency, I’ll take care of any final looks back at last season and transition into what might happen between then and the opening of training camp in September.
For now, a couple of outstanding Mailbag questions to address with some musings of my own throughout for good measure.
As I should probably expect, the Vinny Lecavalier trade watch, from a fan’s perspective at least, is officially back on. Conversations I've had with hoards of Lightning fans so far this off-season have dealt almost solely with the future (or lack thereof) of the captain in Tampa. The two emails I’ll respond to today also deal with a potential Vinny deal.
Tarek M. writes:
I have one question:
Do you think Vincent Lecavalier is going to be traded at the draft and, if so, are you for or against it?
Personally, I would be for a trade with the New York Islanders for their first overall pick in exchange for Lecavalier. We would basically get John Tavares and Victor Hedman so it would be a great trade in my own view.
What do you think?
(That was two questions, Tarek!) ;)
Let’s see … Do I think Vincent Lecavalier will be traded at the draft? Boy, you’re really putting me on the spot, aren’t you?
Well, the most recent odds I gave (to someone, somewhere – not really sure anymore) were 60/40 that Vinny would be dealt. I didn’t necessarily say that it would be at the draft, though that is as reasonable a time as any for a deal of that magnitude to take place, what with that many team executives in the same city at the same time and all.
Keep in mind, I’m not relying on any insider tips on this one or anything like that. (Those simply aren’t forthcoming for a Lecavalier trade, no matter what you hear elsewhere. If it happens, it happens quietly and I’ll know when you do, for the most part.) Instead, this is mostly an ever-evolving hunch on my part.
Anyway, let me take a better shot at directly answer your question: Yes, I think Vinny Lecavalier will be traded. At 60/40, however, I am in no way certain of as much. It also may not happen at the draft. His no-trade/no-movement clauses don’t kick in until July 1st so the Lightning still have plenty of time to consider various offers.
As far as being for or against it, I think my opinion on that is pretty much the genesis for the odds I’ve thrown out there. Keeping Vinny and his world-class talent comes with nearly an $8-million dollar cap hit (that, yes, only one summer ago, management was well aware of in signing Lecavalier to an 11-year extension). You can either keep the captain and attempt to fill the various roster holes through free agency, the draft and other trade possibilities, or you can use him as a movable asset, create flexibility in moving the contract and address some of those personnel concerns all at the same time.
If it’s possible – which is the$10 million dollar question – I still think there is more to gain from the latter option. I still believe that someone (and, again, not necessarily the Montreal Canadiens!) just might be willing to package the world for a chance at having Lecavalier. Players of his ilk just aren’t made available every day.
As for your idea of moving Vinny to the Islanders for the 1st overall pick, it’s a nice thought but I wouldn’t hold your breath.
For starters, any Lecavalier deal will address multiple areas of concern at various tiers of the Lightning roster (a top defenseman, scoring depth, a defense prospect, perhaps another draft choice). Adding Tavares and Hedman is enough to make any team salivate but, in doing so, Tampa Bay would be handing the fortunes of their franchise, essentially, over to three kids aged 19 and under in Tavares, Hedman and Steven Stamkos. Not necessarily a bad thing in the long run but this team won’t even utter the word “rebuild” so it’s clear that they’re trying to turn things around much more quickly. (Moving Lecavalier for the kind of assets I listed earlier is more conducive to that approach.)
Further, I don’t see the Islanders making that trade. GM Garth Snow has indicated that he simply will not trade the pick. To borrow Lightning GM Brian Lawton’s intentionally exaggerated hypothetical, “If the Detroit Red Wings came calling with an offer of Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg …” things might be different. They aren’t.
For a team like the Islanders (who are in an admitted rebuilding mode) drafting the 18-year-old Tavares makes more sense than acquiring Lecavalier as he nears 30 and is coming off of a series of injuries and a sub-par 2008 season.
But Lecavalier would make all the sense in the world for various other clubs.
The Tampa Bay Lightning, go figure, may remain one of them.
Joshua P. writes:
I am a huge Nashville Predators fan and I was wondering about your thoughts regarding Nashville moving into the 2nd spot. What would Nashville give up in order to move there? How would Ryan Suter, Dan Ellis, the 11th overall pick and a second rounder sound? Thanks for reading this.
My pleasure, Joshua.
My return question to you is this: Why, exactly, would Nashville be so eager to give up that much to move into the two hole? With Shea Weber, Suter, Dan Hamhuis and an otherwise very deep defense group, I wouldn’t expect them to be that high on Hedman to do so. If a shot at Tavares is what they would want, my opinion is still that you’d have to go all the way to #1 because he’s not getting past the Islanders and, again, they’re not trading the pick (so they say).
Still, hypothetically, I’ll humor you. This is actually more along the lines of what the Bolts should be asking for in return for Lecavalier, though I’m not sure a goaltender like Ellis would be part of what they want, unless Mike Smith (Ellis’ former netminding partner in the Dallas Stars organization) continues to struggle in his recovery from last season’s concussion issues. For the number two pick, I don’t think you get this sort of return and, if I’m Nashville, I don’t know that I’m all that interested in the pick in the first place.
If I’m the Lightning, I’d listen for sure, though I’d probably substitute another asset for Ellis.
Overall, I’d say this is a bit off. Feel free to contact me again if I’ve somehow missed your point or if you can better clarify the Preds’ intentions with such a scenario.
Side note: With Weber and Suter at the top of their defensive depth chart, Nashville wouldn’t be a bad trade partner at all for Tampa Bay this summer. Hmm … Maybe I’ll revisit that idea later …
Meanwhile, back at the ranch …
Looks like I’ll be braving theAfrica Florida heat after all, rather than enjoying Montreal for draft weekend. Coverage plans fell through and, though I’m a bit disappointed, naturally, my road legs are weary from a lot of travel lately anyway so my couch sounds like a welcome alternative. Still, depending on local draft party plans (assuming the Lightning put something together, that is) my couch may be deserted after all.
On that note, a small thumbs-down to the Bolts for not announcing anything along those lines just yet (and a huge thumbs-down if they neglect to do so completely!) Not that the Islanders are any shining example of, well, anything these days but, with the top pick in this year’s draft, they’re expecting 17,000+ at the Nassau Coliseum come draft night. Last year, no such party to welcome Steven Stamkos at The St. Pete Times Forum via the Jumbotron. Instead, the Lightning sent “The Energy Team” to various locations across town to watch the draft on little TVs and make money for other establishments.
You don’t want to have the first or second overall pick too often but, when you do, I say you take advantage of the opportunity, get your fans together and start the excitement for the upcoming season as early as possible - especially when you had the chance to do so last year and you didn’t and especially when you had the type of season you had last year and making everyone forget about that and look ahead as soon as possible should be oh-so high on your list of off-season priorities.
Just sayin’ ...
Finally, someone recently asked me for an update on 2008 Lightning draftee David Carle (you know, the younger brother of that guy Matt, who played here for about five minutes last year?) For those that forgot, Carle was diagnosed with a heart condition at last year’s draft combine, finishing his pro career before it ever began. Tampa Bay selected Carle in the seventh round of the draft anyway and was praised heavily for the gesture.
As it turns out, The St. Petersburg Times beat me to the requested update with a full article on the kid this morning, detailing his new life as a student-assistant coach for the University of Denver.
More draft questions or anything you’d like me to address before Friday? Fire away.
If not, sit tight. I’ll be back shortly.
JJ
jon.jordan@hockeybuzz.com
JJ on Facebook
JJ on Twitter
Instead of a draft party, at which very few key members of the Tampa Bay organization would be present, the Bolts will host their annual prospects camp at The St. Pete Times Forum this year from July 8-15. Rather than simply watch the Lightning select
This year’s draft choices will be invited to the camp, of course, as will prospects from past drafts and, as I was told, even a player or two who may have already seen a little game time with the Lightning.
I’m a draft party fan, clearly, and I still think it’s the perfect opportunity to spin things in a positive direction after such a disappointing season gone by but the call to host the prospects camp locally, rather than in Victoria, B.C. as they did last year, is a good one that buffers the bummer of no local draft gathering at least somewhat.
From earlier, As the Draft Approaches, Fans Have Vinny on the Brain:
Unless something more pressing pops up between now and Friday, I’ve decided to push back anything non-draft related until after the draft. In the week between the draft and the start of free agency, I’ll take care of any final looks back at last season and transition into what might happen between then and the opening of training camp in September.
For now, a couple of outstanding Mailbag questions to address with some musings of my own throughout for good measure.
As I should probably expect, the Vinny Lecavalier trade watch, from a fan’s perspective at least, is officially back on. Conversations I've had with hoards of Lightning fans so far this off-season have dealt almost solely with the future (or lack thereof) of the captain in Tampa. The two emails I’ll respond to today also deal with a potential Vinny deal.
Tarek M. writes:
I have one question:
Do you think Vincent Lecavalier is going to be traded at the draft and, if so, are you for or against it?
Personally, I would be for a trade with the New York Islanders for their first overall pick in exchange for Lecavalier. We would basically get John Tavares and Victor Hedman so it would be a great trade in my own view.
What do you think?
(That was two questions, Tarek!) ;)
Let’s see … Do I think Vincent Lecavalier will be traded at the draft? Boy, you’re really putting me on the spot, aren’t you?
Well, the most recent odds I gave (to someone, somewhere – not really sure anymore) were 60/40 that Vinny would be dealt. I didn’t necessarily say that it would be at the draft, though that is as reasonable a time as any for a deal of that magnitude to take place, what with that many team executives in the same city at the same time and all.
Keep in mind, I’m not relying on any insider tips on this one or anything like that. (Those simply aren’t forthcoming for a Lecavalier trade, no matter what you hear elsewhere. If it happens, it happens quietly and I’ll know when you do, for the most part.) Instead, this is mostly an ever-evolving hunch on my part.
Anyway, let me take a better shot at directly answer your question: Yes, I think Vinny Lecavalier will be traded. At 60/40, however, I am in no way certain of as much. It also may not happen at the draft. His no-trade/no-movement clauses don’t kick in until July 1st so the Lightning still have plenty of time to consider various offers.
As far as being for or against it, I think my opinion on that is pretty much the genesis for the odds I’ve thrown out there. Keeping Vinny and his world-class talent comes with nearly an $8-million dollar cap hit (that, yes, only one summer ago, management was well aware of in signing Lecavalier to an 11-year extension). You can either keep the captain and attempt to fill the various roster holes through free agency, the draft and other trade possibilities, or you can use him as a movable asset, create flexibility in moving the contract and address some of those personnel concerns all at the same time.
If it’s possible – which is the
As for your idea of moving Vinny to the Islanders for the 1st overall pick, it’s a nice thought but I wouldn’t hold your breath.
For starters, any Lecavalier deal will address multiple areas of concern at various tiers of the Lightning roster (a top defenseman, scoring depth, a defense prospect, perhaps another draft choice). Adding Tavares and Hedman is enough to make any team salivate but, in doing so, Tampa Bay would be handing the fortunes of their franchise, essentially, over to three kids aged 19 and under in Tavares, Hedman and Steven Stamkos. Not necessarily a bad thing in the long run but this team won’t even utter the word “rebuild” so it’s clear that they’re trying to turn things around much more quickly. (Moving Lecavalier for the kind of assets I listed earlier is more conducive to that approach.)
Further, I don’t see the Islanders making that trade. GM Garth Snow has indicated that he simply will not trade the pick. To borrow Lightning GM Brian Lawton’s intentionally exaggerated hypothetical, “If the Detroit Red Wings came calling with an offer of Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg …” things might be different. They aren’t.
For a team like the Islanders (who are in an admitted rebuilding mode) drafting the 18-year-old Tavares makes more sense than acquiring Lecavalier as he nears 30 and is coming off of a series of injuries and a sub-par 2008 season.
But Lecavalier would make all the sense in the world for various other clubs.
The Tampa Bay Lightning, go figure, may remain one of them.
Joshua P. writes:
I am a huge Nashville Predators fan and I was wondering about your thoughts regarding Nashville moving into the 2nd spot. What would Nashville give up in order to move there? How would Ryan Suter, Dan Ellis, the 11th overall pick and a second rounder sound? Thanks for reading this.
My pleasure, Joshua.
My return question to you is this: Why, exactly, would Nashville be so eager to give up that much to move into the two hole? With Shea Weber, Suter, Dan Hamhuis and an otherwise very deep defense group, I wouldn’t expect them to be that high on Hedman to do so. If a shot at Tavares is what they would want, my opinion is still that you’d have to go all the way to #1 because he’s not getting past the Islanders and, again, they’re not trading the pick (so they say).
Still, hypothetically, I’ll humor you. This is actually more along the lines of what the Bolts should be asking for in return for Lecavalier, though I’m not sure a goaltender like Ellis would be part of what they want, unless Mike Smith (Ellis’ former netminding partner in the Dallas Stars organization) continues to struggle in his recovery from last season’s concussion issues. For the number two pick, I don’t think you get this sort of return and, if I’m Nashville, I don’t know that I’m all that interested in the pick in the first place.
If I’m the Lightning, I’d listen for sure, though I’d probably substitute another asset for Ellis.
Overall, I’d say this is a bit off. Feel free to contact me again if I’ve somehow missed your point or if you can better clarify the Preds’ intentions with such a scenario.
Side note: With Weber and Suter at the top of their defensive depth chart, Nashville wouldn’t be a bad trade partner at all for Tampa Bay this summer. Hmm … Maybe I’ll revisit that idea later …
Meanwhile, back at the ranch …
Looks like I’ll be braving the
On that note, a small thumbs-down to the Bolts for not announcing anything along those lines just yet (and a huge thumbs-down if they neglect to do so completely!) Not that the Islanders are any shining example of, well, anything these days but, with the top pick in this year’s draft, they’re expecting 17,000+ at the Nassau Coliseum come draft night. Last year, no such party to welcome Steven Stamkos at The St. Pete Times Forum via the Jumbotron. Instead, the Lightning sent “The Energy Team” to various locations across town to watch the draft on little TVs and make money for other establishments.
You don’t want to have the first or second overall pick too often but, when you do, I say you take advantage of the opportunity, get your fans together and start the excitement for the upcoming season as early as possible - especially when you had the chance to do so last year and you didn’t and especially when you had the type of season you had last year and making everyone forget about that and look ahead as soon as possible should be oh-so high on your list of off-season priorities.
Just sayin’ ...
Finally, someone recently asked me for an update on 2008 Lightning draftee David Carle (you know, the younger brother of that guy Matt, who played here for about five minutes last year?) For those that forgot, Carle was diagnosed with a heart condition at last year’s draft combine, finishing his pro career before it ever began. Tampa Bay selected Carle in the seventh round of the draft anyway and was praised heavily for the gesture.
As it turns out, The St. Petersburg Times beat me to the requested update with a full article on the kid this morning, detailing his new life as a student-assistant coach for the University of Denver.
More draft questions or anything you’d like me to address before Friday? Fire away.
If not, sit tight. I’ll be back shortly.
JJ
jon.jordan@hockeybuzz.com
JJ on Facebook
JJ on Twitter
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