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Mike's Mailbag, Extended Edition

July 18, 2014, 11:19 PM ET [265 Comments]
Michael Stuart
Ottawa Senators Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Give yourself a little while to get through this.

No, I didn’t forget about the mailbag. You folks submitted over 100 questions about the Tampa Bay Lightning, the NHL, and much, much more. This is saved as an 18 page word document on my computer. I won’t say much more. Enjoy the answers.

Q – Johannes asks: Was Purcell’s success in Tampa a product of Stamkos and St. Louis? What style of play and how much production do you expect from him in Edmonton?

A – Playing with Stamkos and St. Louis certainly helped Purcell. I don’t know that his success can be totally credited to them though.

The advanced stats community loves Purcell. He’s good at zone entries and his Corsi numbers are solid. Where Purcell loses me is his unwillingness to shoot the puck. He’ll look for a pass whenever possible. That combined with the fact that he doesn’t use his size at all probably leads to some of the reaction you’ve seen from Lightning fans who aren’t exactly sad that he’s leaving.

You’ll likely wind up frustrated by him because of those aforementioned reasons, but Purcell can be an effective player for the Oilers. Is 0.5 points per game reasonable? I think so. 50 points isn’t out of the question, either.

Q – Nucker asks: What are the odds you’d put on Stamkos bolting from Tampa for the Leafs?

A – Not good. Maybe 20%.

Q – EagleNuck asks: As of today, which 16 teams do you think will make the playoffs?

A – Eastern Conference: Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning

Western Conference: Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks

Q – Nucker asks: In your opinion, who’s the most handsome player in the NHL?

A – Is Ryan Kesler the correct answer? My female friends seem to like King Henrik.

Q – homersampson asks: Do you think Connolly makes the team in a top nine role next season? What do you think his three year projection is?

A – I do think Connolly will make the team in a top nine role this season; in fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in a top six spot. Yzerman has consistently stated that he will have an opportunity to make it in the NHL this season. Having proved himself consistently in the American Hockey League, there’s nothing that tells me he’s not ready to make the jump. I really believe that Connolly could be a 50-60 point player within the next three years.

Q – Jesse B asks: What moves do the San Jose Sharks need to make to win the Stanley Cup?

A – Not too many. The roster is good. At this point, I think it’s more of a mental hurdle than anything else. All this talk of a rebuild is nonsense to me. That’s a good roster with a lot of great players. They have to be considered one of the favorites again this season.

Q – Bucs&bolts asks: Where will Tyler Johnson play most of this season, 3C or top six wing?

A – I see him as a 3C. The team doesn’t really have enough center depth without him there.

Q – usman asks: Solving the E. Kane problem.

To Nashville: E. Kane
To Winnipeg: F. Forsberg+

What do you think?


A – I think Winnipeg would be looking for more NHL-ready/established young talent. I love Filip Forsberg, but I’m not sure he’s the piece Winnipeg would be looking for in a Kane deal.

Q – Jacob Rubin asks: Do you think they sign Bishop to an extension before the season?

A – No. As good as Bishop was this past year, it’s important to remember that it was only one year. My guess is that the organization would like to see him do that all again before committing big dollars. If he regresses a little bit this year, which is likely, the price to retain him comes down.

Q – Michael M asks: If you were to rank the NHL teams’ prospect pools, which organizations would be your top/bottom five?

A – Top: Anaheim, Buffalo, Florida, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay
Bottom: Carolina, Colorado, New Jersey, New York Rangers, San Jose

Worth noting that some of the ‘bottom’ teams have a huge wealth of young talent on their respective NHL rosters. I’m not considering those players as prospects.

Q – papa john asks: What kind of toppings do you want on your pizza?

A – None from Papa John’s, thank you very much.

Q – William asks: What line combinations do you think Cooper should have this upcoming season? Given that Drouin starts, do you think he should play with Stamkos right away or start off playing 2nd or 3rd line?

A –

Drouin-Stamkos-Connolly
Palat-Filppula-Callahan
Killorn-Johnson-Brown/Panik
Morrow-Boyle-Brown/Panik

Hedman-Garrison
Carle-Stralman
Brewer-Gudas

Bishop
Nabokov

That’s should answer your second question as well.

Q – Beatle_john asks: As a fan of a West Coast team (Vancouver), we always hear that the Eastern teams do not watch of follow the games of Western teams and have no real feel for the West. This effects Eastern votes for trophies and all-star game balloting. Is this theory just that, a theory, or do fans and media in Tampa and other Eastern cities ignore the West?

A – Well, I don’t think teams ignore the West. Scouts and other people get paid a lot of money to be in the know when it comes to the other 29 NHL teams. As far as media goes, I think there is something to that “Eastern bias” theory. It’s a lot easier to comment on teams and players that you see all the time. Considering most of the big media seems to be in Toronto, it only makes sense that most of the coverage would be centered around the teams in and around that area. Each fan/media personality is different. I personally try to watch as much hockey from as many different teams as possible.

Q – Michael asks: Being a blogger for a “non-traditional” market team (I’m a Kings fan myself), do you feel there is any bearing to other fan bases calling these teams’ fans bandwagon fans? I understand these teams’ attendance numbers aren’t the highest when they are losing, but I feel that is the same for all teams. Your thoughts?

A – I don’t think so. There are bandwagon fans in every city. We hear about how great the hockey market in Chicago is, but does anybody remember how empty the Blackhawks’ arena was just a few short years ago? That doesn’t mean that people weren’t fans. Winning puts people in the seats. When you have so many options for entertainment, and specifically sports, like residents of so many US cities do, you’ll likely spend your money to see wins. You don’t need to attend the games to be a fan.

Q – Chuck Testa asks: St. Louis and Purcell are gone, and will be replaced mainly by players with little to no NHL experience. If Drouin isn’t as ready as everyone is hoping, then the Bolts don’t appear to have a bona fide top line winger. Do the Bolts have enough high-end firepower on the wings?

A – The talent is young, but it’s there.

Q – The hedgehog asks: How many points do you think Stamkos and Drouin can get this year? Will Stamkos’ production fall off a bit without St. Louis?

A – I don’t think 55+ points is an unreasonable guess for Drouin. Stamkos, on the other hand, can probably hit that 90-point mark again if he stays healthy. I don’t think his production will fall off without St. Louis.

Q – The Concierge asks: With all the moves we’ve made, there’s still one we haven’t seen yet. When will we see the new ‘third’ jersey? :)

A – I’ve been trying to get an answer to this for weeks. The general consensus seems to be that we’ll see it around training camp/pre-season. That could be very wrong though.

Q – Neil asks: Will Victor Hedman be capable of maintaining or possibly exceeding his play from last year with a new partner (Stralman) over the steady albeit less mobile Salo?

A – Whether Hedman is paired with Stralman or Garrison doesn’t really matter. Either one is an upgrade on Salo. Nothing I’ve seen tells me that Hedman will take a step back. The guy’s a stud.

Q – Cloud asks: Last offseason we signed a Swiss forward that would stay in Switzerland one more season and join the Lightning this year. Don’t remember his name, but what happened to him? Bust?

A – I assume you’re talking about Reto Suri. There were issues with the contract, as the Swiss league doesn’t have a transfer agreement with the NHL. So, as a result, they weren’t able to get him signed. As of January of this year, the team still had interest in the player (per the Times). I haven’t heard much since.

Q – Cloud asks: What do you think of Boston’s chances this year?

A – That team is still the class of the Eastern Conference, in my opinion. Their cap crunch hurts, and so does losing Jarome Iginla… but there’s a lot to like about that Boston roster.

Q – Cloud asks: What player impressed you most during the World Cup (football)?

A – If I told you I watched a single minute of the action, I’d be lying.

Q – mrperfect316 asks: Where do you see Drouin fitting in this year? He was converted to center last year in junior to compensate for his size. Looks like there might be a logjam at center this year should he make the team. What do you see the line combos being at the start of the year?

A – Was he converted to center to compensate for his size? I missed that memo. I was under the impression that the team just wanted to try him there to get him more time with the puck and to play him in more of a 200’ role. My line combos are in an answer above.

Q – Ed asks: Technical question(s): Why the trade/buyout of Sam Gagner? Why not buy out Purcell (cheaper) and why not use the compliance buyout on Ganger vs. Ryan Malone (save cap space)? Thanks.

A – All good questions. I’m not sure I have the answers. The team was clearly looking to clear cap space. As you point out, there was a number of different (and perhaps better) ways to go about doing that. I’m not going to criticize Yzerman for getting some of the dead weight (i.e. Malone) off the roster and freeing up a few roster spots. I don’t think these are questions I can answer.

Q – Mayeye Seeupee asks: What is the most important factor going into this upcoming season?

A – No, you may not.

The most important factor is, in my opinion, Ben Bishop. Can he repeat his Vezina-quality season? He was a big part of the team’s success last year, and he’ll need to be a big part of the team if they are to have success this year.

Q – SR-71 asks: Hello, Mike! As a guy who follows the Lightning closely, do you think Panik will start the season in Syracuse? And one more: Will he finally break out like his companions TJ and Palat did last year?

A – I can’t see a way in which he starts the year in Syracuse. He’s not waiver exempt anymore, and if the Bolts try to send him down I can almost guarantee that he’d be claimed. He’ll likely either be dealt or make the NHL roster. As to whether I think he’ll break out like TJ and Palat, it’s tough to say. I can’t see him getting the opportunity or minutes that those two did last year. I’d like to see him take a step forward with regards to consistency, but I think that 50+ points is probably a bit much to ask.

Q – The Duke asks: Connolly – Position? Line/linemates? When? Trade? If so, to whom?

A – RW, 1/2, this year, no.

Q – Jared asks: What is reasonable to expect out of Drouin this year?

A – My ceiling guess, as stated above, is 55 points. I don’t think 45-50 is out of the question.

Q – Streit2ThePoint asks: Two part question – what is your favorite ice cream flavor and why?

A – Swiss Mocha. I’m not sure why. I love the coffee flavor, which is weird considering I’ve only ever had one cup of coffee in my life. And I hated it.

Q – mark asks: Hi there. I’m a huge TBL fan from Switzerland, I always follow this website.

So I have 3 questions:
1. Will Drouin plat at C or like a LW?
2. Where does Morrow fit best?
3. There’s some spoilers about the new third jersey?

Thank you! Go Bolts!


A – First of all, thanks for your readership! It’s always great to hear from readers around the globe.

1. I see him as a LW.
2. Probably on the 4th line. He’s not a particularly effective skater anymore. He’s much more of role player.
3. General consensus seems to be that it will be black.

Q – Mike asks: What are the chances of Stamkos leaving and going to Toronto in 2016?

A – The possibility exists, but I’m not sure that the chances are that good.

Q – Newyorkranger30 asks: Back when Cory Conacher was with Tampa, I liked him a lot. Personally, I thought he could become a top six forward. However, it seems like now nobody even wants him. I still think he can become a good forward, but do you think he can become a 20-goal scorer on the Islanders?

A – Not unless he’s gifted some very friendly offensive minutes. A lot of his success came from playing with some of the Lightning’s best offensive players. He wasn’t physically ready to handle the rigors of an NHL season, as evidenced by the fact that he would constantly get pushed off the puck. Once the offense dried up, his defensive liabilities forced him down the lineup in Tampa.

Q – riley Sherman asks: I was just wondering your thoughts on where the Lightning will finish in the Atlantic Division, the Brian Boyle signing, and if you think Stamkos will actually ‘bolt’ to Toronto in two years. Thanks.

A – I think the Lightning have a good shot at finishing first. If not, second. The Bruins and Lightning are significantly better than the other teams in the division, at least on paper, in my opinion. The Boyle signing was a fine one. I’m not over the moon about it, but I’m not disappointed either. If he can help the team’s woeful penalty kill, I’ll call it a win. And no, I don’t think Stamkos will leave for Toronto.

Q – John asks: Are the Lightning done this offseason? It seems they actually might have TOO MANY young forward! Naturally, having young talent is never a bad thing but it might be less efficient, in terms of overall ability and production, from the roster as a whole. Maybe a young forward for a young D (where depth outside of a couple prospects is of question)?

A – I think the Lightning are done. While there is certainly a logjam at forward, I’m not sure there’s much room on the blue line right now either. The top-4 is pretty much set, with Hedman, Stralman, Garrison, and Carle. Unless you’re dealing a young forward for a raw, talented prospect outside the NHL, I just don’t see the point.

Q – Mike asks: What do you think the Leafs’ next move will be, if there is any move at all?

A – Maybe they bring a guy in on a tryout like they did with Raymond last year? I don’t see any earthshattering news coming out of Toronto this off-season though. The roster is more than fine (it’s actually quite good); it’s the coaching/system that is causing all the problems.

Q – Newyorkranger30 asks: As a Ranger fan, I can definitely say that Callahan is a great hockey player. He was the soul of the team and always worked hard. However, because of his playing style, injuries are common. I feel like his new contract gives him too much term and a little too much money. I understand that Dustin Brown received a similar contract, but Brown consistently puts up 20 goals and 50 points. How do you feel about Callahan’s contract?

A – Like you, I feel like it’s too much term and a little bit too much money. But that’s the nature of free agency. Jon Cooper and Steve Yzerman really liked having Ryan Callahan around. They wanted to keep him. They kept him. I enjoyed watching Ryan Callahan with the Lightning to end last year, so I’m not really complaining.

Q – Newyorkranger30 asks: How much do you see Stamkos making on his next contract? I can definitely see him becoming the highest paid player in the NHL. Also, do you think Stamkos will go home to play for Toronto? People are saying that he favorite a tweet or something but I think this is all just the Toronto media trying to make something out of nothing.

A – I think it’ll take a max contract, or maybe slightly less. Like you, I see him becoming the highest paid player in the NHL. I’ve got no problem paying for that kind of talent though. As I’ve said before, I don’t think he’ll end up in Toronto.

Q – Newyorkranger30 asks: Do you think Buffalo is still in the McDavid sweepstakes? I think the Sabres made themselves too good of a team to solidify a top three pick next year with all the free agent signings.

A – Yes. Yes I do.

Q - Newyorkrangers30 asks: Do you see the Tampa Bay Lightning seriously challenging for the Cup this year? I think the Lightning will be an even better team with Stralman, Boyle, Garrison, and Drouin. I can see them being second or even first in their division.

A – I think they’ve got a decent chance to come out of the East, but I still think the Western Conference teams are the teams to beat.

Q – RileyB77 asks: Do you think Philippe Paradis has the potential to be a generational talent? I do.

A – It’s not potentially happening. It is happening.

Q – anthony asks: What is the significance of giving Brett Connolly a two-way contract when he is waiver eligible?


A – I’m honestly not sure.

Q – Newyorkranger30 asks: I liked Dallas a lot last year when they added Seguin because it formed a great pairing. Then adding in Nichushkin got them a great top line. The only thing that really concerned me was whether or not they had enough scoring. Now that they have Spezza and Hemsky (who dominated with each other in Ottawa), do you see Dallas as a lock for this year’s playoffs?

A – Definitely. That’s a team to watch.

Q – Tbolts4 asks: Fast forward to the trade deadline. Vasilevskiy is tearing up the AL this season, looks NHL ready. Bishop has played great for you but not incredibly like last season. You are in a solid playoff position. Do you offer Bishop an extension? Or is it ‘skiy time?

A – I think we’ll see Vasilevskiy in Tampa before the trade deadline.

Q – Kyle K asks: In the past it was thought that there wasn’t room for Brett Connolly on the roster and that he could be moved. Do you believe with the move of Purcell that he may see ice time next season?

A – I really do.

Q – Newyorkranger30 asks: I was really excited this year for the draft. Even though the Rangers didn’t have a first round pick AGAIN, I still loved watching it. I was especially excited because I thought Florida was going to trade their pick. So I was upset when they took Ekblad. Even though they didn’t trade the pick, I didn’t want them to pick Ekblad (Does anybody remember Erik Johnson?). I also think of what would have happened if the Avalanche had taken Seth Jones first overall like everyone expected. However, Doughty and Hedman were taken really high and are important players now. Do you think taking Ekblad was a smart move?

A – He was the consensus best player available at one, so I suppose it must make some measure of sense. It’s too early to answer this question though.

Q – Bill asks: What are the odds of Steven Stamkos leaving the Lightning to play for the Leafs once his contract is done?

A – Not good, in my opinion.

Q – Max Philly asks: Hey Mike, I feel that people are sleeping on the Flyers for the upcoming season. They did not make too many additions this offseason other than the Umberger/Hartnell swap, but I feel that young players like the Schenn brothers, Wayne, Matt Read, Couturier, and even Voracek will all make significant improvements. That would make the Flyers a very scary team, especially with the way Steve Mason and Giroux played late in the season. What do you think of these young players’ growth for the next season?

A – I agree that lots of those players will probably continue to develop, but I still have the Flyers missing the playoffs. I’m not sold on Mason as a goaltender, and I’m still not a huge fan of that blue line. The Hartnell deal was more than confusing too.

Q – Murray asks: What realistic expectations should the Oilers have with regards to Teddy Purcell?

A – He’ll put up surprisingly good offensive numbers for a player who will frustrate the heck out of you.

Q – YostKnowsMost asks: Does Bishop come back healthy and pick up where he left off? If so, do you see Tampa finishing ahead of Boston, Montreal, and Pittsburgh? And assuming that PIT, BOS, MTL, and TBL finish top four, who joins the Rangers and Blue Jackets in the Eastern playoff? What’s the over/under on GP for Brewer and will Ohlund officially retire or what? Can Ottawa have Connolly for free if you’re not using him?

Thanks in advance,
YostKnowsMost


A – Lots to get to here.

Does Bishop pick up where he left off? I don’t think so. I’m just not sure that he’s a .930SV% goalie. My guess is that we’ll see some form of regression. I still believe that he’s an above-average starter in the NHL, but I don’t necessarily think that he’s the goaltender we saw for stretches of last season. Even so, the gains the Lightning are expected to make on defense will hopefully offset any performance dip from Bishop.

Does TB finish higher than PIT, BOS, and MTL? I’m not sure that the Lightning will finish first in the east, but there’s certainly a chance. I see them finishing ahead of Montreal, and then battling Pittsburgh and Boston for the top spot.

Who joins TB, BOS, PIT, MTL, CBJ and NYR in the playoffs? I have the Red Wings and Devils. I can’t see Detroit suffering the same injury woes that plagued them last season. And the Devils are bound to be better now that they’re free from the anchor that was Martin Brodeur.

Over/under on Brewer? I don’t know… 70?

Will Ohlund retire? No. He’s better off staying on LTIR.

Connolly to Ottawa? If the Lightning don’t give him a shot this year, I’d love to see him go to some team that will play him in a top-six role. Does Ottawa fit the bill?

Q – Tom asks: Hey Mike. As a Bruins fan living in Tampa, I have my foot in both camps. It seems to me that the Lightning have a lack of blue line depth even after the Stralman signing. The Bruins have a surplus of NHL defensemen and no cap space. Is there a deal to be made here?

A – I don’t think so. Hedman, Stralman, Carle, Garrison, Brewer, Gudas, Barberio, Sustr. That depth isn’t all that bad.

Q – Nick asks: What are the Lightning going to do with Barberio and Sustr? How are they going to slot in with an already full defense?

A – My bet is that we’ll see Barberio carried as a 7th defender – Cooper often plays seven. And then I think we’ll see Sustr start the year in Syracuse.

Q – SharkKeesha asks: With the way things have gone down in the Eastern Conference so far – the departure of James Neal from Pittsburgh, the Lightning getting a few Rangers, Florida and Buffalo spending big money, and the Leafs changing their 3/4 lines as well as shaking up their D – rank the way you think the top eight teams in the conference will fall.

A – Boston, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Montreal, Columbus, Detroit, New Jersey, New York Rangers

Q – Mike Gilmer asks: How would you rank our defensemen in their level of overall skill?

A – Hedman, Stralman, Garrison, Carle, Gudas, Brewer --- There’s your top six.

Q – OzModCon asks: What are the forward lines going to look like this coming year? I have it penciled in as:

Killorn-Stamkos-Drouin
Callahan-Filppula-Palat
Kucherov-Johnson-Connolly
Morrow-Boyle-Brown
Panik

What are your thoughts on this?


A – Other than some guys being penciled in on their off-wings, I like the general look of these combinations. You can see my combinations in an answer earlier in this blog.

Q – TYLER BOZAK asks: Do you really think Stamkos will be a Leaf?

A – No.

Q – Terry asks: Mike, sir, can you enlighten Leaf fans on what might have happened with the team’s year end embarrassing finish. And why the Leafs management team appears to be doing nothing of significance to improve this team. I’m slowly losing faith in this team’s ability to ever win the Cup!

A – Forever is a long time. Don’t lose faith. Toronto’s management team isn’t doing much with the roster because the roster is actually pretty good. The big issue I have with Nonis’ off-season game plan is that he didn’t take the opportunity to fire Randy Carlyle. You can’t expect to win hockey games when you are constantly getting shelled. It’s not all on the players; the system deserves a lot of blame. Until Carlyle is gone, it’s hard to see Toronto improving much. What we saw at the end of the year was just some expected regression back to the mean. Under Carlyle, the Leafs just aren’t very good.

Q – What realistic expectations can we have for recently acquired free agents Anton Stralman, Brian Boyle, Brenden Morrow, and trade piece Jason Garrison? Additionally, in your opinion, do these additions put us into the realm of cup contention?

A – I think you can likely expect solid play from the two defensemen. They aren’t going to wow you (well, Garrison’s shot might), but they will go about their business quietly and solidly. That’s exactly what the Lightning blue line needs. Boyle will hopefully help the team’s penalty kill, while Morrow was clearly brought in to be a veteran voice in the room.

If the young players continue to develop and don’t all go through sophomore slumps, I do think that these additions put the Lightning in the cup contention conversation.

Q – simon asks: 1 – With all the movement this summer for the Bolts, are we able to figure out the roster for next season? 2 – Sustr will be in Syracuse or with the Lightning?

A – 1 – I’ve listed my lineup above. 2- Syracuse, if you’re asking me.

Q – Daniel Bamber asks: Give how good this team was last year plus the additions of Stralman, Garrison, Boyle, Morrow, and Nabokov, would you consider the Bolts the team to beat in the East?

A – No. I think that the Bolts are one of the conference’s better teams, and they could even win the conference if things go their way. Still, it’s hard to bet against the Bruins or the much-improved Penguins.

Q – Logan McG asks: With all the ramblings about where Stamkos will land in 2016, what is the most realistic destination?

What do you think of a hometown return to Toronto? Is the pressure too much or do you think he would want to be ‘that guy’ that could potentially help them get to the cup final?


A – My guess is that he’ll stay in Tampa. I do think that he would love to be ‘that guy,’ though. This is a player who seems to feed on high stakes action. The bigger the game, the better Stamkos seems to be. He doesn’t shy away from attention.

Q – Miles asks: Any chance Ben Bishop may regress a bit this year? He’s obviously one of the corner stones of this team, but he’s still young and coming off surgery. A part of me wonders if he can sustain his level of play for the entire season.

A – I don’t just think there’s a chance. I expect him to regress a bit. That said, any regression he suffers from should be offset by improvements in the team’s overall defense.

Q – TBolts4 asks: Stamkos has the “C”. Brewer and Carle currently have the “A”. Do you think they make any changes there?

A – They might add another “A” at forward to replace Thompson. There are some interesting candidates there. Does a newly-signed Callahan fit the bill?

Q – john asks: What do you think they can get for Gudlevskis in a trade?

A – I don’t think they have any intention of trading Gudlevskis at present time.

Q – joe aragona asks: What contract do you see Stamkos signing next summer? Do you think he could go somewhere else?

A – Perhaps a max contract. If that’s what it takes, I don’t think the Lightning will say no. It’s hard to envision him playing elsewhere.

Q – xavier asks: What will the lines look like in a few years?

A – It’s so hard to predict how different prospects will develop. I can’t really answer this. There are free agent signings, new draft picks, trades, etc. to consider.

Q – Nick asks: Which TBL team do you think is better, 03-04 or 14-15?


A – Until 2014-15’s squad lifts the cup, I’ll go with 2003-04.

Q – Nack asks: Do you think TBL has a chance at winning the cup this year?

A – The chance is certainly bigger than zero.

Q – Ted asks: Who do you have winning the Calder next season?

A – It’s hard to bet against Jonathan Drouin, especially if he gets to play with Steven Stamkos.

Q – karl toth asks: In the TO vs. TB talk about Steven Stamkos and where he will sign in 2016, a whole lot of TO fans talked about the supporting cast. Who will have the deepest talent pool to work with?

A – I don’t think there is a GM in the league who would trade Tampa’s crop of young players for Toronto’s.

Q – JCorr asks: If Drouin does not show enough in training camp to be a top six winger, does he go back to the Q?

A – No. Putting him back in junior would send the wrong message. What else does he have to accomplish or prove there? Absolutely nothing. He'll be in the NHL, ready or not.

Q – Brendan asks: Do you see the Islanders landing a top D man? If so, who? Any chance they pull off a blockbuster deal with all the assets they have (Sharp/Leddy, Boychuk/Marchand, or Kane/Bogosian)?

A – I couldn’t even begin to speculate about names, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see Snow add something to his blue line before the season starts. He’ll pull out all the stops to avoid having that first round pick (sent to Buffalo) wind up at the top of the draft board.

Q – Johnny Leaf asks: If Stamkos does not sign an extension by the start of next season, what do you think that would mean and what would the Lightning do?

A – I don’t think anything has to be done by the start of next season, but obviously that would be ideal. The 2015-16 trade deadline is probably the key date to watch. If he’s not signed by then, I have to imagine that Yzerman would deal him.

Q – Mike asks: Cooper likes to go 11-7 a lot, so assuming he has eight defenders, who are your 13 forwards?

A – Check out my lineup above.

Q – MTL1 asks: Arty76 swears Drouin will not see minutes on the first and third lines. Based on the makeup of your team he would have to see minutes on the third line to start the season and slowly build up to 1st minutes only. Do you agree? Putting him on the first line for say 8-10 minutes only is not enough. He needs 14-15 minutes per game.

A – I'm not sure I understand what you're asking here. I think Drouin is likely ready to slot into the top six right away. If they want to shelter him and give him some third line minutes, that’s fine. I don’t think it’s necessary.

Q – Mike asks: How do you see the blue line pairings shaping up? Which D gets the 1st PP and 2nd PP minutes? Who sees more action, Barberio or Sustr?

A – Hedman with Garrison. Carle with Stralman. Gudas with Brewer. Barberio as the 7th guy. Hedman and Garrison on PP1. I still don’t know who I want on PP2. Barberio will see more ice than Sustr, unless someone gets injured.

Q – Pistol Pete asks: Why do all you guys think Connolly deserves a long look? He has shown nothing in all his time in Tampa. I just don’t understand it.

A – Well, he did have the best camp/pre-season out of anyone last year. In addition, he’s been one of the team’s most prolific American League scorers for a while now. He’s paid his dues. He’s earned an opportunity. His AHL scoring rate is better than a lot of the young guys who were given long looks and opportunity last year. At this point, the Lightning don't really know what they have in Connolly. They'll get a better picture of that if/when they give him top six minutes on the wing.

Q – Hockey Paradise asks: Assuming Drouin makes the big team this year, do you think he has the best chance of any rookie to win the Calder? What other rookies would be in competition?

A – Drouin would likely be the early favorite. Sam Bennett is a guy I’d watch if he manages to stick in Calgary. Griffin Reinhart of the Islanders is another realistic possibility.

Q – AnonymousUser87 asks: Who would win in a fist fight: you or Ryan Wilson?

A – Ryan Wilson. And I don’t think it would be close.

Q – Sonoran_Sean asks: When I was seven, the then-Phoenix Coyotes moved to town and now a decade-plus later I am still a passionate fan. Throughout the bankruptcy saga I supported Don Maloney. He seemed to find ‘diamonds’ at ‘in the rough’ prices. However, this last year started to shake that (Ribeiro and/or Moss). And now even with the new ownership group the team failed to attract a prized UFA or exeute a trade that would see a shakeup or high draft pick come to Arizona. It seems this team is standing still while others are growing stronger. As one exotic market to another, what do you see as the first steps this Coyotes team could take to move towards contendership?

A – It all starts with good drafting. You don’t build a team through free agency. If the Coyotes start drafting and developing quality players who can turn into effective NHLers, things will improve. That’s how Tampa did it. Now, with one of the most impressive groups of young players in the league, the Lightning have no trouble attracting talent to play in Tampa. That’s the model the Coyotes need to follow, in my opinion. The ball is already rolling with a great crop of young defensive prospects and a couple blue-chip forward prospects too.

Q – SAM asks: As a lifelong friend of Stammer, I can say his lifelong goal is to play for the Leafs…

A – Take it to the bank, folks.

Q – Newyorkranger30 asks: From a fantasy hockey perspective, I really see Drouin making the lineup and putting up good numbers this season. If Drouin makes the roster, do you think he has a chance at the Calder?

A – More than a chance. If he doesn’t win the Calder, I think it would be an upset.

Q – Newyorkranger30 asks: I was a big fan of Garrison on the Panthers and I thought Tampa got a really good deal to get him. I see him putting up a solid amount of points, but I’m not sure how much power play time he will receive. How do you think Tampa is going to use him this year?

A – I think he’ll get top-four minutes and then be used on the first power play unit.

Q – Newyorkranger30 asks: As you probably know, the Hawks are tight against the cap and the new contracts don’t help. There have been rumors about Sharp being traded, but I think I’d rather see Hossa traded. I love Hossa and still think he has gas left in the tank, but he is much older than Sharp. What do you think the Hawks are going to do to get some cap relief?

A – I’m not sure that Bowman has a major move up his sleeve, but I do think that a Sharp trade is far more likely than a Hossa trade if he does elect to go that route. I’m not sure it matters. The Hawks will once again be a favorite for the Stanley Cup.

Q – Jackson asks: Hey Mike, I love the blogs! Do you think the NHL will eve give the Lightning and Panthers a stadium series game? That would be awesome to watch.

A – Thanks, Jackson! Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), I don’t think the NHL will ever give the Bolts and Cats a stadium series game. There wouldn’t be enough of a national TV audience for it to make financial sense, I don’t think.

Q – Newyorkranger30 asks: Who do you think has the best chance to land the number one pick this year?

A – Buffalo.

Q – Newyorkranger30 asks: After the Canucks traded Schneider and Luongo, I thought they were going into a rebuilding stage. Especially since they traded Kesler, I thought they should try to trade the Sedins and start to rebuild. However, with the additions of Miller and Vrbata, it seems like they are going for a playoff spot. Do you think the Canucks should go for a playoff spot?

A – No, I don’t think that the Canucks should go for a playoff spot. That team needs to undergo a complete rebuild. It started with trading Luongo and Schneider. It continued by trading Kesler. Acquiring Miller and Vrbata just seems like a ‘tread water’ move. Finishing in 8th or 9th place in the conference year after year does nothing for the future. The Canucks aren't good enough to get out of the West, but they're not bad enough to get a guy like McDavid. It's not a good situation.

Q – Peter Greenlaw asks: What are the chances of Paquette making the team?

A – With the additions of Boyle and Morrow? Probably not good.

Q – Todd asks: There are still rumors that the Lightning have interest in Patrick Marleau. Any chance he comes to the Lightning?

A – Nope.

Q – Todd asks: So our roster looks tough for Kucherov to make right now. Do you think Kucherov starts in the AHL next season?

A – I do.

Q – Colton asks: Do you think Brett Connolly makes the roster?

A – Yes.

Q – XxNYIxX asks: When someone says the word “BUST” to you… how hard is it to get Hedman’s picture out of your head?

XxNYIxX


A – Nearly impossible.

Q – D asks: What are your thoughts on Jonathan Marchessault? Can he make the big team out of camp? He was an AHL allstar and top-10 in scoring.

A – There’s really no chance that he makes the big club out of camp. There are too many homegrown guys ahead of him on the depth chart. He should help out in Syracuse though.

Q – LeafsInSeven asks: Which Canadian team has the best shot of returning to the playoffs next season?

A – I think it’s Vancouver. Miller will get them some wins.

Q – Austin E asks: Hey there Mike. Love the blog. If you could make an ultimate team of current NHL players, what would it look like and why?

A – Hmmm…

Jamie Benn-Sidney Crosby-Steven Stamkos
Zdeno Chara-Shea Weber
Carey Price

I love Jamie Benn. Crosby is the best player in the league. Stamkos is a phenomenal shooter. That line has a little bit of everything. Chara and Weber are both big, mean, and controlling. Price is one hell of a goaltender. That’d be my starting lineup.

Q – Todd asks: Evander Kane rumors to the Lightning. Can you see a trade getting done?

A – As much as I love the player, no. Wouldn't he look good with Stamkos, though?

Q – Mike from Burlington asks: Do the Leafs get an epic fail for not changing the culture and for not doing enough with their core players? Does this mean another playoff miss with this group? I have canceled my Leafs TV and will not be getting it back in October.

A – The epic fail gets handed out because they didn’t fire Carlyle. No, instead they gave him an extension. His system isn’t suited for that roster at all, and the numbers show it. If he’s still around by season’s end, I can’t see the Leafs making the post-season.

--

After a long few hours of writing, I’ve finally answered every question you have thrown at me. This blog is nearly 7000 words long, which is just insane. Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a question or two… or more. You guys make this mailbag piece a lot of fun.

As always, thanks for reading.

Michael Stuart has been the Tampa Bay Lightning writer for HockeyBuzz since 2012. Visit his archive to read more or follow him on Twitter.
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