THE TEAM LOSES MONEY!!!
- KB3Point0

Reading between the lines it sounds like Vinik doesn't really give a sh!t at this time. Some owners are that wealthy they can afford to run their teams like a fantasy roster.

Out of curiosity Michael what is the outlook for next season? The team came 3rd last and although they've now got a goalie rotation (how good over a full season remains to be seen) I assume some adjustments are coming?
- AlexF

As homer-ish as this sounds, I truly do believe that the roster is better than its record this past year indicates. With Jon Cooper at the helm now, I think you'll see a system that fits the roster that much better. In addition, TB has got one of the deepest prospect cores in the league. There's a lot to be excited about. I don't think you'll see sweeping changes, but I wouldn't be surprised to see another veteran presence or two added this off-season. In particular, I watch for Yzerman to take a big swing at a solid free agent defender like Regehr, Scuderi, etc.

Yzerman is building this team for the future, and right now the future looks bright. Andrei Vasilevski is the future in net, so I'm really not all that worried. Add to that Stamkos, Hedman, Connolly, this year's draft pick and more, and things really do look good. Give it a season or two and we'll be in fantastic shape.

As homer-ish as this sounds, I truly do believe that the roster is better than its record this past year indicates. With Jon Cooper at the helm now, I think you'll see a system that fits the roster that much better. In addition, TB has got one of the deepest prospect cores in the league. There's a lot to be excited about. I don't think you'll see sweeping changes, but I wouldn't be surprised to see another veteran presence or two added this off-season. In particular, I watch for Yzerman to take a big swing at a solid free agent defender like Regehr, Scuderi, etc.

Yzerman is building this team for the future, and right now the future looks bright. Andrei Vasilevski is the future in net, so I'm really not all that worried. Add to that Stamkos, Hedman, Connolly, this year's draft pick and more, and things really do look good. Give it a season or two and we'll be in fantastic shape.
- Michael_Stuart

Yeah from the TB games I've seen it is on D that I could see the greatest need. Would be ideal for you guys if Jones fell to the 3rd pick, but unlikely. Drouin does seem (on paper anyway) to be a St Louis heir apparent.

Weise as a core We need a real 4 th line

Higgins as a must keep

A bunch of players that have never played as must keeps
- VANTEL

this.

Higgins strikes me as a coaches player - a guy who excels in the right circumstances. With a different coach he might just be a shadow of that player.

And how anyone can say that Gaunce or any of those guys can be core players without NHL experience is just a case of someone reading the positives on a scouting report and assuming they're reading the future.

Yeah from the TB games I've seen it is on D that I could see the greatest need. Would be ideal for you guys if Jones fell to the 3rd pick, but unlikely. Drouin does seem (on paper anyway) to be a St Louis heir apparent.
- AlexF

If both MacKinnon and Jones are gone by the time Yzerman heads to the stage, I'll be interested to see whether he goes with Drouin or Nichushkin. Personally, I like Nichushkin's size.

adater ‏@adater
It's a very real possibility Avs might trade No. 1 pick, or try to trade to get top two picks. Gonna be interesting


O'Reilly + Erik Johnson for the #2 pick?

Yes? Like I said, losing money and being cash strapped are two very different things. If I throw coins into a fountain, I'm losing money. I've got a big stack of coins though, so I'm far from cash strapped.
- Michael_Stuart

And I already acknowledged that your owner "is not cash strapped." The team does lose money and they are not in a financial position to throw away money to have a player like Lecavalier NOT PLAY FOR THEM.

Reading between the lines it sounds like Vinik doesn't really give a sh!t at this time. Some owners are that wealthy they can afford to run their teams like a fantasy roster.
- AlexF

The Tampa Bay Times caught up with Vinik for an interview. Here's their last question and his response.

"His answer to another question — how long does he intend to own the Lightning? — was even more telling: "Till the day I die," Vinik said."

Like I've said again and again, ownership is solid. I hope that fans outside Tampa will begin to see that.

And I already acknowledged that your owner "is not cash strapped." The team does lose money and they are not in a financial position to throw away money to have a player like Lecavalier NOT PLAY FOR THEM.
- KB3Point0

What's your point? Lecavalier does play for the team, and he plays at a high level. Like I've said, he makes the Lightning a better team. Does he make too much money for what he brings? Sure. Is he a plague on the team? Not even in the slightest. His size, skill set, and proven track record make him a valued member of the Lightning. It's not like he's a dead weight that's collecting millions.

And I already acknowledged that your owner "is not cash strapped." The team does lose money and they are not in a financial position to throw away money to have a player like Lecavalier NOT PLAY FOR THEM.
- KB3Point0

They are if the owner says they are. Maybe I'm too used to seeing this sort of activity in European soccer but some owners really do have that much expendable wealth that they will burn money to provide the greatest sporting product they can, often for little more reason that because it makes them happy or stokes their ego.

They are if the owner says they are. Maybe I'm too used to seeing this sort of activity in European soccer but some owners really do have that much expendable wealth that they will burn money to provide the greatest sporting product they can, often for little more reason that because it makes them happy or stokes their ego.
- AlexF

In a perfect world, of course Vinik would like to make money. If you look at what he's doing in Tampa, you'll see that he's totally committed to building something here. Buying out Lecavalier might be a short-term solution to a small problem, but Vinik is committed to investing in the team, organization, and the community in order to build something special.

With all that he's doing, I don't have any doubt that he'll get to the break even point in the future. I have complete faith that he'll do what's best for himself and the team.

What's your point? Lecavalier does play for the team, and he plays at a high level. Like I've said, he makes the Lightning a better team. Does he make too much money for what he brings? Sure. Is he a plague on the team? Not even in the slightest. His size, skill set, and proven track record make him a valued member of the Lightning. It's not like he's a dead weight that's collecting millions.
- Michael_Stuart

You need to try and keep up here. My point was that Lecavalier is not getting bought out. You were the one to pipe up about my referring to at team that loses money as being "cash strapped" and being offended because the owner is not cash strapped as he's a billionaire.

In a perfect world, of course Vinik would like to make money. If you look at what he's doing in Tampa, you'll see that he's totally committed to building something here. Buying out Lecavalier might be a short-term solution to a small problem, but Vinik is committed to investing in the team, organization, and the community in order to build something special.

With all that he's doing, I don't have any doubt that he'll get to the break even point in the future. I have complete faith that he'll do what's best for himself and the team.
- Michael_Stuart

Either way it is good to have a solid ownership situation, spending to the cap, in a non-traditional hockey market. Team like PHX who play a system because they do not have the funds to spend dilute the league's entertainment value IMO.

Reading between the lines it sounds like Vinik doesn't really give a sh!t at this time. Some owners are that wealthy they can afford to run their teams like a fantasy roster.
- AlexF

There's no urgent need to buy out Lecavalier. Can the owner afford to if he wanted? Of course he could. He's freaking rich. But there's also a difference between investing in the team (spending $40M on building renos) investing in good PR (not firing staff during lockout) and throwing away good money for no reason (buying out Lecavalier). Buddy in Tampa got bent out of shape and is missing the point. Vinny's staying in Tampa.

There's no urgent need to buy out Lecavalier. Can the owner afford to if he wanted? Of course he could. He's freaking rich. But there's also a difference between investing in the team (spending $40M on building renos) investing in good PR (not firing staff during lockout) and throwing away good money for no reason (buying out Lecavalier). Buddy in Tampa got bent out of shape and is missing the point. Vinny's staying in Tampa.
- KB3Point0

You can really extend that argument to every team in the league who is not in cap constraints. It's only a team that is desperate to free up cap room that would need to even consider using a compliance buy-out.

Did you see Schroeder play this year for the Canucks??? He accomplished nothing offensively. He is not a defensive player. He is not a checker. He is not a bang and crash player. HE CAN NOT PLAY IN THE NHL UNLESS HE IS SCORING. He has not shown the ability at the AHL level to score with enough consistency to make anyone believe he is ready to contribute regularly at the NHL level, on the 1st or 2nd line, next year.

If he is on the team next year, either our bottom 6 is not big enough and not tough enough, or we have lost too much offensively from our top 6 to compete for a championship. If Jordan Schroeder is on the team as anything more than an injury fill in, the Canucks will not challenge for a Stanley Cup.
- KB3Point0

I only missed one Canuck game all year, and I disagree with pretty much everything here.

There were a few stretches this season when Schroeder was one of the most dangerous players offensively on the Canucks. If he wasn't demoted every time he made a mistake (and sometimes when he didn't) his production would have reflected his play.

He's also quite good defensively. There was a stretch to start the year when he hadn't been on the ice for an ES goal against.

Who cares if he's small. You don't have to be huge to be a bottom 6 player. Schroeder will need to work on his FOs, though.

Let's not forget he was also a rookie.

There's no urgent need to buy out Lecavalier. Can the owner afford to if he wanted? Of course he could. He's freaking rich. But there's also a difference between investing in the team (spending $40M on building renos) investing in good PR (not firing staff during lockout) and throwing away good money for no reason (buying out Lecavalier). Buddy in Tampa got bent out of shape and is missing the point. Vinny's staying in Tampa.
- KB3Point0

This was my point. Vinny's staying.

If a team in the Northwest wants to ship its undersized forward prospect down this way, I wouldn't be opposed.

In all seriousness though, you've got a solid prospect in Schroeder. While he's small, he is strong on his feet and generally solid along the boards. With the right development and coaching, he could certainly be a contributor at the NHL level on a consistent basis.
- Michael_Stuart

Agreed

There is definitely a fit with the Islanders regarding Lu, especially if Rocky comes back in the deal. NJ seems a bit up against the cap but could use Lu's services.
- golfingsince

Don't


Ever


Change.

This was my point. Vinny's staying.
- Michael_Stuart

It has been quite amusing to read all these heated posts, slightly insulting even, which argue what you have been saying all along

this.

Higgins strikes me as a coaches player - a guy who excels in the right circumstances. With a different coach he might just be a shadow of that player.

And how anyone can say that Gaunce or any of those guys can be core players without NHL experience is just a case of someone reading the positives on a scouting report and assuming they're reading the future.
- Troutback

Depends what your definition of "core" is. Future core might be more appropriate, but IMO, that doesn't make him any more tradeable, especially considering Canucks prospect pool.

And as someone who didn't just read his scouting report or stat scout, I can tell you that Gaunce had a much better year than his stats display.

It would be in his and the Canucks best interest to leave him in the OHL for another season to develop his offense, and probably at least a season in the AHL, as well.

It has been quite amusing to read all these heated posts, slightly insulting even, which argue what you have been saying all along
- 1970vintage

It's HB. It always comes full circle and ends up exactly the opposite of what the NHL team will actually do.

adater ‏@adater
It's a very real possibility Avs might trade No. 1 pick, or try to trade to get top two picks. Gonna be interesting


O'Reilly + Erik Johnson for the #2 pick?
- AlexF

Can't trade O'Reilly until February 28th. (I think)

Recapture has nothing to do with whether or not the Flyers care...

If Luongo retires 2 years early (at 41), we incur a cap hit $3.715 million until his contracts expires. If he retires one year early (at 42), we're dinged $7.430 million.

Just buy him out now!
- DrChristianTroy

I believe that rule will be challenged in a court of law. If they grandfather it in that is acceptable , but to agree that a contract is approved by them, and then penalized will not fly. Also by then there will be other teams like TB Hawks NJ Mtl LA Nash Minn all complaining to the league ,not jut Vancouver.

It has been quite amusing to read all these heated posts, slightly insulting even, which argue what you have been saying all along
- 1970vintage

DCT wants to buy him out