I agree Michael. Buy out Vinny next year. Let the kids you have develop some more. Maybe work out a trade and they buy him out and you bring him back at a cheaper price. With the compliance buy out there should have been an option to rework a contract or two. You pick between buy out and or rework bad contract. That would be really nice in this situation. But then again I guess players would like the free money of a buy out.

Buy out Malone now.

You are absolutely correct. My mistake and time for bed. Thanks for the polite correction too!
- Leafsandbolts

It's all good, happens to the best of us

im not so sure they would take drouin over nishushkin. a kucherov stamkos nishushkin line is just nuts your head would be spinning with that kind of talent on the ice. they also have nameshnikov and gusev too. throw in korobov yzerman is building the new red army line. he loves his russians.

Av's are one of the teams who could afford to let Barkov develop and finish up his military duty.
- poisondhearts37

If the Avs are going to draft a center then it also implies that they will be trading Stastny and RoR eventually so Barkov would better replace the lost 2 way play and faceoff ability that they would be losing than Mckinnon would. If that is the way the avs are looking to build their team with size in the top 6 then Barkov Duchene would add a stronger Dynamic. However if you are going to take Barkov then the Avs really really need to trade down and get something along with that as well so it seems like a win for the fans considering all of the hype around Mckinnon and Jones.

If I am right Barkov is also super young as well and has set a few records oversea's that have been quite considerable.

No matter what Happens I am excited as hell to see what happens on draft day. For both teams.

im not so sure they would take drouin over nishushkin. a kucherov stamkos nishushkin line is just nuts your head would be spinning with that kind of talent on the ice. they also have nameshnikov and gusev too. throw in korobov yzerman is building the new red army line. he loves his russians.
- boltsfan48

Drouin is safe and a can't miss option. Nishushkin can be a very streaky player and has some risks along with drafting him. If TB drafts him at 3 then its going to take some serious balls

The only reason I think they might do it this year is because he's not hurt. If he were to get hurt at the end of next season, they might not be able to use the final year of the amnesty. That could really mess up their cap situation in the future.

More sense?
- LeftCoaster

Ah yes. Thanks.

I agree Michael. Buy out Vinny next year. Let the kids you have develop some more. Maybe work out a trade and they buy him out and you bring him back at a cheaper price. With the compliance buy out there should have been an option to rework a contract or two. You pick between buy out and or rework bad contract. That would be really nice in this situation. But then again I guess players would like the free money of a buy out.

Buy out Malone now.
- poisondhearts37

Agree with all this, especially the re-structure option. Yes, Malone now.

im not so sure they would take drouin over nishushkin. a kucherov stamkos nishushkin line is just nuts your head would be spinning with that kind of talent on the ice. they also have nameshnikov and gusev too. throw in korobov yzerman is building the new red army line. he loves his russians.
- boltsfan48

Nichushkin, as others have pointed out, comes with a measure of risk. I think he's incredibly talented and has a great future ahead of him (I've spoken very highly of him in previous posts), but there are a number of red flags that have me easing off my enthusiasm.

1. His NHL or KHL ultimatum.
2. Reports out of the combine.
3. Drouin is clearly the best playmaker in the draft, and perhaps the best 'talent'

The only reason I think they might do it this year is because he's not hurt. If he were to get hurt at the end of next season, they might not be able to use the final year of the amnesty. That could really mess up their cap situation in the future.
- tampa2

Excellent point. Did not consider this very real possibility.

I agree Michael. Buy out Vinny next year. Let the kids you have develop some more. Maybe work out a trade and they buy him out and you bring him back at a cheaper price. With the compliance buy out there should have been an option to rework a contract or two. You pick between buy out and or rework bad contract. That would be really nice in this situation. But then again I guess players would like the free money of a buy out.

Buy out Malone now.
- poisondhearts37

I doubt the players would have agreed to a rework, there would be no benefit for them, although I think the teams would be all over it.

I doubt the players would have agreed to a rework, there would be no benefit for them, although I think the teams would be all over it.
- Meeqsb

Most definitely.

Nichushkin, as others have pointed out, comes with a measure of risk. I think he's incredibly talented and has a great future ahead of him (I've spoken very highly of him in previous posts), but there are a number of red flags that have me easing off my enthusiasm.

1. His NHL or KHL ultimatum.
2. Reports out of the combine.
3. Drouin is clearly the best playmaker in the draft, and perhaps the best 'talent'
- Michael_Stuart

I think he'll be a great player but at 3rd overall you really want to minimize the risk of who you're drafting. Assuming Mackinnon/Jones go 1-2 it's gotta be either Barkov or Drouin, and I think you gotta go for the North American.

Please correct me if I'm wrong here guys, but can't they buy Vinny out and just re-sign him on the 5th, or is that a loophole that was erased? I have wondered that myself just haven't gotten the answer..

Please correct me if I'm wrong here guys, but can't they buy Vinny out and just re-sign him on the 5th, or is that a loophole that was erased? I have wondered that myself just haven't gotten the answer..
- FloridianDevil

I don't think you're allowed to re-sign a player you buyout even in FA

I think he'll be a great player but at 3rd overall you really want to minimize the risk of who you're drafting. Assuming Mackinnon/Jones go 1-2 it's gotta be either Barkov or Drouin, and I think you gotta go for the North American.
- Icegirl94

I agree with everything here, minus the North American bit. I go with Drouin because he's the elite playmaker for Stamkos. That's it. Barkov would be great too. Nichushkin should be good, but risk scares me.

I don't think you're allowed to re-sign a player you buyout even in FA
- Icegirl94

Yeah, I figured if it were a loophole then just do that, but then that in my eyes would be cap circumvention. Like how we got punished (bullpoop) for our initial deal to Kovalchuk, but then turned around and made another deal working around the loophole thats now gone.. as a Tampa Bay resident, I just can't see the Bolts without #4.

Please correct me if I'm wrong here guys, but can't they buy Vinny out and just re-sign him on the 5th, or is that a loophole that was erased? I have wondered that myself just haven't gotten the answer..
- FloridianDevil

As IceGirl said, you can't sign a player you've bought out. The only option for the Lightning in this sort of situation would be to trade Lecavalier to a team that would buy him out. Then the Lightning could sign him to a lesser deal. A lot would need to happen for that to work.

Yeah, I figured if it were a loophole then just do that, but then that in my eyes would be cap circumvention. Like how we got punished (bullpoop) for our initial deal to Kovalchuk, but then turned around and made another deal working around the loophole thats now gone.. as a Tampa Bay resident, I just can't see the Bolts without #4.
- FloridianDevil

- Michael_Stuart

Thanks for the clarification on the rule!

But you can get rid of the Stamkos guy if you would be so kind...he kills us

Please correct me if I'm wrong here guys, but can't they buy Vinny out and just re-sign him on the 5th, or is that a loophole that was erased? I have wondered that myself just haven't gotten the answer..
- FloridianDevil

If a team uses a compliance buyout on a player then that player cannot play for that team for 1 calendar year. Either from trade, waiver, FA, regardless. There has been some talk of teams swapping players to buyout and then signing them again however they run the risk of being seen as trying to circumvent the CBA and being penalized. [/img]

All I can say is Drouin is the best playmaker in the Draft and Stammer is the best goalscorer in the world so I would think its kinda a no brainer.

All I can say is Drouin is the best playmaker in the Draft and Stammer is the best goalscorer in the world so I would think its kinda a no brainer.
- Meeqsb

Yup. Unless some bigger plan is in play (ie. Lecavalier situation, Jones available, etc.) then it should be this simple.

Thanks for the clarification on the rule!

But you can get rid of the Stamkos guy if you would be so kind...he kills us
- FloridianDevil

I'll talk to some people and see if the team will get rid of him for you.

I'll talk to some people and see if the team will get rid of him for you.
- Michael_Stuart

Greatly appreciated!

In all seriousness, he is THE best scorer in the NHL. Getting Drouin in my opinion would make you guys a legitimate Cup threat every single year for the next ten years. Having that incredible possible trio of Stammer, Drouin and Hedman is just...not fair.